Question 1

What are Cambridge International A-Level Business Studies grade thresholds?

Accepted Answer

Grade thresholds are the minimum weighted marks you need for each letter grade in Cambridge International A-Level Business Studies (syllabus 9609). Cambridge calls them 'thresholds' rather than 'boundaries', but the idea is the same: they mark the cut-off for each grade after weighting. Cambridge sets them once marking is complete for the whole cohort: senior examiners review evidence from the exam series, compare performance with previous years, and recommend where each threshold should sit.

The thresholds move a little from year to year, because every paper is a slightly different test. If a paper turns out more difficult than usual, the thresholds come down. If it's more accessible, they nudge up. The aim is that a grade represents the same standard whichever year you happened to sit the exam, even though the raw mark needed will vary between series.

Question 2

Why are there three tables (AX / AY / AZ)?

Accepted Answer

Cambridge lets candidates sit different combinations of components (called 'options') for A-Level Business Studies, so each combination has its own set of grade thresholds. The three main A-Level combinations differ by which specific variant of each component your centre entered you for.

Check which components your centre entered you for on your statement of entry, then use the matching tab above. If you're not sure, ask your teacher: the combination is set by your school, not by you individually.

Question 3

When are the Cambridge International A-Level Business Studies thresholds published?

Accepted Answer

Cambridge International normally publishes grade threshold tables per syllabus within a few days of the A-Level results release each August. They land on Cambridge's grade threshold tables page as one PDF per syllabus (Business Studies 9609 has its own document each series).

We update this page shortly after Cambridge releases the tables, so you can look up your total against the fresh thresholds and see what grade it would have earned. Cambridge also runs November and March series for some regions: those thresholds publish on their own timelines, separate from the main June release.

Question 4

How should I use these thresholds when I'm revising?

Accepted Answer

There are two ways worth building into your routine.

**Score your past papers realistically.** Sit a paper timed, mark it against the official mark scheme, and if you've completed a full set of components for your option, add up your marks with the correct weighting and compare the total against that year's threshold in the table above. That's the grade it would have earned in that series, and exactly how many marks you were short of the next one. Our [past papers by year](https://cognito.org/courses/alevel/business-studies/cie/past-papers/by-year) tab has every component and mark scheme in one place, so you can pick a series and get straight into it.

**Set your target using an average.** A practical target is to aim around the average of the last few years' thresholds for your option and the grade you're going for. That's more realistic than aiming at the highest recent year, in case the next paper is more difficult, and more ambitious than aiming at the lowest, in case it's more accessible.

Once you know where you're losing marks, our [Cambridge International A-Level Business Studies course](https://cognito.org/courses/alevel/business-studies/cie) covers the whole syllabus with revision notes, quizzes and flashcards organised by topic.

Question 5

Can I use Cognito for Cambridge International A-Level Business Studies exam practice?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Our full [A-Level Business Studies (Cambridge International) course](https://cognito.org/courses/alevel/business-studies/cie) is free and covers the whole 9609 syllabus. You'll find revision notes written to the syllabus, self-marking quizzes and flashcards, and [past papers by year](https://cognito.org/courses/alevel/business-studies/cie/past-papers/by-year) with the official mark schemes alongside.

A sensible order once you're deep into revision: work through a topic in the notes, test yourself with the quiz and flashcards, then move to past-paper practice under timed conditions in the final weeks before your exam.

Series	Max	Grade A*	Grade A	Grade B	Grade C	Grade D	Grade E
Jun 2026 (Option AX)Latest	200	157	146	135	119	104	89
Jun 2026 (Option AY)	200	153	143	133	120	107	94
Jun 2026 (Option AZ)	200	155	143	131	116	102	88
Jun 2025 (Option AX)	200	154	143	132	116	101	86
Jun 2025 (Option AY)	200	154	143	132	119	106	94
Jun 2025 (Option AZ)	200	161	150	139	124	109	95
Jun 2024 (Option AX)	200	164	152	140	126	112	98
Jun 2024 (Option AY)	200	149	137	125	111	98	85
Jun 2024 (Option AZ)	200	161	149	137	121	105	89
Jun 2023 (Option AX)	200	163	150	137	121	105	90
Jun 2023 (Option AY)	200	162	150	138	122	106	91
Jun 2023 (Option AZ)	200	169	157	145	128	111	94
Jun 2022 (Option AX)	200	149	136	123	109	95	82
Jun 2022 (Option AY)	200	146	132	118	101	84	68
Jun 2022 (Option AZ)	200	144	131	118	104	90	76

A-Level Business Studies Cambridge International Grade Boundaries

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