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Grade BoundariesAQA AS Grade Boundaries 2026

AQA AS Grade Boundaries 2026: Averages & Why They Matter

Curious about the AQA AS grade boundaries for 2026? If you're sitting your AS exams this year, understanding how grade boundaries work can help you to navigate your results and evaluate how you've performed.

Grade boundaries show how many marks you need to achieve a certain grade—they're what turn your raw exam marks into your final result. These boundaries can vary slightly each year, depending on how challenging the exam paper is for the whole cohort of students.

If a paper is tougher than expected, grade boundaries may be lowered to reflect that. Likewise, if the paper is easier, boundaries may be raised. This ensures students are assessed fairly and keeps grading consistent and balanced from one year to the next.

On this page, we're sharing the average grade boundaries for AQA AS exams, based on data from the past 5 years. While these are not predictions, they offer a benchmark for what grade boundaries have typically looked like, giving you a clearer idea of what to expect.

We'll also be updating this page as soon as the official 2026 grade boundaries are released, so be sure to bookmark it and sign up for alerts below.

Average Grade Boundaries 2026

Based on data from the past 5 years, we've calculated the average grade boundaries for AQA AS exams. While these are not predictions or official figures, they offer a helpful benchmark for understanding how grade boundaries have typically looked in recent years.

These averages are drawn from our comprehensive Save My Exams Grade Boundary Archive and are based on consistent trends in grade thresholds observed over multiple years.

