How A Levels are graded
How A Levels are graded
Created: 27-March-2023Updated: 13-September-2025
A Levels in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are graded from A* (highest) to E (standard pass). If performance doesn’t meet the minimum standard, a U (ungraded) is awarded.
The system is designed to compare students fairly across exam sessions and convert your final results into UCAS Tariff points for university entry.
Grading scale
- A*, A, B, C, D, E — pass grades (A* highest)
- U — ungraded (below the minimum standard for a pass)
In today’s linear A Levels, all exams are taken at the end of the course. Grade boundaries are set after marking each series and can vary slightly by subject and board.
What marks do you need for each grade?
There isn’t a fixed national percentage for each grade. Exam boards (AQA, Pearson Edexcel, OCR, etc.) publish grade boundaries for every series once scripts are marked. As a rough guide, the pass boundary for an E often falls in the low-40% range, but it moves depending on paper difficulty and national performance.
Check the latest boundaries here: AQA grade boundaries · Pearson Edexcel · OCR
How UCAS points work
Universities may express offers as grades (e.g., BBB) or as UCAS Tariff points. For full A Levels, the standard UCAS Tariff is:
- A* = 56 points
- A = 48 points
- B = 40 points
- C = 32 points
- D = 24 points
- E = 16 points
Some courses ask for a total (e.g., 112 points), others require specific grades in specific subjects. Always check the course page on UCAS. UCAS Tariff explained
If things don’t go to plan
A U means no pass and no UCAS points for that subject, but you still have options:
- Resit the subject as a private candidate in the next series
- Consider alternative or foundation routes at university
- Explore vocational qualifications alongside or instead of a resit
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum grade to pass an A Level?
An E is a pass. The exact mark needed changes each series when grade boundaries are set.
Are grade boundaries the same every year?
No. They’re adjusted after marking to reflect paper difficulty and national performance.
Do all exam boards use the same A*–E scale?
Yes, but each board sets its own boundaries for each paper and series.
Do universities care about my percentage or my grade?
They look at your final grade (and sometimes subject-specific grades) and/or your UCAS points, not raw percentages.