A-Level Biology (9700) Grade Thresholds

The minimum marks Cambridge set for each grade in 18 AS & A Level Biology sessions from 2020 to 2026, taken from Cambridge's grade threshold table for each session. Every table is linked, so you can check any number against the source: from March 2022 the links go to Cambridge's own PDFs; for 2020 and 2021, which Cambridge no longer lists, to copies of the same tables.

Latest: June 2026

For the whole A Level sat in one series, an A* needed 190 to 202 out of 260 (73% to 78%) and an A needed 165 to 177 out of 260 (63% to 68%), depending on the option. At AS Level, grade a needed 86 to 92 out of 130 (66% to 71%).

Where each grade starts on one option: components 11, 21, 31, 41, 51, out of 260. Across all 9 options for the whole A Level sat in one series in June 2026, an A* needed 190 to 202.

Source: Cambridge grade threshold table, June 2026 (PDF) · June 2026 papers

How the A* threshold has moved

The mark needed for an A* on the whole A Level sat in one series, as a percentage of the maximum, in each session in our files. Where options differed, the bar runs from the lowest to the highest.

M = March, J = June, N = November. Sessions with no grade threshold table in our files are left out. Every number is in the table below.

A* and A thresholds by session

For the whole A Level sat in one series, with AS grade a alongside.

Session	A Level A*	A Level A	AS a	Source
June 2026	190 to 202 out of 260 (73% to 78%)	165 to 177 out of 260 (63% to 68%)	86 to 92 out of 130 (66% to 71%)	Cambridge (PDF)
March 2026	213 out of 260 (82%)	189 out of 260 (73%)	100 out of 130 (77%)	Cambridge (PDF)
November 2025	191 to 199 out of 260 (73% to 77%)	167 to 175 out of 260 (64% to 67%)	82 to 91 out of 130 (63% to 70%)	Cambridge (PDF)
June 2025	188 to 201 out of 260 (72% to 77%)	163 to 175 out of 260 (63% to 67%)	85 to 94 out of 130 (65% to 72%)	Cambridge (PDF)
March 2025	206 out of 260 (79%)	186 out of 260 (72%)	94 out of 130 (72%)	Cambridge (PDF)
November 2024	192 to 198 out of 260 (74% to 76%)	171 to 175 out of 260 (66% to 67%)	87 to 92 out of 130 (67% to 71%)	Cambridge (PDF)
June 2024	187 to 208 out of 260 (72% to 80%)	162 to 187 out of 260 (62% to 72%)	83 to 97 out of 130 (64% to 75%)	Cambridge (PDF)
March 2024	196 out of 260 (75%)	175 out of 260 (67%)	90 out of 130 (69%)	Cambridge (PDF)
November 2023	184 to 197 out of 260 (71% to 76%)	163 to 175 out of 260 (63% to 67%)	83 to 90 out of 130 (64% to 69%)	Cambridge (PDF)
June 2023	195 to 209 out of 260 (75% to 80%)	171 to 184 out of 260 (66% to 71%)	87 to 96 out of 130 (67% to 74%)	Cambridge (PDF)
March 2023	190 out of 260 (73%)	167 out of 260 (64%)	87 out of 130 (67%)	Cambridge (PDF)
November 2022	176 to 184 out of 260 (68% to 71%)	157 to 163 out of 260 (60% to 63%)	80 to 87 out of 130 (62% to 67%)	Cambridge (PDF)
June 2022	176 to 202 out of 260 (68% to 78%)	154 to 180 out of 260 (59% to 69%)	78 to 94 out of 130 (60% to 72%)	Cambridge (PDF)
March 2022	187 out of 260 (72%)	164 out of 260 (63%)	80 out of 130 (62%)	Cambridge (PDF)
November 2021	188 to 198 out of 260 (72% to 76%)	164 to 173 out of 260 (63% to 67%)	80 to 86 out of 130 (62% to 66%)	Copy (PDF)
June 2021	185 to 200 out of 260 (71% to 77%)	162 to 177 out of 260 (62% to 68%)	86 to 92 out of 130 (66% to 71%)	Copy (PDF)
March 2021	201 out of 260 (77%)	179 out of 260 (69%)	87 out of 130 (67%)	Copy (PDF)
November 2020	177 to 185 out of 260 (68% to 71%)	155 to 163 out of 260 (60% to 63%)	78 to 88 out of 130 (60% to 68%)	Copy (PDF)

No grade threshold table in our files for: May/June 2020, March 2020.

