A Level grades explained

If your teen has just finished their GCSEs, the next stage in their education might be A Levels—especially if they plan to go on to university. While GCSEs use a numerical 9–1 grading system, A Levels are graded differently, and it’s important for parents to understand how these grades work and what they mean for future opportunities.

Our “A Level grades explained” guide will walk you through everything you need to know. We’ll cover what the different A Level grades mean, how they’re calculated, and why they’re important for your teen’s future, including UCAS points and university applications.

What are A Level grades?

A Levels, or Advanced Levels, are two-year qualifications typically taken between the ages of 16 and 18 in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Students usually choose three subjects that are studied in far more depth than at GCSE.

When it comes to results, A Level grades are awarded on a letter scale, from A* (highest) to E (minimum pass). U stands for “unclassified”, indicating a failure to meet the minimum standard required to pass the qualification.

The A* grade was introduced in 2010 to better recognise the very highest-achieving students. This change was made because universities—particularly the most competitive ones—wanted a way to distinguish between students who achieved an A grade and those performing at the very top of the scale.

Here’s a quick guide to what each grade generally represents:

How are A Level qualifications assessed?

In 2015, A Levels were reformed. Before this, many subjects were modular, with students taking AS exams halfway through the course that contributed to their final A Level grade.

Under the reformed system, most A Levels are now linear, meaning students take all exams at the end of Year 13. For students in England, AS Levels exams no longer count towards the final grade, and coursework has been reduced or removed in many subjects.

Subjects with coursework components

• Art & Design – ongoing coursework projects count towards the majority of the final grade. For example, 60% for AQA A Level Art and Design (Art, craft and design) 7201.
• A Level English Literature also has a coursework element (typically around 20% of the final grade).
• A Level Geography includes a Non-Examined Assessment (NEA), often called the independent investigation. This makes up 20% of the final grade and involves a substantial project where students design, carry out, and write up their own fieldwork-based research.
• History also has an NEA coursework component, usually worth around 20% of the final grade, where students produce an extended essay based on independent research and analysis.

Science Practical Endorsement

For students taking A Level sciences (Biology, Chemistry, and Physics), there is also a Practical Endorsement. This is a separate pass/fail element that assesses a student’s ability to carry out experiments and demonstrate practical skills.

While the Practical Endorsement doesn’t contribute to the overall A Level grade, it is recorded on the certificate and many universities—especially for science-related courses— expect applicants to have passed it alongside their main A Level grade.

What are AS Levels?

AS Levels (Advanced Subsidiary Levels) used to be the first half of a full A Level, taken at the end of Year 12, with the grades contributing to a student’s final A Level result. However, following the 2015 reforms in England, AS Levels were decoupled from full A Levels. This means that AS exams now stand alone as separate qualifications and no longer count towards the final A Level grade.*

Students can still choose to take AS Levels in Year 12, either alongside their A Level courses or as an additional qualification. An AS Level is broadly equivalent to 40% of a full A Level and is graded from A–E (with U for unclassified).

AS Levels can be useful for students who want to:

• Keep their subject options open for longer.
• Gain an additional qualification to show breadth of study.
• Test whether a subject is the right fit before committing to a full A Level.

However, because AS results no longer contribute to final A Level grades, most schools and colleges focus on full A Levels instead, and AS exams are less common than they used to be.

*Note: In Wales and Northern Ireland, AS grades still count towards 40% of a student’s final A Level grade.

Do AS Level grades matter?

While AS Level grades don’t contribute to final A Level results, they can still matter in some situations:

• They provide an additional qualification if a student decides not to continue with the subject.
• Strong AS results can help demonstrate ability and support a UCAS application.
• They carry UCAS points, which some universities may take into account.

How are A Level grades calculated?

A Level grades are based on a student’s performance in their final assessments. Each exam paper or piece of assessed work is given a raw mark, which is then converted into a grade according to boundaries set by the exam boards.

Here’s how the process works:

• Raw marks – Each exam paper or assessment is marked, with students awarded a score for the answers they provide.
• Grade boundaries – Exam boards set the minimum number of marks needed for each grade. These boundaries are set separately for every subject and can change from year to year.
• Final grade – A student’s total raw marks are compared against the grade boundaries to determine their official A Level grade.

The OCR exam board has also published a helpful explainer of how they calculate A Level grades.

Grade boundaries

A grade boundary is the minimum number of marks needed to achieve each grade. Boundaries are set separately for every subject, and can change each year depending on the difficulty of the exam papers.

For example, if an A Level Maths paper is especially tough one year, the boundary for a Grade A might be set lower than usual to ensure students are not unfairly disadvantaged. Conversely, if a paper is considered easier, the grade boundary may be higher.

Exam boards publish the grade boundaries on A Level Results Day, and it’s a good idea to check them to see where your teen’s marks are in relation. This is especially useful if your teen narrowly missed a higher grade—being just one or two marks away could make an exam remark worthwhile.

For a more detailed explanation of how grade boundaries work, and to see the latest official boundaries for key subjects, see our A Level grade boundaries guide.

Why are A Level grades important?

Strong A Level grades can open doors to top universities, apprenticeships, and career opportunities. They are a key indicator of subject knowledge and academic ability, and often play a central role in decisions about higher education and employment.

University entry

Entry requirements vary between institutions, so it’s essential to check with each university to determine the exact grades and subjects your teen will need.

Most degree courses require three A Levels, and university offers are usually expressed in grades (e.g. BBB, AAA, or A*AA for highly competitive courses such as Medicine or Law). Generally, the more competitive the course, the higher the grade requirements. For Oxbridge and other highly selective universities, high grades are often expected, though they are not the only factor in admissions, as our Applying to Oxbridge: Is it worth it? article explores.

