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A-Level grade calculator
Enter your paper marks and the grade boundaries from your exam board's document to estimate your A-Level or AS grade, see the marks you need for the next grade, and work out what you need on papers you haven't sat yet.
- Paper 1
- 38/50
- Notional B
- Paper 2
- 31/50
- Notional B
- Total
- 69/100
- Grade C
In AQA's worked example, grade B started at 70 out of 100, so two notional Bs made a C overall. Your total decides your grade, which is what this calculator adds up.
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How to use the grade calculator
- 01
Add each paper: your mark and what it's out of. Leave the mark blank for a paper you haven't sat yet.
- 02
Open your board's grade-boundary document for the series and copy the overall subject boundary for each grade. If your board scales papers, enter each scaled maximum in “Counts as”.
- 03
Read your estimated grade, the marks to the next grade, and what you need on the papers left for any target grade.
How your grade is worked out
Boards publish boundaries for each paper and for the whole subject. In linear GCSEs, AS and A-Levels, your total subject mark decides the grade.
- Your marks are added across all papers and compared with the subject grade boundaries. Your grade is not an average of paper grades.
- A grade boundary is the minimum total for that grade: reach it and you get the grade.
- A scaled paper counts as its mark × its scaled maximum ÷ its raw maximum, so your total matches the subject maximum in the document.
- With papers still to sit, the calculator projects your grade at the same percentage and works out the share of the remaining marks you need for any grade.
- Grades left blank are skipped, which is how tiers and options without every grade work. Below the lowest boundary you get U (unclassified).
Sources: AQA, guide to notional component grade boundaries · OCR, grade boundaries
A-Level grades explained
A-Levels are graded A* to E and AS levels A to E. Anything below E is U (unclassified).
| A-Level | A* (highest) to E, then U |
|---|---|
| AS | A to E, then U |
| Key boundaries | A and E |
| Spaced evenly | B, C and D |
| A* | Statistical predictions |
- 01A and E are the key boundaries, set by senior examiners' judgement of students' work alongside statistical evidence. B, C and D are spaced evenly between them.
- 02A* is set on the total subject mark using statistical predictions, so an A* shown for a single paper is notional. The old rule of an A plus 90% of the A2 uniform marks doesn't apply to linear A-Levels.
- 03In England, AS levels are standalone qualifications and no longer count towards the A-Level.
- 04Cambridge International AS Levels are graded a to e in lower case, and Cambridge has no A* on an individual component.
Sources: Ofqual, grading new AS and A levels · Ofqual, setting A* in the new A levels (2017) · Ofqual, guide to AS and A level results (2019) · Cambridge International, grade threshold tables
Where to find official grade boundaries
Boards publish boundaries after every exam series, usually on results day. Use the overall subject table for your specification, tier or option.
- AQA
- Pearson Edexcel
- OCR
- WJEC Eduqas
- WJEC (Wales)
- CCEA (Northern Ireland)
- Cambridge International AS & A Level
- AQA, Pearson Edexcel, OCR and WJEC Eduqas give subject boundaries in total marks, plus notional paper boundaries as a guide. AQA shows scaled boundaries next to raw ones for scaled papers.
- Unitised WJEC (Wales) and CCEA qualifications use a uniform mark scale (UMS). Convert each unit's raw mark with the board's raw-to-UMS tables or converter, then enter UMS marks and the subject's UMS boundaries.
- Cambridge publishes grade thresholds for each combination of components, out of a maximum mark after weighting. The percentage uniform marks on a Cambridge statement can't be used with these tables.
Tips for using grade boundaries
- 01Use the overall subject boundaries for a full set of papers. Paper boundaries only suit an estimate for a single paper.
- 02For a mock, try the boundaries from the last two series to see a range rather than one grade.
- 03Check your tier, option or component combination: each one has its own boundaries.
- 04Look at the marks you need, not only the grade. A small gap on one paper is something to aim at in your next practice.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate my A-Level grade?
Add up your marks across all the papers, scaled where your board scales them, then compare the total with the subject grade boundaries for that series. The highest grade whose boundary you reach is your grade. The calculator does this as you type.
How is an A* worked out at A-Level?
On your total subject mark. Boards set the A* boundary using statistical predictions, and you need to reach it across all your papers. Any A* boundary shown for a single paper is only a guide, and the old rule of 90% of the A2 uniform marks doesn't apply to linear A-Levels.
Are A-Level grade boundaries the same every year?
No. Boards set new boundaries after each series is marked, to reflect how hard the papers were. Use the boundaries for the series you sat, or the last two series as a guide for a mock.
Why don't my paper grades add up to my overall grade?
Paper boundaries are notional, a guide only. In AQA's worked example, a notional B on two papers (38/50 and 31/50) added up to 69/100, one mark under the subject B boundary of 70, so the grade was C.
What does a scaled mark mean in AQA's boundary tables?
Some papers are scaled so they carry their intended weighting. AQA then shows a raw row and a scaled row. In A-Level English Language, for example, papers 1 and 2 are out of 100 and count as 200 each, so enter 200 in “Counts as”.
Does AS count towards my A-Level?
Not in England: AS levels are standalone qualifications there. Choose the AS A–E scale to estimate an AS grade on its own boundaries.
How do I use Cambridge International grade thresholds?
Use the syllabus thresholds for your combination of components. They're out of a maximum mark after weighting, so enter each component's weighted maximum in “Counts as”. Percentage uniform marks from your statement can't be used with these tables.
Are my marks saved or shared?
Your marks and boundaries are saved in this browser so they're there when you come back. The calculator runs on your device and doesn't send them to Aripsy.