How to read these tables

Your grade comes from your total mark across the papers you sat, after Cambridge's weighting. There is no A* on a single paper: Cambridge sets A* for the overall A Level only. Each option is one combination of papers, written as component codes: the first digit is the paper and the second is the variant, so 42 is Paper 4, Variant 2. Schools in different administrative zones sit different variants, which is why one session has several rows. Use the row with your components; your exams officer can tell you which ones you were entered for.

Each session's options fall into three groups. A Level, sat in one series is for candidates who sit all their A Level papers in the same series. AS Level is for the AS papers alone, graded a to e. Staged options are for candidates who carry forward their AS result from an earlier series to complete the A Level; their rows list the A Level papers, usually with an extra code that is not a 9700 paper (such as 85). A2-only options, also in that group, cover the A Level papers alone. Under each session below, the staged options are folded away; open them if that is your route.

Cambridge sets the thresholds after marking, aiming to keep each grade as hard to reach as it was the year before, so they move from session to session.

From 2026 Cambridge's tables list each combination of components without an option code, so the Option column shows a dash for those sessions.

Cambridge's tables up to March 2022 give the maximum marks once, in a sentence, rather than on each row: 260 for A Level and 130 for AS Level and for A2-only options. The "Out of" column for those sessions comes from that sentence. It gives no maximum for staged options that carry an AS result forward, so those rows show a dash.

Cambridge's tables also list a few options made only of components that are not 9700 papers (such as 50 and 60). They are left out here. The linked PDF always has the full table.

Every session's thresholds

June 2026: 39 options

A Level, sat in one series

Option	Components	Out of	A*	A	B	C	D	E
–	11, 21, 31, 41, 51	260	192	167	142	121	100	80
–	11, 21, 32, 41, 51	260	192	167	142	121	100	80
–	12, 22, 33, 41, 52	260	190	165	140	120	100	81
–	12, 22, 33, 42, 52	260	201	176	151	130	109	89
–	12, 22, 34, 41, 52	260	191	166	141	121	102	83
–	12, 22, 34, 42, 52	260	202	177	152	131	111	91
–	13, 23, 35, 43, 53	260	200	174	148	126	104	83
–	14, 24, 37, 44, 54	260	200	175	150	128	107	86
–	14, 24, 38, 44, 54	260	201	176	151	130	109	88

AS Level

Option	Components	Out of	a	b	c	d	e
–	11, 21, 31	130	87	75	65	55	45
–	11, 21, 32	130	87	75	65	55	45
–	12, 22, 33	130	86	74	64	54	45
–	12, 22, 34	130	87	75	65	56	47
–	13, 23, 35	130	92	82	70	59	48
–	14, 24, 37	130	91	78	67	56	46
–	14, 24, 38	130	92	79	68	58	48

A Level, staged (AS result carried forward, or A2 only): 23 options

Option	Components	Out of	A*	A	B	C	D	E
–	41, 51, 84	260	193	170	147	126	105	84
–	41, 51, 87	260	192	170	148	127	106	85
–	41, 51, 94	260	194	170	146	125	104	83
–	41, 51, 95	260	193	169	145	123	101	80
–	41, 51, 98	260	196	171	146	124	102	80
–	41, 52, 85	260	189	164	139	119	99	79
–	41, 52, 88	260	189	165	141	121	101	81
–	41, 52, 96	260	185	162	139	119	99	79
–	41, 52, 99	260	185	161	137	117	97	78
–	42, 52, 85	260	200	175	150	129	108	87
–	42, 52, 88	260	200	176	152	131	110	89
–	42, 52, 95	260	203	179	155	133	111	89
–	42, 52, 96	260	196	173	150	129	108	87
–	42, 52, 98	260	206	181	156	133	111	89
–	42, 52, 99	260	196	172	148	127	106	86
–	43, 53, 86	260	202	176	150	130	110	91
–	43, 53, 94	260	199	172	145	124	103	83
–	43, 53, 96	260	191	165	139	118	98	78
–	43, 53, 99	260	191	164	137	117	97	77
–	44, 54, 62	260	198	173	148	127	106	86
–	44, 54, 63	260	198	174	150	129	108	88
–	44, 54, 72	260	195	172	149	127	105	84
–	44, 54, 73	260	195	171	147	125	104	83

