Understanding A Level grades is crucial, as they determine university admissions and future career paths. However, they can be confusing. What counts as a pass? Do exams only determine grades? And why do A Level grades look so different from GCSE grades?

A Levels (Advanced Level qualifications) follow a letter grading system. The highest grade is an A*, and the lowest passing grade is an E. Unlike GCSEs, where grades 9-1 are used, A Levels Math grade  students from A*–E. Before 2019, students were graded from grade A (the highest) to Grade E (the lowest passing mark). However, from 2019 onwards, a new grade, the A*, was included to reward ‘outstanding performance’.

How are A Level grades worked out?

A Level grades are based on the total number of marks a student achieves in their exams and coursework (if applicable). However, there is no fixed score for each grade; grade boundaries change every year.

After all students have taken their exams, exam boards (like AQA, Pearson Edexcel, and OCR) review the overall performance. If an exam was challenging, the boundary for an A or B might be lowered to ensure fairness. Likewise, if most students performed very well, the boundary for top grades might be raised.

For each subject, examiners decide what raw marks (the number of marks you actually scored) translate into final A Level grades (A*, A, B, etc.). These boundaries are published on results day so students can see how their marks compare.

All of this means that there is no typical example of A*, or C grade work at A Level in a particular subject; it will change year on year. This system ensures that grades reflect not just individual performance but also how the whole year group performed in a fair and balanced way. Part of that is to ensure fairness when it comes to applying to university.

A Level grades and UCAS points

Some universities require specific grades for particular courses, but some use these points to determine eligibility for courses. For example, a university might set a minimum entry requirement of 120 UCAS Tariff points for a particular course. This could be made up of three B grades, but equally could be achieved with A Level grades of ABC. For students applying to UK universities, A Level grades are converted into UCAS Tariff points. For each grade, the tariff points are as follows:

What is a pass at A Level?

A pass at A Level is considered to be any grade from A* to E. If a student receives a U (ungraded), they have not met the minimum requirements to pass.

Many universities and employers require at least a C or above for specific subjects, particularly in competitive fields. However, achieving a D or E still means a student has passed the course. 

It is always worth giving your all to each of your A Level courses, even if you are finding it tricky; students must understand that every UCAS Tariff point counts.

How are A Level grades calculated?

A combination of different assessments determines A Level grade:

• Final exams: Most A Level courses are assessed using only written exams taken at the end of Year 13.
• Coursework (if applicable): Some subjects, like English, History, and Art, include coursework that counts towards the final grade.
• Practicals (for science subjects): Science A Levels (e.g., Biology, Chemistry, Physics) include practical assessments. However, sometimes these do not affect the main grade (in these cases, they are graded separately as Pass/Fail).

Weighting assessments of A level 

Practicals work a bit differently. In AQA A Level Chemistry, for example, the practical does not contribute to the final A Level grade, but is graded separately through what’s called the Practical Endorsement. There are only two grades: pass or fail. Even though this component does not affect your A Level grade, some universities may include passing this component as part of the entry requirements to some of their courses. 

Additionally, at least 15% of the total A Level grade for AQA Chemistry is allocated to assessing practical knowledge and understanding. This is assessed in exam questions in the exam papers. It is therefore essential to take practicals seriously, because completing them and knowing the skills involved could be the difference between getting on to your top university course or not. Most A Levels are assessed through exams alone, but in subjects with coursework, the weighting varies.

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