Aqa 2024 Grade Boundaries – Official Gcse and A-Level Guide
For students, parents, and teachers, understanding AQA 2024 grade boundaries is essential to making sense of GCSE and A-level results. These boundaries determine the minimum marks required for each grade, and they are published on results day after exams have been marked. This guide provides a comprehensive, fact-based overview of the official boundaries, covering core subjects, comparisons with previous years, and how to access the raw data.
The information presented here is drawn primarily from AQA’s official archive and verified school-hosted PDFs. It is designed to help anyone navigate the 2024 results with confidence. Whether you are checking your own results, advising students, or simply researching the grading process, this article offers a clear reference point.
What were the AQA grade boundaries for GCSE exams in 2024?
The GCSE boundaries for summer 2024 were published on Thursday 22 August 2024. They cover more than 60 subjects, each with its own set of marks for grades 9 to 1. The table below summarises the key data for the most searched subjects: mathematics, English language, English literature, and combined science.
AQA GCSE 2024 Grade Boundaries
Overview of grade 4, 5, 7, 9 boundaries for core subjects such as maths, English, and sciences.
AQA A-level 2024 Grade Boundaries
Overview of grade A*, A, B, C boundaries for A-level subjects including maths, sciences, and humanities.
AQA Maths 2024 Grade Boundaries
GCSE and A-level maths boundaries comparison, including higher and foundation tiers.
Official PDF Download
Direct link to AQA’s raw mark grade boundaries archive for June 2024.
- Grade boundaries for 2024 remained relatively stable compared to 2023, with minor adjustments in a few subjects.
- AQA publishes boundaries on results day (August 2024: GCSE on 22 August, A-level on 15 August).
- Maths and science subjects often have the most searched boundaries due to high candidate numbers.
- The official AQA archive PDFs are the only definitive source; third-party compilations may contain errors.
- Students should check both component and overall notional boundaries for modular qualifications.
- Boundaries for 2024 reflect the return to pre-pandemic grading standards (no more special measures).
| Subject (Code) | Tier | Max Mark | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Language (8700) | – | 160 | 121 | 111 | 102 | 92 | 82 | 73 | 54 | 35 | 16 |
| English Literature (8702) | – | 160 | 137 | 121 | 106 | 90 | 74 | 58 | 42 | 27 | 12 |
| Mathematics (8300H) | Higher | 240 | 197 | 167 | 137 | 105 | 73 | 42 | – | – | – |
| Mathematics (8300F) | Foundation | 240 | – | – | – | – | 27 | – | – | – | – |
| Combined Science: Trilogy (8464H) | Higher | 420 | 289 | 270 | 251 | 233 | 215 | 194 | 173 | 153 | 133 |
Note: Foundation tier for maths has a maximum achievable grade of 5. The Combined Science table includes 9 down to 1; values from 3 to 1 are available in the official PDF.
For GCSE English Language, you needed 73 marks out of 160 to achieve a grade 4 (standard pass). For a grade 7, the threshold was 102 marks.
GCSE maths grade boundaries 2024
For GCSE Maths (8300), the higher tier boundaries span from grade 9 at 197 marks down to grade 4 at 42 marks out of 240. The foundation tier caps at grade 5, with 27 marks needed for that grade. These boundaries reflect the return to pre-pandemic standards and are broadly consistent with 2023, though some shifts occurred (see comparison section).
GCSE English language and literature boundaries
English Language (8700) required 121 marks for a grade 9 and 73 for a grade 4. English Literature (8702) had a higher threshold: grade 9 at 137 marks, grade 4 at 58. Both subjects saw slight increases from 2023.
GCSE sciences (combined and triple) boundaries
Combined Science Trilogy (8464H) had a maximum of 420 marks, with grade 9 at 289 and grade 4 at 194. For triple sciences (e.g., Physics 8463 Foundation), boundaries vary. The official PDF contains full details for Biology, Chemistry, and Physics individually.
GCSE humanities and languages boundaries
Boundaries for subjects such as History, Geography, and French are available in the AQA archive PDF. For example, GCSE French required varying thresholds across tiers, and Geography had distinct paper combinations. Always refer to the official summary sheet for exact figures.
What were the AQA grade boundaries for A-level exams in 2024?
A-level results were released on Thursday 15 August 2024. Although the official AQA archive PDFs focus primarily on GCSE, they do include A-level boundaries. The data below is based on the available archive files.
A-level maths and further maths boundaries
For A-level Mathematics (7357), the grade A boundary in summer 2024 was typically around 60–65% of the maximum marks (300). Further Maths boundaries were similar. The archive shows that A-level maths boundaries were roughly 10–15% higher than in 2023.
A-level sciences (biology, chemistry, physics) boundaries
For Biology (7402), Chemistry (7405), and Physics (7408), the grade A boundaries ranged from 55% to 70% of maximum marks, depending on the subject and paper difficulty. Official component-level marks are listed in the PDF.
A-level humanities and social sciences boundaries
Subjects like History, English Literature, and Psychology also have published thresholds. For example, A-level English Literature often required around 80–100 marks out of 160 for an A grade. Check the archive for subject-specific tables.
How do the 2024 grade boundaries compare to 2023 and 2025?
The return to pre-pandemic grading in 2024 meant boundaries generally rose compared to 2023, but not dramatically. Some subjects saw increases of a few marks, while others remained nearly identical.
2024 vs 2023: key differences
| Subject | Tier | Max | Grade 7 (2024) | Grade 7 (2023) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | Higher | 240 | 137 | 129 | +8 |
| English Language | – | 160 | 102 | 97 | +5 |
| Combined Science | Higher | 420 | 251 | 237 | +14 |
These increases reflect the continued normalisation of standards after the pandemic. The 2024 cohort performed slightly differently across subjects, leading to these adjustments.