Source: Cambridge grade threshold table, June 2026 (PDF) · June 2026 papers and mark schemes

March 2026: 9 options

A Level, sat in one series

Option	Components	Out of	A*	A	B	C	D	E
–	12, 22, 33, 42, 52	260	213	189	165	143	122	101

AS Level

Option	Components	Out of	a	b	c	d	e
–	12, 22, 33	130	100	89	78	67	56

A Level, staged (AS result carried forward, or A2 only): 7 options

Option	Components	Out of	A*	A	B	C	D	E
–	42, 52, 75	260	205	183	161	139	118	97
–	42, 52, 84	260	202	179	156	135	114	94
–	42, 52, 85	260	199	174	149	128	108	88
–	42, 52, 87	260	201	179	157	136	115	95
–	42, 52, 88	260	199	175	151	130	110	90
–	42, 52, 95	260	202	178	154	132	111	90
–	42, 52, 98	260	205	180	155	133	111	90

Source: Cambridge grade threshold table, March 2026 (PDF) · March 2026 papers and mark schemes

November 2025: 32 options

A Level, sat in one series

Option	Components	Out of	A*	A	B	C	D	E
AX	11, 21, 31, 41, 51	260	199	175	151	130	109	88
AY	12, 22, 33, 42, 52	260	191	169	147	124	102	80
AZ	13, 23, 35, 43, 53	260	191	168	145	124	103	83
HC	14, 24, 38, 44, 54	260	195	171	147	126	105	85
HY	12, 22, 34, 42, 52	260	194	171	148	125	102	80
HZ	13, 23, 36, 43, 53	260	191	167	143	122	102	82

AS Level

Option	Components	Out of	a	b	c	d	e
S1	11, 21, 31	130	90	79	68	58	48
S3	12, 22, 33	130	89	78	67	56	45
S4	12, 22, 34	130	91	79	67	56	45
S5	13, 23, 35	130	83	73	63	53	43
S6	13, 23, 36	130	82	71	61	51	42
S7	14, 24, 37	130	88	77	66	55	44
S8	14, 24, 38	130	87	75	64	53	43

A Level, staged (AS result carried forward, or A2 only): 19 options

Option	Components	Out of	A*	A	B	C	D	E
BC1	44, 54, 62	260	198	173	148	128	108	88
BC2	44, 54, 63	260	198	174	150	130	110	90
BS1	41, 51, 86	260	202	179	156	136	116	96
BT1	42, 52, 84	260	191	170	149	127	105	84
BT2	42, 52, 87	260	190	170	150	128	106	85
BU1	43, 53, 85	260	195	170	145	124	103	83
BU2	43, 53, 88	260	195	171	147	126	105	85
BX1	41, 51, 84	260	198	175	152	131	110	89
BX2	41, 51, 87	260	197	175	153	132	111	90
BY1	42, 52, 85	260	188	165	142	120	99	78
BY2	42, 52, 88	260	188	166	144	122	101	80
BZ1	43, 53, 86	260	202	179	156	136	116	96
CN1	44, 54, 96	260	195	171	147	125	104	83
CN2	44, 54, 99	260	197	174	151	129	107	86
CY1	42, 52, 95	260	194	172	150	128	106	84
CY2	42, 52, 98	260	194	172	150	128	106	85
CZ1	43, 53, 96	260	197	172	147	125	103	81
CZ2	43, 53, 99	260	199	175	151	128	106	84
EV	42, 52, 75	260	194	174	154	131	109	87

Source: Cambridge grade threshold table, November 2025 (PDF) · November 2025 papers and mark schemes

June 2025: 33 options

A Level, sat in one series

Option	Components	Out of	A*	A	B	C	D	E
AC	14, 24, 37, 44, 54	260	191	167	143	123	104	85
AX	11, 21, 31, 41, 51	260	200	175	150	130	110	90
AY	12, 22, 33, 42, 52	260	188	163	138	116	95	74
AZ	13, 23, 35, 43, 53	260	201	175	149	129	109	90
HC	14, 24, 38, 44, 54	260	191	168	145	125	106	87
HX	11, 21, 32, 41, 51	260	199	175	151	131	111	91
HY	12, 22, 34, 42, 52	260	188	164	140	118	97	76

