What Is the Pass Mark for A Level Politics?
What Is the Pass Mark for A Level Politics?
Created:Updated: 19-August-2025
Wondering what percentage you need to pass A Level Politics?
Like all A Levels, Politics is graded from A* to E. To pass, you must achieve at least an E. The exact percentage changes each year because grade boundaries are set after marking to reflect exam difficulty.
How Are A Level Politics Grades Set?
Exam boards (e.g., AQA) set grade boundaries annually once exams are marked. This keeps standards fair even when papers vary in difficulty.
We teach the AQA A Level Politics specification. You can check the most recent grade boundaries here: AQA grade boundaries (all A Levels).
Typical Pass Marks for A Level Politics
As a broad guide, the boundary for an E (pass) is often somewhere around 40–45% of total marks. This can move up or down depending on the paper and national performance in that year.
Remember, boundaries for higher grades (C, A, A*) also shift annually—so focus on strong technique and consistent evidence.
What Are Grade Boundaries?
Grade boundaries are the minimum raw marks needed for each grade in that specific exam series. For example, if the boundary for an E is set at 42%, then scoring 42% or higher earns a pass.
Learn more about how A Levels are set and scaled: How A Levels are graded.
How to Secure the Grade You Need
- Know the Assessment Objectives (AO1 knowledge, AO2 analysis, AO3 evaluation). See how Politics exams are marked.
- Use recent, specific examples to support points and evaluation.
- Practise timed essays using a clear, argument-led structure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do universities care about my percentage or my grade?
Universities look at your final grade, not the underlying percentage.
Are grade boundaries the same every year?
No. They’re adjusted after marking to reflect the difficulty of that year’s papers.
Are grade boundaries the same for all boards?
No. AQA, Edexcel and OCR each set their own boundaries per series.
Is there coursework in A Level Politics?
No. A Level Politics is assessed by written exams only.