SubjectYearMaximum MarkA*ABCDE
Accounting Adv2026240-1531321139475
Art & Design Adv (3d Design)202696-7770574432
Art & Design Adv (art Craft & Des)202696-7770574432
Art & Design Adv (fine Art)202696-7770574432
Art & Design Adv (graphic Comm)202696-7770574432
Art & Design Adv (photography)202696-8074625038
Art & Design Adv (textile Design)202696-7770574432
Bengali Adv2026400-300240210180150
Biblical Hebrew Adv2026300------
Biology Adv2026260-1701381149067
Biology AS2026150-8977655342
Business Adv2026300-20818315512799
Business AS2026160-115102897663
Chemistry Adv2026300-23519215712389
Chemistry AS2026160-11698826549
Comp Sci AS (c#)2026150-10994786349
Comp Sci AS (java)2026150-10994786349
Comp Sci AS (python)2026150-10994786349
Comp Sci AS (vb.net)2026150-10994786349
Computer Science Adv (c#)2026300-22418314911581
Computer Science Adv (java)2026300-22418314911581
Computer Science Adv (pascal/delphi)2026300-22418314911581
Computer Science Adv (python)2026300-22418314911581
Computer Science Adv (vb.net)2026300-22418314911581
Computer Science AS Opt A (c#)2026150-10286705540
Computer Science AS Opt B (java)2026150-10286705540
Computer Science AS Opt D (python)2026150-10286705540
Computer Science AS Opt E (vb.net)2026150-10286705540
Dance Adv2026100-6052433426
D&t Product Design Adv2026200-126105846342
D&t: Fashion and Textiles Adv2026200-11286715642
Drama and Theatre Adv202680-5444362820
Economics Adv2026240-18415613210885
Economics AS2026140-9988776656
English Language AS2026140-10591776450
English Language Adv2026400-336298255212169
English Language and Literature Adv2026200-1541361159473
English Lit B AS Option AA2026100-6555463627
English Lit B AS Option AB2026100-6657483931
English Lit B AS Option BA2026100-7161514131
English Lit B AS Option BB2026100-7262524232
English Literature A Adv Option A2026300-22519015411882
English Literature A Adv Option B2026300-23119415712084
English Literature A AS2026100-7060504030
English Literature B Adv Option AA2026300-22218615211885
English Literature B Adv Option AB2026300-22418615512493
English Literature B Adv Option BA2026300-24120416813296
English Literature B Adv Option BB2026300-241204170136103
English Literature B AS Opt AA2026100-6655453525
English Literature B AS Opt AB2026100-6757473829
English Literature B AS Opt BA2026100-6655443323
English Literature B AS Opt BB2026100-6757473727
Environmental Science Adv2026240-1621401179472
French Adv Teacher Cond Option2026280-23219416112895
French AS Teacher Cond Option2026200-16014112210385
French AS Teacher Option2026200-1551321098765
French AS Visiting Exr Option2026200-16014112210385
French AS Visitor Option2026200-1551321098765
Further Mathematics Adv Option DS2026300-1981521249669
Further Mathematics Adv Option MD2026300-1951491229568
Further Mathematics Adv Option SM2026300-1931471209367
Further Maths AS Opt DS2026160-119102856851
Further Maths AS Opt MD2026160-120103866952
Further Maths AS Opt SM2026160-123104856648
Further Maths AS Option DS2026160-117105938169
Further Maths AS Option MD2026160-118106938270
Further Maths AS Option SM2026160-118105927967
Geography Adv2026240-1691451219774
Geography AS2026160-10594837261
German Adv Teacher Cond Option2026280-2081571259463
German AS Teacher Cond Option2026200-1471241017957
German AS Teacher Option2026200-133109856137
German AS Visiting Exr Option2026200-1471241017957
German AS Visitor Option2026200-133109856137
History Adv Opt AA2026160-10887695235
History Adv Opt AB2026160-11089725539
History Adv Opt AD2026160------
History Adv Opt AE2026160------
History Adv Opt AM2026160------
History Adv Opt AS2026160-10887695235
History Adv Opt BA2026160------
History Adv Opt BB2026160-11493776145
History Adv Opt BD2026160-11594765942
History Adv Opt BE2026160------
History Adv Opt BM2026160------
History Adv Opt BS2026160-11291745741
History Adv Opt CF2026160-10988715437
History Adv Opt CG2026160-11089725538
History Adv Opt CH2026160-10079634833
History Adv Opt CJ2026160-10786695235
History Adv Opt CK2026160-10483675135
History Adv Opt CL2026160-10685685236
History Adv Opt CN2026160-10684675034
History Adv Opt CO2026160-10887695235
History Adv Opt CP2026160------
History Adv Opt CQ2026160-10991725436
History Adv Opt CR2026160-10786695235
History Adv Opt CT2026160------