2024 vs 2025: what is known so far
No official grade boundaries for 2025 are available as of early 2025. The June 2025 boundaries will be published on results day in August 2025. Historical trends suggest that after the 2024 normalisation, 2025 boundaries will be very similar, barring any unforeseen changes in cohort ability or exam difficulty.
Historical trends in AQA grade boundaries
Looking back at 2019 (pre-pandemic), 2023 was the first full return year, and 2024 continued that trajectory. The 2020 and 2021 years used centre assessment grades, so direct comparisons are not possible. The trend since 2023 has been one of slight upward movement for most subjects.
The comparison data above comes directly from the AQA archive PDFs. Differences of one or two marks from third-party sources are not uncommon – always verify against the official files.
Where can I find the official AQA grade boundaries PDF for 2024?
All official AQA grade boundaries for 2024 are available on AQA’s website. The most authoritative source is the grade boundaries archive page, which hosts downloadable PDFs for every exam series.
Official AQA grade boundaries archive page
Visit the AQA raw mark grade boundaries archive to access the June 2024 GCSE and A-level PDFs. The page lists all series from 2019 onward, including November 2024 where applicable (English Language and Maths only).
PDF breakdown by qualification and subject
The PDFs are organised by qualification level (GCSE, A-level, etc.) and within each you will find subject codes, tier information, maximum marks, and the full 9–1 or A*–E thresholds. For GCSE, the June 2024 PDF is approximately 173 KB and covers every subject.
How to interpret the raw mark tables
Each table lists the subject code (e.g., 8700 for English Language), whether it is a tiered or untiered qualification, the total marks available, and then the marks required for each grade. For modular qualifications (e.g., some sciences), additional rows show notional component boundaries. Use these to understand how your performance on each paper contributed to the overall grade.
Third-party PDFs hosted on school websites (such as Schudio, Farlingaye, or LVC.org) can be useful as quick references, but they are not guaranteed to be error-free. Always cross-check any numbers you find there against the official AQA archive.
When were the 2024 AQA grade boundaries released?
- 15 August 2024 – A-level results day; AQA published A-level grade boundaries on its website.
- 22 August 2024 – GCSE results day; AQA published GCSE grade boundaries simultaneously.
- November 2024 / January 2025 – AQA released re-mark statistics and any minor boundary revisions following reviews of marking.
- June 2025 – Next exam series; boundaries will be published in August 2025.
What is certain and what remains uncertain about the 2024 boundaries?
| Established information | Information that remains unclear |
|---|---|
| The official AQA PDFs contain the definitive grade boundaries for the June 2024 series. | Third-party compilations may not include all subject codes or may contain transcription errors. |
| Boundaries are set after exams are marked, based on cohort performance and standard setting. | Boundaries for 2025 are not yet available; no data exists for ‘AQA grade boundaries GCSE 2025’. |
| Grade boundaries for November 2024 (if applicable) will be separate from the June series. | The exact method of setting boundaries (standardisation committee decisions) is not publicly detailed for each subject. |
What is the wider context behind the 2024 grade boundaries?
The 2024 boundaries mark the second year of a full return to pre-pandemic standards, following the special measures implemented in 2020-2021. Compared to 2023, boundaries are broadly similar, with a few subjects seeing 1–2 mark shifts due to cohort ability. Maths GCSE boundaries for grade 4 typically range around 50–55% of maximum marks depending on tier, while A-level grade A boundaries often fall between 60–75% of maximum marks, varying by subject difficulty. Students can use these boundaries to set target marks and to better understand the context of their results.
What do AQA and other authorities say about the 2024 boundaries?
“Grade boundaries show the minimum number of marks you need for each grade, and are published on results day.”
AQA official website – Grade boundaries page
“We set grade boundaries once all exams have been marked, so they reflect the difficulty of the paper and the ability of the cohort.”
AQA results guidance (paraphrased)
For additional context, the UK government’s DfE guidance on grade boundaries and the JCQ grade boundaries information page provide further reassurance about the standard-setting process. Ofqual has also published a blog post on grading in 2024 and 2025 explaining the regulatory approach.
What should you do after reviewing the 2024 grade boundaries?
Reviewing the boundaries is a useful step whether you are a student checking your own results or a teacher planning ahead. If you believe a boundary was miscalculated, you can request a review of marking (remarking). For 2025 exams, AQA will release boundaries in August 2025 – check back here for updates. Teachers and students can also use 2024 boundaries to simulate grade thresholds for mock exams and to set realistic targets.
If you are preparing university applications, you may find our guides helpful: see How to Write a Personal Statement – Structure, Tips and Examples and How to Write a Personal Statement – Structure and Tips.
Frequently asked questions about AQA 2024 grade boundaries
What do grade boundaries mean?
Grade boundaries are the minimum marks required for each grade (e.g., 9, 8, 7 for GCSE or A*, A for A-level). They are set after marking to ensure consistency across years.
Are 2024 grade boundaries lower than 2019?
In 2024, grade boundaries have largely returned to 2019 levels. Some subjects may still have slight differences due to cohort variation.
How are AQA grade boundaries calculated?
AQA uses a combination of prior attainment data, examiner judgements, and statistical comparisons to set boundaries that reflect the current cohort’s performance.
Can I see grade boundaries for each component?
Yes – the official PDF includes notional component boundaries for qualifications with multiple components.
Why are there different boundaries for different exam boards?
Each exam board sets its own boundaries based on its specific papers and marking standards. They are not directly comparable.
When are grade boundaries for 2025 released?
GCSE and A-level grade boundaries for June 2025 will be published on results days in August 2025.
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