Question 1

What are AQA A-Level Physics grade boundaries?

Accepted Answer

Grade boundaries are the minimum raw marks you need to achieve each letter grade in AQA A-Level Physics (specification 7408). 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 at 8am on A-Level results day, alongside the grades themselves.

The boundaries shift 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. 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 five tables (Astrophysics / Medical / Engineering / Turning Points / Electronics)?

Accepted Answer

AQA A-Level Physics has one compulsory Paper 3 Section A that everyone sits, and a Section B optional topic that candidates choose from five options. Because each Section B is a different paper, AQA sets separate overall grade boundaries for each option. The five routes are:

**Option A (7408A) : Astrophysics.** Section B covers stars, galaxies and cosmology.

**Option B (7408B) : Medical Physics.** Section B covers physics in the body (imaging, radiation therapy).

**Option C (7408C) : Engineering Physics.** Section B covers rotational dynamics and thermodynamics.

**Option D (7408D) : Turning Points in Physics.** Section B covers major shifts in modern physics (relativity, particle physics history).

**Option E (7408E) : Electronics.** Section B covers circuits, sensors and analogue/digital electronics.

Check which option your school entered you for on your statement of entry, then use the matching tab above. Papers 1, 2 and Paper 3 Section A are the same for everyone.

Question 3

Why do the AQA A-Level Physics 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. That's also why comparing raw marks across years can be misleading. A total of 150 out of 250 might have been a C in one series and a B in another, depending on how the papers landed.

Question 4

When are the AQA A-Level Physics 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 PDF, with each Physics option shown separately.

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

What mark do I need for an A* in AQA A-Level Physics?

Accepted Answer

It depends on which option you sat and which year. Across the last few series, the A* boundary on Astrophysics (7408A) has sat in the region of 164 to 182 marks out of 250 (roughly 66 to 73 percent), and the other options have their own bands. The exact figures per series and option are in the tables above.

A sensible working target through your revision is to aim comfortably above the highest recent boundary for your option in past-paper practice, which gives you some headroom for the exam room. Whether that translates to an A* in your specific series will depend on how the cohort performs overall and how the papers land.

Question 6

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 full set of papers timed (Paper 1, Paper 2, and Paper 3 with your Section B option), mark them against the official mark scheme, and 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. Our [past papers by year](https://cognito.org/courses/alevel/physics/aqa/past-papers/by-year) tab has every paper 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' 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.

Once you know where you're losing marks, our [structured exam practice](https://cognito.org/courses/alevel/physics/aqa/exam-practice/structured) is grouped by topic so you can work through the areas that need the most attention.

Question 7

Can I use Cognito for AQA A-Level Physics exam practice?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Our full [A-Level Physics (AQA) course](https://cognito.org/courses/alevel/physics/aqa) is free and covers the whole 7408 specification, including all five Section B options. You'll find revision notes written to the spec, self-marking quizzes and flashcards, [structured exam questions](https://cognito.org/courses/alevel/physics/aqa/exam-practice/structured) grouped by topic with worked answers in mark-scheme style, and [past papers by year](https://cognito.org/courses/alevel/physics/aqa/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 2025 (Astrophysics)Latest	250	182	152	126	100	75	50
Jun 2025 (Medical physics)	250	181	148	123	98	74	50
Jun 2025 (Engineering physics)	250	190	155	129	103	77	51
Jun 2025 (Turning points in physics)	250	184	151	126	101	76	51
Jun 2025 (Electronics)	250	185	153	127	101	76	51
Jun 2024 (Astrophysics)	250	171	138	114	91	68	45
Jun 2024 (Medical physics)	250	174	139	115	91	68	45
Jun 2024 (Engineering physics)	250	175	135	112	89	67	45
Jun 2024 (Turning points in physics)	250	172	138	114	91	68	45
Jun 2024 (Electronics)	250	173	139	116	93	70	47
Jun 2023 (Astrophysics)	250	164	129	107	85	63	42
Jun 2023 (Medical physics)	250	162	127	105	84	63	42
Jun 2023 (Engineering physics)	250	164	132	109	87	65	43
Jun 2023 (Turning points in physics)	250	166	133	110	87	64	42
Jun 2023 (Electronics)	250	169	135	112	89	66	44
Jun 2022 (Astrophysics)	250	167	137	113	89	66	43
Jun 2022 (Medical physics)	250	169	139	115	91	67	44
Jun 2022 (Engineering physics)	250	166	136	112	89	66	43
Jun 2022 (Turning points in physics)	250	165	134	111	88	65	42
Jun 2022 (Electronics)	250	175	145	120	95	70	46

A-Level Physics AQA Grade Boundaries

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