Education7 min readJune 2, 2026

A-Level Grade Boundaries 2026: What Each Grade Means

Understand A-Level grade boundaries for 2026. Learn what marks you need for A*, A, B, C in AQA, OCR, and Edexcel. Includes university entry requirements and grade calculator.

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How A-Level grades work

A-Level grades run from A* (highest) down through A, B, C, D, and E, with U (Ungraded) for failing marks. Percentage thresholds are set after each exam series by AQA, OCR, and Edexcel.

Typical A-Level grade boundaries

  • A*: typically 80%+ overall AND 90%+ on A2 components
  • A: typically 80%+ overall
  • B: typically 70–79%
  • C: typically 60–69%
  • D: typically 50–59%
  • E: typically 40–49%
  • U: below 40%

UCAS Tariff points for A-Levels

  • A* = 56 points
  • A = 48 points
  • B = 40 points
  • C = 32 points
  • D = 24 points
  • E = 16 points

University entry requirements by grade

Oxford and Cambridge: Most courses require A*A*A or A*AA.

Russell Group universities: Most undergraduate courses ask for AAA to ABB.

Post-1992 universities: Entry requirements range from BBB to CCC.

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About the Author: Pratik Kathiriya

Pratik Kathiriya is the founder and lead developer of CalcProTool, a free online calculator platform serving users in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. With a background in software engineering and financial mathematics, Pratik personally verifies the formulas, tax rates, and health guidelines behind every calculator on this site. He is based in Helsinki, Finland.