AS Level

Option	Components	Out of	a	b	c	d	e
S1	11, 21, 31	130	90	80	69	59	49
S2	11, 21, 32	130	90	81	70	60	50
S3	12, 22, 33	130	85	73	63	53	43
S4	12, 22, 34	130	86	75	65	55	45
S5	13, 23, 35	130	94	84	74	65	56
S7	14, 24, 37	130	89	76	66	56	46
S8	14, 24, 38	130	90	78	68	58	48

A Level, staged (AS result carried forward, or A2 only): 19 options

Option	Components	Out of	A*	A	B	C	D	E
BN1	44, 54, 85	260	185	161	137	118	99	80
BN2	44, 54, 88	260	189	165	141	121	102	83
BX1	41, 51, 84	260	204	181	158	137	116	96
BX2	41, 51, 87	260	205	182	159	138	117	96
BY1	42, 52, 85	260	187	161	135	114	93	72
BY2	42, 52, 88	260	191	165	139	117	96	75
BZ1	43, 53, 86	260	199	175	151	130	109	89
CN1	44, 54, 96	260	188	165	142	121	100	80
CN2	44, 54, 99	260	190	168	146	125	104	83
CP1	43, 53, 94	260	199	172	145	124	104	84
CQ1	41, 51, 95	260	203	177	151	130	110	90
CQ2	41, 51, 98	260	203	177	151	131	111	91
CR1	42, 52, 96	260	190	165	140	117	94	72
CR2	42, 52, 99	260	192	168	144	121	98	75
CX1	41, 51, 94	260	202	176	150	130	110	91
CY1	42, 52, 95	260	194	170	146	124	102	80
CY2	42, 52, 98	260	194	170	146	124	102	81
CZ1	43, 53, 96	260	196	168	140	118	96	75
CZ2	43, 53, 99	260	198	171	144	122	100	78

Source: Cambridge grade threshold table, June 2025 (PDF) · June 2025 papers and mark schemes

March 2025: 7 options

A Level, sat in one series

Option	Components	Out of	A*	A	B	C	D	E
AY	12, 22, 33, 42, 52	260	206	186	166	144	122	100

AS Level

Option	Components	Out of	a	b	c	d	e
S3	12, 22, 33	130	94	85	74	63	52

A Level, staged (AS result carried forward, or A2 only): 5 options

Option	Components	Out of	A*	A	B	C	D	E
BY1	42, 52, 85	260	199	175	151	130	109	89
BY2	42, 52, 88	260	203	179	155	134	113	92
CY1	42, 52, 95	260	206	184	162	140	118	97
CY2	42, 52, 98	260	206	184	162	140	119	98
EV	42, 52, 75	260	203	182	161	138	115	93

Source: Cambridge grade threshold table, March 2025 (PDF) · March 2025 papers and mark schemes

November 2024: 23 options

A Level, sat in one series

Option	Components	Out of	A*	A	B	C	D	E
AX	11, 21, 31, 41, 51	260	198	175	152	131	110	90
AY	12, 22, 33, 42, 52	260	192	171	150	128	106	85
AZ	13, 23, 35, 43, 53	260	195	171	147	125	103	81
HY	12, 22, 34, 42, 52	260	192	171	150	128	107	86
HZ	13, 23, 36, 43, 53	260	197	174	151	128	106	84

AS Level

Option	Components	Out of	a	b	c	d	e
S1	11, 21, 31	130	91	80	70	60	50
S3	12, 22, 33	130	92	81	70	59	49
S4	12, 22, 34	130	92	81	70	60	50
S5	13, 23, 35	130	87	75	63	52	41
S6	13, 23, 36	130	90	79	67	55	44

