A-Level Grades Explained

A-Levels are a crucial stage of education for many students in the UK. These exams are typically taken in the final two years of school and are often used by universities and employers to determine academic ability. But how do A-Level grades work, and what do they mean for your future? In this guide, we'll cover everything you need to know about A-Level grades.

A-Level results in the UK from 2000 to 2022, by grade

How A-Level Grades are Determined

Level grades are determined by a combination of coursework and exams. The specific requirements vary depending on the subject, but generally, you'll need to complete a certain number of assessments and exams over the two-year period. See TutorChase’s article ‘Which A-Levels Don’t Have Coursework’ to see which courses are completely exam-based.    Coursework is marked by your teachers, and then moderated externally to ensure consistency. In most subjects, there is scope for remarking if the moderator thinks it is necessary.

Once all of your assessments and exams have been completed, your overall grade will be calculated based on your performance in each component. The exact formula used to calculate your grade will depend on the subject, and you can usually find this information on the course website.

If you want to dive into even more detail about how your exams and coursework is graded, we highly recommend looking at the specific marking criteria provided by the exam board. Whilst this information can sometimes feel a bit generic, it is a great habit to compare your work against the criteria set out by the examiners, as this is exactly how your work will be marked.

For instance, Edexcel A-Level Economics past papers, which can be found online here include the following general marking guidance:

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As well as providing specific marking criteria that the examiner will apply for each question:

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You can also find similar information for any piece of coursework you submit.

Linear and modular qualifications

Linear qualifications

A linear qualification means that you are assessed at the end of the course after all of your study has taken place. So usually after two years of study for A-Level and one year of study for AS. For linear qualifications, all of the marks for the different exams are added together and you are given a grade.

Modular qualifications

A modular qualification is taught in units throughout the course and you take an assessment at the end of each unit. Because some papers may be easier or harder than others, students are usually graded on modular qualifications according to a Uniform Mark Scheme (UMS).

To achieve an A* in a modular A-Level, you need to achieve a grade A on the A-Level overall and also achieve 90% or higher of the maximum uniform mark on your A2 units. This is quite complicated, and is part of the reason why A-Levels have been reformed to favour the linear system. Not many people take the modular system anymore, most students will likely be part of the linear system, so your AS results no longer contribute to A-Level qualifications. This means there is no longer a need for the complex rule which is used to calculate A* grade for modular A-Levels.

Why do the grade boundaries change every year?

AS, A-Level and GCSE qualifications in the UK are awarded using the ‘comparable outcomes’ approach. This means that if the group of students in one year are a similar ability to those in the previous year, then the overall results at a national level should be comparable.

Since each exam has new questions, sometimes exam papers are easier or harder than previous years. The exam boards therefore use statistical approaches and the insights of senior examiners to ensure that the grades reflect the ability of the cohort, rather than the difficulty of the exam. This ensures that the system is fair to students. This can be quite a complex process, but if you are interested in the details, take a look at Pearson’s Comparable Outcomes Guide.

Understanding the Grading System

A-Level grades are assigned on a scale from A* to E, with A* being the highest grade possible. Some courses may also offer a grade U (ungraded). In order to achieve an A* grade, you'll need to perform exceptionally well in both your coursework and your exams. This is the equivalent of achieving a grade 9 at GCSE.

In order to achieve a grade A, you'll need to perform well across all components of the course. This is the equivalent of achieving a grade 7 or 8 at GCSE.

A grade B indicates that you have performed well overall, but may have some weaker areas that you need to work on. This is the equivalent of achieving a grade 6 at GCSE.

A grade C indicates that you have met the minimum requirements for the course. This is the equivalent of achieving a grade 4 or 5 at GCSE.

A grade D indicates that you have not met the requirements for the course, but have still achieved a pass. This is the equivalent of achieving a grade 3 at GCSE.

A grade E indicates that you have not met the requirements for the course, and have not achieved a pass. This is the equivalent of achieving a grade 2 or below at GCSE.

It's worth noting that some courses may also offer a grade U, which means that you were ungraded for the course. This could be because you did not complete all of the necessary components, or because your work did not meet the minimum requirements for a grade.

What Happens After Receiving Your Grades

Once you have received your A-Level grades, the next step is to decide what to do with them. For many students, the goal is to use their grades to gain entry to university. Universities will typically have minimum entry requirements for their courses, which will often include specific A-Level grades.

If you don't quite achieve the grades you were hoping for, don't panic! There are still options available to you. You may be able to enter a different course or university through the clearing process, or you may be able to improve your grades through resitting exams or taking a gap year.

It's worth noting that A-Level grades are also used by many employers to determine academic ability. So even if you don't plan on going to university, your A-Level grades can still have an impact on your future career prospects.

That being said, A-Levels are not the only way to get into university and many careers recognise work experience or other qualifications. See our guide on going to university without A-Levels for more information.

Tips for Achieving Your Best Grades

Now that you know how A-Level grades work, how can you ensure that you achieve your best results? Here at TutorChase, we excel in helping students achieve the highest A-Level grades and have plenty of information and support to offer you. Why not take a look at our blog which has plenty of articles covering all your top A-Level questions, including some subject-specific advice and tips from our expert A-Level tutors.