Come across a word you don't know? See the Jargon Buster.
The Two Tiers at a Glance
| Foundation Tier | Higher Tier | |
|---|---|---|
| Grades available | Grades 1 to 5 | Grades 4 to 9 (a grade 3 is allowed if a student only just misses a 4) |
| Content | Number, ratio, algebra basics, shape, probability and statistics | Everything on Foundation, plus harder algebra, trigonometry, graphs and proof |
| Exams | Three papers of 1 hour 30 minutes (two papers of 2 hours 15 minutes for Eduqas) | The same number of papers, on the same days |
| Best for | Students aiming for a secure grade 4 or 5 | Students aiming for grade 6 or above |
Grades 4 and 5 can be achieved on either tier. The difference is how they are reached. On Foundation, most questions are aimed at grades 1 to 5, so a grade 5 needs a high share of the marks. On Higher, a grade 4 or 5 usually needs a smaller share of the marks, but the questions are harder overall.
The Two Risks Every Parent Should Know
The highest grade on Foundation is a 5. However well your child does on the day, they cannot get a 6. If a sixth form course asks for a 6 or 7 in maths, Foundation closes that door.
On Higher, a student who narrowly misses a grade 4 can be awarded a 3. Below that, the result is a U (ungraded), with no grade at all. A student who would have got a solid 4 on Foundation can leave with nothing.
Who Decides, and When?
The school decides, usually based on mock exams (practice exams taken at school) and class tests in Year 10 and Year 11. Your child is then entered for one tier. For the summer 2027 exams, the entry deadline (the date by which schools must register each student) is 21 February 2027. Schools can sometimes change the tier after that, but it usually costs a late fee, so most decisions are made around the January mocks.
You are allowed to ask questions and share what you know about your child. Teachers see your child in class; you see them at home, with homework, nerves and motivation. Both views matter.
How to Think About the Choice
| If your child… | The usual advice |
|---|---|
| is regularly getting grade 6 or above on Higher papers | Higher. Foundation would cap them at a 5. |
| is getting grade 4 or 5 on Higher papers, with time to improve | Usually Higher, with focused practice on the grade 4 and 5 questions. |
| is scraping a 3 or 4 on Higher papers | Often Foundation. A safe 4 or 5 is better than risking a U (no grade). |
| is getting a high grade 5 on Foundation papers with time to spare | Worth discussing Higher with the teacher. |
| needs a 6 or 7 for A Level Maths or a science A Level | Higher is needed. Talk to the school early. |
Remember that a grade 4 is the "standard pass" and a grade 5 is the "strong pass". Many college courses, apprenticeships and jobs ask for a 4, which is fully reachable on Foundation.
Questions to Ask Your Child's Maths Teacher
- Which tier are you planning to enter my child for, and why?
- What grade are they working at on that tier, and on the other one?
- Which topics are holding them back from the next grade?
- Is there still time to move tiers, and what would they need to show?
- What can we do at home that would help most between now and the exams?
What About IGCSE?
International GCSEs have tiers too. Edexcel International GCSE works like GCSE: Foundation gives grades 1 to 5 and Higher gives grades 4 to 9 (with a 3 allowed). Cambridge IGCSE (0580) calls its tiers Core and Extended and uses letter grades: Core gives grades C to G, and Extended gives grades A* to E.