A Level grades also convert into UCAS Tariff points, which some universities use when considering applications. We’ll cover this in more detail in the next section.

Remember that while strong grades are important, universities also consider other factors, including your teen’s personal statement, references, interview performance, results from any required admissions tests, and relevant work or extracurricular experience. They look for skills and qualities beyond academic achievement, such as problem-solving, teamwork, and commitment.

For more guidance, see our article on preparing for university interviews.

Employment and apprenticeships

Even if your teen doesn’t plan to go to university, employers and training providers sometimes look at A Level grades as evidence of academic ability, independent learning, and problem-solving skills.

However, while strong A Level grades can open doors to a wide range of opportunities, lower grades don’t necessarily close doors. There are options such as resits, alternative courses, apprenticeships, and vocational pathways to help your teen achieve their goals.

UCAS points and A Level grades

When applying to university, A Level grades play a central role. Most offers are expressed in specific grades (for example, ABB or A*AA), but the UCAS Tariff also provides a points-based system to standardise different qualifications.

Some universities use UCAS points when making offers, particularly for courses that accept a wide range of qualifications, such as BTECs alongside A Levels. However, competitive universities and courses often prefer offers based directly on A Level grades rather than UCAS points.

UCAS points for A Levels

Each A Level grade corresponds to a set number of UCAS points:

UCAS points for AS Levels

AS Levels (if taken) can also be converted into UCAS points:

UCAS points for the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ)

Alongside A Levels, some students choose to take the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ). This is an independent research project where students investigate a topic of their choice, plan and manage the process, and present their findings in a written report or artefact.

The EPQ is graded from A* to E and is worth half an A Level in UCAS points:

Many universities value the EPQ because it demonstrates independent learning, research skills, critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills. Some even make lower A Level offers to students who achieve a high EPQ grade.

A Level grade distributions by subject (2025)

To give some context to A Level grades, we’ve created visual breakdowns showing the percentage of students who achieved each grade in selected subjects in 2025. These graphs make it easier to see how grades were awarded nationally, highlighting trends and patterns in student performance across different subjects.

Explore the graphs below for the grade distributions for A Level Maths, Science, English, Geography, Psychology, Economics, and Computer Science. For additional subjects, visit Ofqual Analytics.

A Level grades are an important milestone in your teen’s education, reflecting two years of hard work and independent study. By understanding how A Level grades are calculated and how they link to UCAS points and university entry, you can help your teen confidently navigate this stage of their academic journey.

Remember, whether your teen achieves their target grades or falls short, there are always options available—from exam resits and alternative pathways to finding university places through Clearing.

While A Levels remain the most popular pathway for students aiming for higher education, they’re not the only option. A Level alternatives such as BTECs, T Levels, or apprenticeships may also be worth considering, depending on your teen’s goals.

For further guidance, you might find the following articles on our Parent Blog helpful:

• Helping your child choose the right course and university
• How to navigate university offers: A parent’s guide
• How to financially support your child through university
• A Level Results Day
• A Level Remark: Is it worth it?

FAQs

What grade is a pass at A Level?

At A Level, any grade from E to A* is considered a pass. The minimum passing grade is E. A grade of U (unclassified) means the student did not meet the minimum standard required and does not receive an A Level qualification.

What percentage do you need for an A or A*?

There is no fixed percentage for achieving an A or A*. The exact marks required are set each year by exam boards through grade boundaries, which take into account the difficulty of the exam papers.

For example, if a paper is particularly challenging, the boundary for an A or A* may be set lower to ensure fairness. In contrast, an easier paper may have a higher boundary. Exam boards publish these boundaries on A Level Results Day, so you can see exactly how your teen’s raw marks translate into a grade.

What percentage of A Level grades are A*?

The percentage of students achieving an A* at A Level varies by subject and year, depending on factors such as exam difficulty and student performance. In 2025, the percentage of entries achieving grade A or A* across all subjects was 28.2%. You can also explore the A Level grade distributions by subject for the latest and previous years to see how many students achieved each grade in different subjects. See the graphs in this article or visit Ofqual Analytics.

Can you fail A Levels?

Yes, it is possible to fail an A Level. A pass is any grade from E to A*. If a student does not meet the minimum standard required, they receive a U (unclassified), meaning they do not achieve the qualification.

What A Level grades are needed for university?

The grades your teen needs depend on the university and course they are applying for. Most degree courses require three A Levels, and offers are usually expressed in grades ranging from around BCC–BBB for many courses to AAA or higher for competitive subjects like Medicine and Law. Highly selective universities, including Oxbridge, may require high grades, while other universities may accept lower combinations. It’s important to check each university’s entry requirements, as some courses also specify required subjects alongside grades.

What A Level grades are needed for Oxford?

Oxford typically asks for AAA or A*AA at A Level, depending on the course, and some courses may require specific subjects.

Alongside grades, Oxford also considers admissions tests (e.g., the Oxford PAT), written work, and interviews, so achieving the required grades is not the only factor in securing an offer.

Can you resit A Levels to improve grades?

Yes, students can resit A Levels if they want to improve their grades. Resits usually take place the following summer, as A Level exams are only available once a year. Students will either need to re-enter as a private candidate or through their school or college if it offers resits.

Resitting can be a good option if your child narrowly missed the grades they needed for university or a particular career path. However, it’s worth weighing up the extra year of study and exam fees against other possible routes, such as Clearing, foundation years, or alternative qualifications.

Are A Level grades harder to achieve than GCSE grades?

Yes—A Levels are considered more challenging than GCSEs. They involve studying fewer subjects in much greater depth, with higher expectations for independent learning and exam performance.

Many students find the jump from GCSE to A Level significant, especially at the start of Year 12. However, with the right support and study habits, most students adapt to the increased demands and grow in confidence as the course progresses.

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.

• Copy URL
• Share Article