Question 1

What are AQA A-Level English Literature grade boundaries?

Accepted Answer

Grade boundaries are the minimum raw marks you need for each letter grade in AQA A-Level English Literature (specification 7712). AQA 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 boundary should sit. They're then normally published on A-Level results day, alongside the grades themselves.

The boundaries 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 boundaries come down. If it's more accessible, they nudge up.

Question 2

Why are there separate tables for each option?

Accepted Answer

AQA A-Level English Literature A has two Paper 2 options: candidates sit either **Option A** (Political and Social Protest Writing) or **Option B** (Modern Times: literature from 1945 to the present). Because each option's Paper 2 is a different paper, AQA sets separate overall grade boundaries.

Check which option you sat on your statement of entry, then use the matching tab above. Paper 1 and the NEA coursework are common to both options.

Question 3

Why do the AQA A-Level English Literature boundaries change every year?

Accepted Answer

Because every paper is a slightly different test. Once marking is complete, senior examiners review evidence from the exam series, compare performance with previous years, and recommend where the boundaries should sit for each grade. If the paper turned out more difficult than usual, the boundaries come down. If it was more accessible, they nudge up.

The point of that adjustment is fairness across cohorts: a grade should mean the same thing whichever year you sat it.

Question 4

When are the AQA A-Level English Literature grade boundaries published?

Accepted Answer

AQA normally publishes A-Level grade boundaries at 8am on A-Level results day, alongside the grades themselves. They land on AQA's grade boundaries page and cover every A-Level specification in a single document, with each option listed on its own row.

We update this page the same morning with the new row for each option, so you can look up your total against the fresh boundaries and see what grade it would have earned.

Question 5

How should I use these boundaries 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 papers, compare your total against that year's overall boundary for your option 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.

**Set your target using an average.** A practical target is to aim around the average of the last few years' boundaries 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.

Our [A-Level English Literature (AQA A) past papers](https://cognito.org/courses/alevel/english-literature/aqaa/past-papers/by-year) collection is free and has every year's paper and mark scheme in one place, so you can pick a series and get straight into it.

Question 6

Does Cognito have AQA A-Level English Literature past papers?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Our [A-Level English Literature (AQA A) past papers](https://cognito.org/courses/alevel/english-literature/aqaa/past-papers/by-year) collection is free and has every published paper and mark scheme in one place, so you can sit them under timed conditions and mark against the official scheme.

For revision, we'd suggest working through by-topic questions in the run-up to your mocks, then saving two or three full timed papers for the last few weeks before your exam. Head to our [A-Level English Literature hub](https://cognito.org/courses/alevel/english-literature) to browse the full catalogue for your subject.

Series	Max	Grade A*	Grade A	Grade B	Grade C	Grade D	Grade E
Jun 2025 (Option A)Latest	375	321	286	244	203	162	121
Jun 2025 (Option B)	375	326	294	250	206	162	119
Jun 2024 (Option A)	375	306	276	232	188	144	101
Jun 2024 (Option B)	375	320	288	242	197	152	107
Jun 2023 (Option A)	375	312	280	237	195	153	111
Jun 2023 (Option B)	375	321	288	241	195	149	103
Jun 2022 (Option A)	375	299	257	216	176	136	96
Jun 2022 (Option B)	375	312	273	229	186	143	100

A-Level English Literature AQA A Grade Boundaries

Frequently asked questions

Push it up a grade

Every series since 2022

Where to next

Frequently asked questions

Push it up a grade