History Adv Opt DC2026160------
History Adv Opt DG2026160------
History Adv Opt DH2026160-11291735537
History Adv Opt DJ2026160-11998785838
History Adv Opt DK2026160------
History Adv Opt DL2026160-11897785940
History Adv Opt DN2026160-11796765738
History Adv Opt DO2026160-12099795939
History Adv Opt DP2026160------
History Adv Opt DQ2026160------
History Adv Opt DR2026160-11998785838
History Adv Opt DT2026160------
History Adv Opt EA2026160-10988715437
History Adv Opt EB2026160------
History Adv Opt ED2026160------
History Adv Opt EE2026160------
History Adv Opt EM2026160------
History Adv Opt ES2026160-10988715437
History Adv Opt FC2026160------
History Adv Opt FF2026160------
History Adv Opt FG2026160------
History Adv Opt FH2026160-10281654933
History Adv Opt FJ2026160------
History Adv Opt FK2026160------
History Adv Opt FL2026160-10887705336
History Adv Opt FN2026160-10786695235
History Adv Opt FO2026160-11089715335
History Adv Opt FP2026160-10685695337
History Adv Opt FQ2026160-11493745536
History Adv Opt FR2026160-10988705235
History Adv Opt FT2026160------
History Adv Opt GC2026160------
History Adv Opt GF2026160-11089725538
History Adv Opt GG2026160-11190735639
History Adv Opt GH2026160-10180644934
History Adv Opt GJ2026160------
History Adv Opt GK2026160------
History Adv Opt GL2026160------
History Adv Opt GN2026160-10685685135
History Adv Opt GO2026160------
History Adv Opt GP2026160------
History Adv Opt GQ2026160-11392735537
History Adv Opt GR2026160-10887705336
History Adv Opt GT2026160------
History Adv Opt HA2026160-11089715335
History Adv Opt HB2026160-11291745740
History Adv Opt HD2026160-11392735436
History Adv Opt HE2026160-11695755637
History Adv Opt HM2026160-11493745536
History Adv Opt HS2026160-11189715335
History Adv Opt JC2026160------
History Adv Opt JF2026160-11291735537
History Adv Opt JG2026160-11392745639
History Adv Opt JH2026160-10382665034
History Adv Opt JJ2026160------
History Adv Opt JK2026160------
History Adv Opt JL2026160-10988715437
History Adv Opt JN2026160-10887695235
History Adv Opt JO2026160-11190725436
History Adv Opt JP2026160------
History Adv Opt JQ2026160------
History Adv Opt JR2026160-11089715335
History Adv Opt JT2026160------
History Adv Opt KA2026160-11291725436
History Adv Opt KB2026160------
History Adv Opt KD2026160-11594755637
History Adv Opt KE2026160-11897775737
History Adv Opt KM2026160-11695755637
History Adv Opt KS2026160-11191725436
History Adv Opt LA2026160------
History Adv Opt LB2026160-11594765942
History Adv Opt LD2026160------
History Adv Opt LE2026160-11998785839
History Adv Opt LM2026160-11796775839
History Adv Opt LS2026160-11392745638
History AS Opt AA2026100-5849413325
History AS Opt AB2026100-6152433426
History AS Opt AE2026100-6555453525
History AS Opt AM2026100-6454443424
History AS Opt AS2026100-6555453627
History AS Opt CG2026100-6251403020
History AS Opt CJ2026100-6654423120
History AS Opt CL2026100-6352413121
History AS Opt CN2026100-6655453525
History AS Opt CO2026100-6352413019
History AS Opt CP2026100-6453423120
History AS Opt CQ2026100-6756453423
History AS Opt CR2026100-6453423222
History AS Opt DG2026100-6554433221
History AS Opt DJ2026100-6957453321
History AS Opt DL2026100-6655443322
History AS Opt DN2026100-6958473626
History AS Opt DO2026100-6654423120
History AS Opt DP2026100-6755433221
History AS Opt DQ2026100-7058463524
History AS Opt DR2026100-6756453423
History AS Opt FG2026100-6654423018
History AS Opt FJ2026100-7057443118
History AS Opt FL2026100-6755433119
History AS Opt FN2026100-7058463423
History AS Opt FO2026100-6754412917
History AS Opt FP2026100-6855423018
History AS Opt FQ2026100-7158453321
History AS Opt FR2026100-6856443220
History AS Opt GG2026100-6251402918
History AS Opt GJ2026100-6654423018
History AS Opt GL2026100-6352413019
History AS Opt GN2026100-6655443323
History AS Opt GO2026100-6351392817
History AS Opt GP2026100-6452402918
History AS Opt GQ2026100-6755433221
History AS Opt GR2026100-6453423120
History AS Opt HA2026100-6050413223
History AS Opt HB2026100-6353433324
History AS Opt HE2026100-6756453423
History AS Opt HM2026100-6655443322
History AS Opt HS2026100-6756453525
History AS Opt JG2026100-6553413019
History AS Opt JJ2026100-6956433119
History AS Opt JL2026100-6654423120