A Level, staged (AS result carried forward, or A2 only): 13 options

Option	Components	Out of	A*	A	B	C	D	E
BS1	41, 51, 86	260	198	178	158	137	116	95
BT1	42, 52, 84	260	193	175	157	135	113	91
BT2	42, 52, 87	260	194	176	158	135	113	91
BU1	43, 53, 85	260	192	167	142	121	101	81
BU2	43, 53, 88	260	196	171	146	125	104	84
BY1	42, 52, 85	260	185	162	139	118	97	77
BY2	42, 52, 88	260	189	166	143	122	101	80
BZ1	43, 53, 86	260	198	178	158	137	116	95
CY1	42, 52, 95	260	186	165	144	123	102	82
CY2	42, 52, 98	260	188	166	144	123	102	82
CZ1	43, 53, 96	260	190	167	144	124	104	84
CZ2	43, 53, 99	260	190	167	144	123	102	82
EV	42, 52, 75	260	189	169	149	126	103	81

Source: Cambridge grade threshold table, November 2024 (PDF) · November 2024 papers and mark schemes

June 2024: 23 options

A Level, sat in one series

Option	Components	Out of	A*	A	B	C	D	E
AX	11, 21, 31, 41, 51	260	207	186	165	143	122	101
AY	12, 22, 33, 42, 52	260	187	162	137	116	96	76
AZ	13, 23, 35, 43, 53	260	201	180	159	137	116	95
HX	11, 21, 32, 41, 51	260	208	187	166	144	122	101
HY	12, 22, 34, 42, 52	260	191	166	141	120	99	79

AS Level

Option	Components	Out of	a	b	c	d	e
S1	11, 21, 31	130	96	88	77	66	55
S2	11, 21, 32	130	97	89	77	66	55
S3	12, 22, 33	130	83	70	60	50	41
S4	12, 22, 34	130	87	74	64	54	44
S5	13, 23, 35	130	94	86	75	65	55

A Level, staged (AS result carried forward, or A2 only): 13 options

Option	Components	Out of	A*	A	B	C	D	E
BX1	41, 51, 84	260	208	185	162	139	116	93
BX2	41, 51, 87	260	209	186	163	140	117	95
BY1	42, 52, 85	260	189	166	143	122	101	80
BY2	42, 52, 88	260	190	167	144	123	102	81
BZ1	43, 53, 86	260	201	179	157	136	115	94
CP1	43, 53, 94	260	200	176	152	131	110	89
CQ1	41, 51, 95	260	200	176	152	132	112	92
CQ2	41, 51, 98	260	202	177	152	132	112	92
CR1	42, 52, 96	260	185	162	139	119	99	79
CR2	42, 52, 99	260	185	162	139	118	97	77
CX1	41, 51, 94	260	204	180	156	135	115	95
CY1	42, 52, 95	260	188	165	142	121	101	81
CY2	42, 52, 98	260	190	166	142	121	101	81

Source: Cambridge grade threshold table, June 2024 (PDF) · June 2024 papers and mark schemes

March 2024: 9 options

A Level, sat in one series

Option	Components	Out of	A*	A	B	C	D	E
AY	12, 22, 33, 42, 52	260	196	175	154	131	109	87

AS Level

Option	Components	Out of	a	b	c	d	e
S3	12, 22, 33	130	90	80	68	56	45

A Level, staged (AS result carried forward, or A2 only): 7 options

Option	Components	Out of	A*	A	B	C	D	E
BT1	42, 52, 84	260	201	180	159	135	112	89
BT2	42, 52, 87	260	202	181	160	137	114	91
BY1	42, 52, 85	260	194	172	150	129	108	87
BY2	42, 52, 88	260	195	173	151	130	109	88
CY1	42, 52, 95	260	193	171	149	128	108	88
CY2	42, 52, 98	260	195	172	149	128	108	88
EV	42, 52, 75	260	195	172	149	127	105	84

Source: Cambridge grade threshold table, March 2024 (PDF) · March 2024 papers and mark schemes

November 2023: 25 options

A Level, sat in one series

Option	Components	Out of	A*	A	B	C	D	E
AX	11, 21, 31, 41, 51	260	197	175	153	131	109	88
AY	12, 22, 33, 42, 52	260	184	163	142	120	99	78
AZ	13, 23, 35, 43, 53	260	190	168	146	125	104	83
HY	12, 22, 34, 42, 52	260	186	164	142	120	99	78
HZ	13, 23, 36, 43, 53	260	190	168	146	124	102	81

AS Level

Option	Components	Out of	a	b	c	d	e
S1	11, 21, 31	130	90	79	69	59	49
S3	12, 22, 33	130	86	75	65	55	46
S4	12, 22, 34	130	87	75	65	55	46
S5	13, 23, 35	130	83	72	62	53	44
S6	13, 23, 36	130	83	72	62	52	42

