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 7717). 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 B has four option combinations based on which text pairings you studied for Papers 1 and 2. The letter combinations refer to:

**AA** : Aspects of Tragedy (Paper 1) + Elements of political and social protest (Paper 2A).

**AB** : Aspects of Tragedy (Paper 1) + Elements of crime writing (Paper 2B).

**BA** : Aspects of Comedy (Paper 1) + Elements of political and social protest (Paper 2A).

**BB** : Aspects of Comedy (Paper 1) + Elements of crime writing (Paper 2B).

Because each combination is a different set of papers, AQA sets separate overall grade boundaries. Check which combination you sat on your statement of entry, then use the matching tab above.

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 B) past papers](https://cognito.org/courses/alevel/english-literature/aqab/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 B) past papers](https://cognito.org/courses/alevel/english-literature/aqab/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 AA)Latest	375	317	283	241	199	157	115
Jun 2025 (Option AB)	375	313	277	237	197	157	117
Jun 2025 (Option BA)	375	336	301	260	219	178	137
Jun 2025 (Option BB)	375	330	295	256	217	178	139
Jun 2024 (Option AA)	375	313	277	235	193	151	109
Jun 2024 (Option AB)	375	311	277	234	191	149	107
Jun 2024 (Option BA)	375	342	307	265	223	182	141
Jun 2024 (Option BB)	375	342	307	265	223	181	139
Jun 2023 (Option AA)	375	312	277	235	193	151	109
Jun 2023 (Option AB)	375	317	287	244	201	158	115
Jun 2023 (Option BA)	375	331	299	255	211	167	123
Jun 2023 (Option BB)	375	341	309	264	219	174	129
Jun 2022 (Option AA)	375	292	254	215	177	139	101
Jun 2022 (Option AB)	375	302	262	222	183	144	105
Jun 2022 (Option BA)	375	311	274	233	192	151	111
Jun 2022 (Option BB)	375	319	282	240	198	156	115

A-Level English Literature AQA B Grade Boundaries

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