History AS Opt JN2026100-6957463524
History AS Opt JO2026100-6654423018
History AS Opt JP2026100-6755433119
History AS Opt JQ2026100-7058463422
History AS Opt JR2026100-6755433221
History AS Opt KA2026100-5949403122
History AS Opt KB2026100-6252423223
History AS Opt KE2026100-6655443322
History AS Opt KM2026100-6554433221
History AS Opt KS2026100-6655443424
History AS Opt LA2026100-6151413223
History AS Opt LB2026100-6454443424
History AS Opt LE2026100-6856453423
History AS Opt LM2026100-6755443322
History AS Opt LS2026100-6857463525
History AS Option AA2026100-7161514131
History AS Option AB2026100-7463534333
History AS Option AD2026100-7161514131
History AS Option AM2026100-6758494133
History AS Option AS2026100-7060504132
History AS Option CG2026100-7262524233
History AS Option CJ2026100-6758494032
History AS Option CL2026100-7262524334
History AS Option CN2026100-7161514233
History AS Option CO2026100-7059494031
History AS Option CP2026100-6757483930
History AS Option CQ2026100-7262534334
History AS Option CR2026100-7061514233
History AS Option DJ2026100-6960514233
History AS Option DN2026100-7363534435
History AS Option DO2026100-7261514233
History AS Option DQ2026100-7464554536
History AS Option DR2026100-7263534435
History AS Option FL2026100-7262534334
History AS Option FN2026100-7363544435
History AS Option FO2026100-7161514232
History AS Option FQ2026100-7565554536
History AS Option FR2026100-7263534435
History AS Option GG2026100-6656463626
History AS Option GO2026100-6858483728
History AS Option GQ2026100-7160504031
History AS Option GR2026100-6959494030
History AS Option HA2026100-6757483930
History AS Option HB2026100-7060504132
History AS Option HD2026100-6757473829
History AS Option HE2026100-6455473931
History AS Option HM2026100-6354463830
History AS Option HS2026100-6657473830
History AS Option JG2026100-6355473931
History AS Option JN2026100-6759514335
History AS Option JO2026100-6657494032
History AS Option JP2026100-6456484033
History AS Option JQ2026100-6859514336
History AS Option JR2026100-6658504335
History AS Option KB2026100-7061524435
History AS Option KM2026100-6356494235
History AS Option KS2026100-6658504234
History AS Option LD2026100-7161514132
History AS Option LE2026100-6859504234
History AS Option LM2026100-6758494133
History AS Option LS2026100-7060514233
Law Adv Option A2026300-19916813810878
Law Adv Option B2026300-19416413510779
Mathematics Adv2026300-21817114010978
Mathematics AS2026160-11095816753
Media Studies Adv2026168-135116937149
Modern Hebrew Adv2026400------
Music Adv2026120-7960504030
Panjabi Adv2026400-327267234201168
Philosophy Adv2026200-137114927049
Physical Education Adv2026210-120103887358
Physics Adv (astrophysics)2026250-18815812910072
Physics Adv (electronics)2026250-19316213210273
Physics Adv (engineering)2026250-18815612810072
Physics Adv (medical)2026250-18715612810072
Physics Adv (turning Points)2026250-18815712810072
Physics AS2026140-7766564536
Polish Adv2026400-327267234201168
Politics Adv2026231-1711451219773
Psychology Adv2026288-19516713911183
Psychology AS2026144-9885736149
Religious Studies Adv Option A2026200-1661381098052
Religious Studies Adv Option B2026200-1681401118253
Religious Studies Adv Option C2026200------
Religious Studies Adv Option D2026200-1671391108152
Religious Studies Adv Option E2026200------
Religious Studies AS Opt A2026180-129107856443
Religious Studies AS Opt B2026180-130108866443
Religious Studies AS Opt D2026180-130108866443
Religious Studies AS Option A2026180-126109927559
Religious Studies AS Option B2026180-126109927559
Religious Studies AS Option D2026180-129111947760
SOCIOLOGY ADV2026240-17415513210986
SOCIOLOGY AS2026120-8172625344
Spanish Adv Teacher Cond Opt2026280-21216813510269
Spanish AS Teacher Cond Option2026200-1551341149474
Spanish AS Teacher Option2026200-1471241017856
Spanish AS Visiting Exr Option2026200-1551341149474
Spanish AS Visitor Option2026200-1471241017856
English Lit B AS Option Aa2026100-6554433221
English Lit B AS Option Ba2026100-7463524130
English Lit B AS Option Bb2026100-7362524232
Further Maths AS Option Ds2026160-10895837159
Further Maths AS Option Md2026160-113101897766
Further Maths AS Option Sm2026160-10996837058
History AS Option JL2026100-6658504234
Sociology AS2026120-8375675951