A Level, staged (AS result carried forward, or A2 only): 15 options

Option	Components	Out of	A*	A	B	C	D	E
BS1	41, 51, 86	260	198	178	158	136	114	93
BT1	42, 52, 84	260	192	172	152	127	103	79
BT2	42, 52, 87	260	193	173	153	129	105	81
BU1	43, 53, 85	260	194	172	150	128	106	84
BU2	43, 53, 88	260	195	173	151	129	107	85
BX1	41, 51, 84	260	201	180	159	134	110	86
BX2	41, 51, 87	260	202	181	160	136	112	88
BY1	42, 52, 85	260	185	164	143	121	99	77
BY2	42, 52, 88	260	186	165	144	122	100	78
BZ1	43, 53, 86	260	198	178	158	136	114	93
CY1	42, 52, 95	260	189	164	139	116	93	71
CY2	42, 52, 98	260	188	163	138	115	92	69
CZ1	43, 53, 96	260	187	167	147	125	103	82
CZ2	43, 53, 99	260	185	165	145	123	101	80
EV	42, 52, 75	260	186	164	142	119	96	74

Source: Cambridge grade threshold table, November 2023 (PDF) · November 2023 papers and mark schemes

June 2023: 23 options

A Level, sat in one series

Option	Components	Out of	A*	A	B	C	D	E
AX	11, 21, 31, 41, 51	260	208	183	158	135	113	91
AY	12, 22, 33, 42, 52	260	195	171	147	125	104	83
AZ	13, 23, 35, 43, 53	260	201	179	157	136	115	94
HX	11, 21, 32, 41, 51	260	209	184	159	137	115	93
HY	12, 22, 34, 42, 52	260	196	172	148	126	105	84

AS Level

Option	Components	Out of	a	b	c	d	e
S1	11, 21, 31	130	95	85	72	59	47
S2	11, 21, 32	130	96	86	73	61	49
S3	12, 22, 33	130	87	76	65	55	45
S4	12, 22, 34	130	88	77	66	56	46
S5	13, 23, 35	130	93	84	74	64	54

A Level, staged (AS result carried forward, or A2 only): 13 options

Option	Components	Out of	A*	A	B	C	D	E
BX1	41, 51, 84	260	209	182	155	132	110	88
BX2	41, 51, 87	260	207	180	153	130	107	85
BY1	42, 52, 85	260	186	162	138	116	94	73
BY2	42, 52, 88	260	188	164	140	118	96	74
BZ1	43, 53, 86	260	203	179	155	132	110	88
CP1	43, 53, 94	260	194	172	150	128	106	85
CQ1	41, 51, 95	260	205	175	145	124	103	83
CQ2	41, 51, 98	260	204	174	144	123	102	81
CR1	42, 52, 96	260	188	166	144	123	102	81
CR2	42, 52, 99	260	186	164	142	121	100	79
CX1	41, 51, 94	260	198	174	150	129	109	89
CY1	42, 52, 95	260	199	171	143	121	99	77
CY2	42, 52, 98	260	198	170	142	119	97	75

Source: Cambridge grade threshold table, June 2023 (PDF) · June 2023 papers and mark schemes

March 2023: 10 options

A Level, sat in one series

Option	Components	Out of	A*	A	B	C	D	E
AY	12, 22, 33, 42, 52	260	190	167	144	122	100	79

AS Level

Option	Components	Out of	a	b	c	d	e
S3	12, 22, 33	130	87	75	64	53	42

A Level, staged (AS result carried forward, or A2 only): 8 options

Option	Components	Out of	A*	A	B	C	D	E
BT1	42, 52, 84	260	197	174	151	127	104	81
BT2	42, 52, 87	260	195	172	149	125	101	78
BY1	42, 52, 85	260	180	158	136	114	93	72
BY2	42, 52, 88	260	182	160	138	116	94	73
CY1	42, 52, 95	260	193	167	141	119	97	76
CY2	42, 52, 98	260	192	166	140	118	96	74
EV	42, 52, 75	260	182	160	138	116	94	72
EVM	42, 52	130	92	78	64	52	40	28

