Cambridge IGCSE Mathematics (0580) has different grade boundaries depending on whether you’re sitting Core or Extended entry. Understanding the boundaries for your tier is essential for setting accurate revision targets.

Extended vs Core Entry — Different Boundaries

Extended entry (Papers 2 and 4): available grades A*–E. Total marks: 280. Core entry (Papers 1 and 3): available grades C–G. Total marks: 160.

Most students targeting B or above will be Extended. This guide focuses on Extended boundaries.

Historical IGCSE Mathematics Grade Boundaries — Extended (Cambridge 0580)

Year	A*	A	B	C	D	E	Total
2024	218	185	152	120	89	58	280
2023	212	180	148	116	86	56	280
2022	215	182	149	117	87	57	280
2021	208	176	145	114	84	55	280
2019	210	178	146	115	85	55	280

Approximate averages from Cambridge published grade threshold documents (May/June series).

Paper Structure — Where the 280 Marks Come From

• Paper 2 (non-calculator, 1h 30min): 70 marks
• Paper 4 (calculator, 2h 30min): 130 marks

Paper 4 carries nearly twice the marks of Paper 2. Allocate revision time accordingly.

Grade Targets Based on Historical Data

• A:* aim for 213+ out of 280 (76%+)
• A: aim for 180+ out of 280
• B: aim for 148+ out of 280
• C: aim for 115+ out of 280

The Biggest Mark-Losers in IGCSE Maths

1. No working shown. Cambridge awards M marks (method) separately from A marks (accuracy). Write every step. A correct answer with no working earns 0 if there’s an error anywhere — but a wrong answer with correct method earns the M marks.

2. Transformations described incompletely. A rotation needs: type + angle + direction + centre. A reflection needs: type + mirror line equation. An enlargement needs: type + scale factor + centre. Missing any one loses a mark.

3. Geometric reasons not stated. “The angle is 65°” earns 0. “Alternate angles are equal (parallel lines), so the angle is 65°” earns the mark. Cambridge requires the theorem name, not just the answer.

4. Proof questions. Never work backwards from the answer. Start from given information, justify every algebraic step, end with exactly the target expression.

The Mark Scheme Decoder for IGCSE Maths covers all these patterns with auto-marked practice questions.

Topics That Consistently Appear in Paper 4

Based on past paper analysis:

• Algebra and functions (quadratics, simultaneous equations, indices)
• Geometry (angle theorems, circle theorems — reasoning required)
• Trigonometry (right-angled and non-right, sine/cosine rule)
• Vectors and transformations (describe and perform)
• Statistics (mean from grouped data, cumulative frequency, histograms)
• Probability (tree diagrams, Venn diagrams, conditional)

Check Your Mark Against Grade Boundaries

The Grade Boundary Tracker shows exactly which grade your current raw mark corresponds to in Cambridge IGCSE Mathematics — with historical data from 2019 to 2024.

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