Question 1

What are SQA National 5 Chemistry grade boundaries?

Accepted Answer

Grade boundaries are the minimum raw marks you need for each grade (A, B, C, D) in SQA National 5 Chemistry (course code C813 75). SQA sets them once marking is complete for the whole cohort, based on how the papers scored and evidence from previous years.

Grades below D are recorded as 'No Award' with no letter grade. Grade C is the minimum pass mark that counts on your Scottish Qualification Certificate.

Question 2

How does SQA set National 5 boundaries?

Accepted Answer

SQA publishes only the Grade A and Grade C boundaries directly. Grades B and D are calculated by formula: B is the midpoint between A and C, and D sits the same distance below C as B sits above it. This is why B and D always sit at even spacings in the published tables.

Question 3

Why do the 2023 boundaries look unusually low?

Accepted Answer

SQA applied a 'sensitive' approach to the 2023 series to soften the transition out of the pandemic-adjusted grading of 2020-2022. This pulled boundaries down that year so that a slightly weaker cohort performance still delivered similar grade distributions. SQA has advised that 2023 boundaries should not be used as a benchmark for what you need to score in future series.

Question 4

When are SQA National 5 Chemistry boundaries published?

Accepted Answer

SQA publishes National 5 grade boundaries on Scottish results day in early August, a week or two before the English GCSE results day. They land as one large PDF covering every National 5 subject that series.

We update this page shortly after SQA releases the boundaries.

Question 5

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

Accepted Answer

Sit a past paper timed, mark it against the official SQA marking instructions, and check your total against the Grade A / C boundary for that year. The gap between your score and the A boundary tells you how much room you have to improve.

If you're consistently 10+ marks short of your target, work through a [Cognito National 5 Chemistry course](https://cognito.org/courses/gcse/chemistry/sqa) to plug the specific gaps.

Question 6

Can I use Cognito for SQA National 5 Chemistry practice?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Our [National 5 Chemistry course](https://cognito.org/courses/gcse/chemistry/sqa) is mapped to the SQA National 5 course specification with notes, quizzes and past papers. Work through the specification, then time yourself on the [past-papers library](https://cognito.org/past-papers) closer to your exam.

Series	Max	Grade A	Grade B	Grade C	Grade D
Jun 2025Latest	125	89	75	62	48
Jun 2024	125	86	73	60	47
Jun 2023	100	69	57	46	34

GCSE Chemistry SQA National 5 Grade Boundaries

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