Source: Cambridge grade threshold table, March 2023 (PDF) · March 2023 papers and mark schemes

November 2022: 26 options

A Level, sat in one series

Option	Components	Out of	A*	A	B	C	D	E
AX	11, 21, 31, 41, 51	260	182	163	144	123	103	83
AY	12, 22, 33, 42, 52	260	184	158	132	110	88	66
AZ	13, 23, 35, 43, 53	260	178	159	140	120	100	81
HY	12, 22, 34, 42, 52	260	183	157	131	108	86	64
HZ	13, 23, 36, 43, 53	260	176	157	138	118	98	79

AS Level

Option	Components	Out of	a	b	c	d	e
S1	11, 21, 31	130	86	77	66	55	45
S3	12, 22, 33	130	87	72	61	50	39
S4	12, 22, 34	130	86	71	59	48	37
S5	13, 23, 35	130	82	73	63	53	43
S6	13, 23, 36	130	80	71	61	51	41

A Level, staged (AS result carried forward, or A2 only): 16 options

Option	Components	Out of	A*	A	B	C	D	E
BS1	41, 51, 86	260	191	170	149	128	107	86
BT1	42, 52, 84	260	188	165	142	118	94	71
BT2	42, 52, 87	260	186	163	140	116	92	68
BU1	43, 53, 85	260	176	155	134	113	93	73
BU2	43, 53, 88	260	178	157	136	115	94	74
BX1	41, 51, 84	260	193	171	149	126	104	82
BY1	42, 52, 85	260	171	149	127	105	83	62
BY2	42, 52, 88	260	173	151	129	107	85	63
BZ1	43, 53, 86	260	191	170	149	128	107	86
CY1	42, 52, 95	260	180	157	134	111	88	66
CY2	42, 52, 98	260	177	154	131	108	86	64
CYN	42, 52	130	83	69	55	42	30	18
CZ1	43, 53, 96	260	181	157	133	113	94	75
CZ2	43, 53, 99	260	180	157	134	114	95	76
CZN	43, 53	130	90	76	62	51	40	30
EV	42, 52, 75	260	173	151	129	106	84	62

Source: Cambridge grade threshold table, November 2022 (PDF) · November 2022 papers and mark schemes

June 2022: 32 options

A Level, sat in one series

Option	Components	Out of	A*	A	B	C	D	E
AW	12, 22, 33, 41, 52	260	185	164	143	120	98	76
AX	11, 21, 31, 41, 51	260	202	180	158	133	109	85
AY	12, 22, 33, 42, 52	260	176	154	132	109	86	64
AZ	13, 23, 35, 43, 53	260	190	171	152	132	112	92
HW	12, 22, 34, 41, 52	260	187	166	145	122	99	77
HX	11, 21, 32, 41, 51	260	200	178	156	131	106	82
HY	12, 22, 34, 42, 52	260	178	156	134	111	88	65

AS Level

Option	Components	Out of	a	b	c	d	e
S1	11, 21, 31	130	94	82	69	56	44
S2	11, 21, 32	130	92	80	67	54	41
S3	12, 22, 33	130	78	67	56	45	35
S4	12, 22, 34	130	80	69	58	47	36
S5	13, 23, 35	130	93	82	70	59	48

A Level, staged (AS result carried forward, or A2 only): 20 options

Option	Components	Out of	A*	A	B	C	D	E
BW1	41, 52, 85	260	195	174	153	129	106	83
BW2	41, 52, 88	260	193	172	151	128	105	82
BX1	41, 51, 84	260	195	173	151	126	101	77
BX2	41, 51, 87	260	196	174	152	127	102	77
BXJ	41, 51	130	98	84	70	57	44	32
BY1	42, 52, 85	260	186	164	142	118	94	71
BY2	42, 52, 88	260	184	162	140	116	93	70
BYJ	42, 52	130	89	74	59	46	33	20
BZ1	43, 53, 86	260	190	170	150	128	106	85
CP1	43, 53, 94	260	181	162	143	123	104	85
CQ1	41, 51, 95	260	194	172	150	126	103	80
CQ2	41, 51, 98	260	191	169	147	124	101	78
CQN	41, 51	130	98	84	70	57	44	32
CR1	42, 52, 96	260	181	156	131	109	87	66
CR2	42, 52, 99	260	180	156	132	110	88	67
CRN	42, 52	130	89	74	59	46	33	20
CX1	41, 51, 94	260	191	170	149	126	104	82
CY1	42, 52, 95	260	185	162	139	115	91	68
CY2	42, 52, 98	260	182	159	136	112	89	66
CYN	42, 52	130	89	74	59	46	33	20

