If your teen received their A Level results this year, you may have come across the term “grade boundaries” and wondered what it means. With so much riding on these results – whether it’s university offers, apprenticeships, or other future plans – it’s important to understand how the A Level grading system works.

In this guide to A Level grade boundaries 2026, we’ll explain what grade boundaries are, how they’re determined, and why they vary from year to year. You’ll also find the official 2026 grade boundaries alongside data from previous years to give you useful context for understanding your teen’s results.

What are A Level grade boundaries?

A Level grade boundaries are the minimum number of marks a student must achieve in an exam to be awarded a specific grade (A*, A, B, C, D, or E). These thresholds convert raw marks from an exam paper into final A Level grades.

Grade boundaries are influenced by the overall difficulty of an exam paper, which means they can vary slightly from year to year. For example, if an exam paper is more challenging than in previous years, the boundary for a grade A may be set slightly lower to ensure fairness.

Understanding how these boundaries work is important when interpreting results. It can help explain how your teen’s raw marks translate into a grade and is especially relevant if you’re considering a review of marking. For instance, if your teen is just a couple of marks short of a higher grade, it may be worth requesting an exam remark.

A Level students are taking an exam in an exam hall.

How are A Level grade boundaries set?

Grade boundaries for A Levels are set after all exam papers for a subject have been marked. This process – known as awarding – involves senior examiners analysing performance across the entire cohort of students sitting a particular exam. They also compare the difficulty of this year’s papers to those from previous years.

This method allows grade boundaries to be adjusted to reflect the relative challenge of each paper. The aim is to ensure that results are consistent and fair, so that, for example, a grade A in 2026 represents the same standard as a grade A in earlier years.

When do A Level grade boundaries come out?

A Level grade boundaries are typically released by exam boards on the morning of A Level Results Day, just before students receive their grades. In 2026, A Level Results Day falls on Thursday 13th August.

The grade boundaries are published for each subject, giving students, schools, and parents clear information about the number of marks needed for each grade.

A Level grade boundaries 2026

Below is the 2026 grade boundary data for key subjects – maths, English, biology, chemistry, physics, and geography – across all major exam boards. The figures are from the June 2026 exam series and show the total number of raw marks needed to achieve each grade.

For subjects not listed here, please refer to the official grade boundary documents:

A note on notional grade boundaries

Notional grade boundaries reflect the approximate mark thresholds for individual exam papers within an A Level qualification. Exam boards publish notional boundaries for reference only – they’re not used to determine final grades. However, they can help you understand how your teen performed across different parts of the exam. For example, they might reveal that they performed strongly on one paper but struggled on another.

The tables in this article display overall grade boundaries only. To see the notional boundaries for specific papers, visit the websites of the relevant exam board.

A Level Maths grade boundaries 2026

AQA A Level Maths grade boundaries 2026

Table showing the data for AQA A Level Maths Grade Boundaries 2026

Edexcel A Level Maths grade boundaries 2026

Table showing the data for Edexcel A Level Maths grade boundaries 2026.

Cambridge OCR A Level Maths grade boundaries 2026

Table showing the data for Cambridge OCR A Level Maths grade boundaries 2026. A group of A level students sitting an exam.

A Level English Language grade boundaries 2026

AQA A Level English Language grade boundaries 2025

Table showing the data for AQA A Level English Language grade boundaries 2026.

Edexcel A Level English Language grade boundaries 2026

Table showing the data for Edexcel A Level English Language grade boundaries 2026.

Eduqas A Level English Language grade boundaries 2026

Table showing the data for Eduqas A Level English Language Grade Boundaries 2026.

Cambridge OCR A Level English Language grade boundaries 2026

Table showing the data for Cambridge OCR A Level English Language grade boundaries 2026.

A Level English Language and Literature grade boundaries 2026

AQA A Level English Language and Literature grade boundaries 2026

AQA-A-Level-English-Language-and-Literature-Grade-Boundaries-2026

Edexcel A Level English Language and Literature grade boundaries 2026

Table showing the data for Edexcel A level English Language and Literature grade boundaries 2026.

Eduqas A Level English Language and Literature grade boundaries 2026

Table showing the data for Eduqas A Level English Language and Literature grade boundaries 2026.

Cambridge OCR A Level English Language and Literature grade boundaries 2026

Table showing the data for Cambridge OCR A Level English Language and Literature grade boundaries 2026. A group of students reading for an English Literature class.

A Level English Literature grade boundaries 2026

Note: AQA offers two specifications – English Literature A and B – with different text options, leading to multiple paper combinations. See AQA’s June 2026 document for grade boundaries for each.

Edexcel A Level English Literature grade boundaries 2026

Table showing the data for Edexcel A Level English Literature grade boundaries 2026.

Eduqas A Level English Literature grade boundaries 2026

Table showing the data for Eduqas A Level English Literature grade boundaries 2026.

Cambridge OCR A Level English Literature grade boundaries 2026

Table showing the data for Cambridge OCR A Level English Literature grade boundaries 2026.

A Level Biology grade boundaries 2026

AQA A Level Biology grade boundaries 2026

Table showing the data for AQA A Level Biology Grade Boundaries 2026.