Disclaimer: These are not the official grade boundaries for 2026. They are calculated averages based on historical data and should be used as a rough guide only. Actual grade boundaries are set by the exam boards after all exam papers have been marked.

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AQA AS Grade Boundaries 2025

Look back at last year’s AQA AS grade boundaries to get an idea of what to expect in 2026:

SubjectYearMaximum MarkA*ABCDE
Biology AS2025150-9381695745
Business AS2025160-120107948168
Chemistry AS2025160-117100846852
Comp Sci AS (c#)2025150-11295786246
Comp Sci AS (java)2025150-11295786246
Comp Sci AS (python)2025150-11295786246
Comp Sci AS (vb.net)2025150-11295786246
Economics AS2025140-10291806959
English Language AS2025140-10089786756
English Lit B AS Option Aa2025100-6554433221
English Lit B AS Option Ba2025100-7463524130
English Lit B AS Option Bb2025100-7362524232
English Literature A AS2025100-7262524232
French AS Teacher Cond Option2025200-15914112310689
French AS Visiting Exr Option2025200-15914112310689
Further Maths AS Option Ds2025160-10895837159
Further Maths AS Option Md2025160-113101897766
Further Maths AS Option Sm2025160-10996837058
Geography AS2025160-10897867564
German AS Teacher Cond Option2025200-1501271048158
German AS Visiting Exr Option2025200-1501271048158
History AS Option AA2025100-7161514131
History AS Option AB2025100-7463534333
History AS Option AS2025100-7060504132
History AS Option CL2025100-6959494031
History AS Option CN2025100-6858494031
History AS Option CO2025100-6858494031
History AS Option CQ2025100-7060514233
History AS Option CR2025100-6959494031
History AS Option DN2025100-7161524334
History AS Option DO2025100-7161524334
History AS Option DQ2025100-7363544536
History AS Option DR2025100-7262524334
History AS Option FL2025100-7262524233
History AS Option FO2025100-7161514233
History AS Option FR2025100-7262524233
History AS Option GG2025100-6555453525
History AS Option GO2025100-6858483829
History AS Option GQ2025100-7060504031
History AS Option GR2025100-6959493929
History AS Option HA2025100-6757483930
History AS Option HB2025100-7060504132
History AS Option HD2025100-6757473728
History AS Option HE2025100-6456484032
History AS Option HS2025100-6657483931
History AS Option JG2025100-6254463830
History AS Option JL2025100-6658504234
History AS Option JP2025100-6456484033
History AS Option JQ2025100-6759514336
History AS Option JR2025100-6658504234
History AS Option KB2025100-7061524334
History AS Option KM2025100-6355484134
History AS Option KS2025100-6657494133
History AS Option LS2025100-7060514233
Mathematics AS2025160-127112988470
Physics AS2025140-8170594838
Psychology AS2025144-10491796755
Religious Studies AS Option A2025180-126108917457
Religious Studies AS Option B2025180-126108917457
Sociology AS2025120-8375675951
Spanish AS Teacher Cond Option2025200-1541351169778
Spanish AS Visiting Exr Option2025200-1541351169778
Source: AQA

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What to do after the 2026 AQA AS grade boundaries are released: Next steps

Once the 2026 AQA AS grade boundaries are published on results day, it’s natural to want to compare your marks to the thresholds to see how you did. Here’s what to do next, whether you’ve secured your university place or just missed the mark.

1. Check your results against the boundaries

Look at your raw marks and compare them to the official grade boundaries for your exam board. This will show you how close you were to each grade and whether it's worth considering a review of marking.

2. Understand what it means for you

If you didn't get the results you were hoping for, don't worry. You're not alone, and there are still plenty of ways forward. Whether you're considering resitting your ASs or just want to boost your confidence before embarking on your next steps, our AS revision resources are here to get you back on track.

3. Prepare for further study

Not everyone will choose to continue with their studies, but if you're heading to university, check out our University Acceptance Rates data. You can see how your A Level results compare to typical university offers and explore your options with confidence. Our guide to university Clearing is also a great place to start if you didn't get the grades you were hoping for and want to find a course that's right for you.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)

Grade boundaries are typically released at 8:00am on results day, just before students receive their official grades. In the meantime, you can use our 2026 grade boundary averages to get an idea of what the AQA AS grade boundaries may look like.

We'll be updating our comprehensive AQA AS grade boundaries resource as soon as the 2026 grade boundaries have been published, so be sure to visit this page on results day for live updates. Each exam board will also publish their results on their official websites. Once they're released, you'll be able to find them here:

After exams have taken place, senior examiners from each exam board review how students have performed. They look closely at:

  • How difficult the paper was compared to previous years.
  • The quality of student responses across the country.
  • Whether certain questions were considered unexpectedly hard or easy.

Ofqual asks exam boards to follow a rule called 'comparable outcomes'. This means that students with similar ability levels should get roughly the same grades each year, even if the exams are considered more or less difficult.

Grade boundaries show exactly how many marks you need to achieve each grade, whether that's a 9, 7 or 5 at GCSE, or an A, B or C at A Level.

For example, if the grade boundary for a grade 6 at GCSE is 61 marks, then a student who scores 63 would be awarded a grade 6.

If a paper is harder than expected, the grade boundaries may be lower, meaning students need fewer marks than usual to achieve a particular grade