Question 1

What are Cambridge International A-Level Chemistry grade thresholds?

Accepted Answer

Grade thresholds are the minimum weighted marks you need for each letter grade in Cambridge International A-Level Chemistry (syllabus 9701). 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 Chemistry, so each combination has its own set of grade thresholds. The three main A-Level combinations are:

**AX** = components 11, 21, 31, 41, 51 (Multiple Choice paper 1, AS Structured paper 1, Practical paper 1, A2 Structured paper 1, Planning paper 1)

**AY** = components 12, 22, 33, 42, 52 (the second variant of each paper)

**AZ** = components 13, 23, 35, 43, 53 (the third variant, mainly for centres in different zones)

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

What does 'weighted' mean on the mark totals?

Accepted Answer

Cambridge scales the individual component marks before adding them up, so the max after weighting sits at 260 for the full A-Level (rather than the sum of raw component maxes). The scaling gives each component its intended weight in the overall qualification: the Multiple Choice paper is worth less than the A2 Structured paper, even though both contribute a raw mark.

The upshot for revision: when you're comparing past-paper practice against these thresholds, add up the raw marks from your papers, apply the same scaling Cambridge uses (published in the syllabus document), then compare the weighted total. Or as a shortcut, work out what fraction of the maximum weighted mark you got on each paper and use that to estimate.

Question 4

When are the Cambridge International A-Level Chemistry 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 (Chemistry 9701 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 5

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/chemistry/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 [structured exam practice](https://cognito.org/courses/alevel/chemistry/cie/exam-practice/structured) is grouped by topic so you can work through the areas that need the most attention.

Question 6

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

Accepted Answer

Yes! Our full [A-Level Chemistry (Cambridge International) course](https://cognito.org/courses/alevel/chemistry/cie) is free and covers the whole 9701 syllabus. You'll find revision notes written to the syllabus, self-marking quizzes and flashcards, [structured exam questions](https://cognito.org/courses/alevel/chemistry/cie/exam-practice/structured) grouped by topic with worked answers in mark-scheme style, and [past papers by year](https://cognito.org/courses/alevel/chemistry/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 have a go at the structured exam questions on that topic. Come back to full past papers 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	260	209	185	161	133	106	79
Jun 2026 (Option AY)	260	201	168	135	110	86	62
Jun 2026 (Option AZ)	260	201	175	149	124	99	74
Jun 2025 (Option AX)	260	202	176	150	122	95	68
Jun 2025 (Option AY)	260	206	174	142	117	92	68
Jun 2025 (Option AZ)	260	204	179	154	126	98	70
Jun 2024 (Option AX)	260	191	166	141	114	87	61
Jun 2024 (Option AY)	260	200	167	134	109	84	59
Jun 2024 (Option AZ)	260	200	169	138	112	86	61
Jun 2023 (Option AX)	260	184	160	136	112	88	64
Jun 2023 (Option AY)	260	197	161	125	102	79	56
Jun 2022 (Option AX)	260	176	150	124	99	75	51
Jun 2022 (Option AY)	260	184	153	122	98	75	52
Jun 2022 (Option AZ)	260	175	149	123	99	75	51

A-Level Chemistry Cambridge International Grade Boundaries

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