Edexcel A Level Biology grade boundaries 2026

Table showing the Edexcel A Level Biology grade boundaries 2026.

Eduqas A Level Biology grade boundaries 2026

Table showing the Eduqas A Level Biology grade boundaries for 2026.

Cambridge OCR A Level Biology grade boundaries 2026

Table showing the data for Cambridge OCR A Level Biology grade boundaries 2026.

A Level Chemistry grade boundaries 2026

AQA A Level Chemistry grade boundaries 2026

Table showing the data for AQA A Level Chemistry grade boundaries 2026.

Edexcel A Level Chemistry grade boundaries 2026

Table showing the data for Edexcel A Level Chemistry grade boundaries 2026.

Eduqas A Level Chemistry grade boundaries 2026

Table showing the data for Eduqas A Level Chemistry grade boundaries 2026.

Cambridge OCR A Level Chemistry grade boundaries 2026

Table showing the data for Cambridge OCR A Level Chemistry grade boundaries 2026. Handwritten Physics revision flashcard.

A Level Physics grade boundaries 2026

AQA A Level Physics grade boundaries 2026

Table showing the data for AQA A Level Physics grade boundaries 2026.

Edexcel A Level Physics grade boundaries 2026

Table showing the data for Edexcel A Level Physics grade boundaries 2026.

Eduqas A Level Physics grade boundaries 2026

Table showing the data for Eduqas A Level Physics grade boundaries 2026.

Cambridge OCR A Level Physics grade boundaries 2026

A Level Geography grade boundaries 2026

AQA A Level Geography grade boundaries 2026

Table showing the data for AQA A Level Geography grade boundaries 2026.

Edexcel A Level Geography grade boundaries 2026

Table showing the data for Edexcel A Level Geography grade boundaries 2026.

Eduqas A Level Geography grade boundaries 2026

Table showing the data for Eduqas A Level Geography grade boundaries 2026.

Cambridge OCR A Level Geography grade boundaries 2026

Table showing the data for Cambridge OCR A Level Geography grade boundaries 2026. A female A Level student reading an exam paper as she sits at a desk in an exam hall.
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What were the A Level grade boundaries for 2025?

Looking back at the A Level grade boundaries for 2025 can provide helpful insight into how A Level grades were awarded last year. While the exact thresholds may vary each year, this data can help set expectations and highlight trends across subjects and exam boards.

Below is the 2025 grade boundary data for key subjects – maths, English, biology, chemistry, physics, and geography – across all major exam boards. The figures are from the June 2025 exam series and show the total number of raw marks needed to achieve each grade.

For subjects not listed here, please refer to the official grade boundary documents:

A Level Maths grade boundaries 2025

A Level Maths 2025 grade boundaries.

A Level English Language grade boundaries 2025

A Level English Language 2025 grade boundaries.

A Level English Language and Literature grade boundaries 2025

Table showing the data for English Language and Literature Grade Boundaries 2025.

A Level English Literature grade boundaries 2025

A table showing the A Level English Literature grade boundaries for the 2025 summer series of exams.

AQA offers two specifications – English Literature A and B – with different text options, leading to multiple paper combinations. See AQA’s June 2025 document for grade boundaries for each.

A Level Biology grade boundaries 2025

A Level Biology 2025 grade boundaries.

A Level Chemistry grade boundaries 2025

A Level Chemistry 2025 grade boundaries.

A Level Physics grade boundaries 2025

A Level Physics 2025 grade boundaries.

A Level Geography grade boundaries 2025

A Level Geography 2025 grade boundaries. Two female students stand outside their college smiling as they celebrate their A Level exam results.

A Level grade boundaries for 2019-2024

The COVID-19 pandemic had a major impact on A Level assessments between 2020 and 2022. In 2020 and 2021, exams were cancelled, and students were awarded grades based on teacher assessments or centre-assessed grades. As a result, no formal grade boundaries were published for those years.

When exams returned in 2022, some adjustments were made to reflect the disruption to learning. These included supporting materials such as formulae sheets, advance information on topics, optional content in some subjects, and more generous grade boundaries than usual.

In 2023, Ofqual began the process of returning to pre-pandemic grading standards. This meant grade boundaries became stricter again, aligning more closely with the levels used before 2020. This approach continued in 2024 and 2025, with grading standards returning to their pre-pandemic levels. The same approach is in place for the 2026 exam series.

AQA A Level grade boundaries 2019-2024

Edexcel A Level grade boundaries 2019-2024

Eduqas A Level grade boundaries 2019-2024

OCR A Level grade boundaries 2019-2024

Grade boundaries are crucial in converting raw exam marks into final A Level grades. While they may shift slightly each year to reflect the difficulty of exam papers, understanding how they work can give you a clearer picture of your teen’s performance. They can also help inform important decisions, such as whether to request a review of marking or resit an exam, and can help guide your teen’s further study or career plans.

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Jenny Bell

Jenny is a writer, editor, and mother of two. She holds an MA (Hons) in Social Anthropology with Development Studies from the University of Edinburgh and has worked with a variety of organisations dedicated to creating a positive social and/or environmental impact. As Content Writer and Editor at PMT Education, Jenny creates engaging and informative resources for students, parents, teachers, and tutors.

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