Source: Cambridge grade threshold table, June 2022 (PDF) · June 2022 papers and mark schemes

March 2022: 19 options

A Level, sat in one series

Option	Components	Out of	A*	A	B	C	D	E
AY (AY1)	12, 22, 33, 42, 52	260	187	164	141	118	95	72
DV (DV1)	12, 22, 33, 42, 52	260	187	164	141	118	95	72

AS Level

Option	Components	Out of	a	b	c	d	e
AY (AY2)	12, 22, 33	130	80	69	57	46	35
DV (DV7)	12, 22, 33	130	80	69	57	46	35
S3	12, 22, 33	130	80	69	57	46	35

A Level, staged (AS result carried forward, or A2 only): 14 options

Option	Components	Out of	A*	A	B	C	D	E
BY (BY1)	42, 52, 85	–	195	172	149	125	102	79
BY (BY2)	42, 52, 88	–	193	170	147	124	101	78
BY (BYJ)	42, 52	130	98	82	66	53	40	28
CY (CY1)	42, 52, 95	–	194	170	146	122	99	76
CY (CY2)	42, 52, 98	–	191	167	143	120	97	74
CY (CYN)	42, 52	130	98	82	66	53	40	28
DV (DV2)	42, 52, 75	–	194	171	148	126	104	82
DV (DV3)	42, 52, 85	–	195	172	149	125	102	79
DV (DV4)	42, 52, 88	–	193	170	147	124	101	78
DV (DV5)	42, 52, 95	–	194	170	146	122	99	76
DV (DV6)	42, 52, 98	–	191	167	143	120	97	74
DV (DVJ)	42, 52	130	98	82	66	53	40	28
DV (DVN)	42, 52	130	98	82	66	53	40	28
EV	42, 52, 75	–	194	171	148	126	104	82

Source: Cambridge grade threshold table, March 2022 (PDF) · March 2022 papers and mark schemes

November 2021: 26 options

A Level, sat in one series

Option	Components	Out of	A*	A	B	C	D	E
AX	11, 21, 31, 41, 51	260	190	168	146	126	106	86
AY	12, 22, 33, 42, 52	260	198	173	148	124	100	76
AZ	13, 23, 35, 43, 53	260	189	164	139	120	101	82
HY	12, 22, 34, 42, 52	260	195	170	145	121	97	74
HZ	13, 23, 36, 43, 53	260	188	164	140	121	102	83

AS Level

Option	Components	Out of	a	b	c	d	e
S1	11, 21, 31	130	84	73	62	51	41
S3	12, 22, 33	130	86	74	62	50	39
S4	12, 22, 34	130	83	71	59	48	37
S5	13, 23, 35	130	80	66	56	46	37
S6	13, 23, 36	130	80	67	57	47	38

A Level, staged (AS result carried forward, or A2 only): 16 options

Option	Components	Out of	A*	A	B	C	D	E
BS1	41, 51, 86	–	199	176	153	130	108	86
BT1	42, 52, 84	–	199	174	149	123	98	73
BT2	42, 52, 87	–	200	175	150	124	98	73
BTJ	42, 52	130	102	85	68	54	40	27
BU1	43, 53, 85	–	194	172	150	129	108	87
BU2	43, 53, 88	–	192	170	148	127	106	86
BUJ	43, 53	130	98	83	68	57	47	37
BY1	42, 52, 85	–	199	175	151	127	103	79
BY2	42, 52, 88	–	197	173	149	125	101	78
BYJ	42, 52	130	102	85	68	54	40	27
BZ1	43, 53, 86	–	199	176	153	130	108	86
CY1	42, 52, 95	–	191	167	143	120	98	76
CY2	42, 52, 98	–	189	165	141	118	96	74
CZ1	43, 53, 96	–	191	171	151	130	110	90
CZ2	43, 53, 99	–	193	172	151	131	111	91
EV	42, 52, 75	–	198	174	150	127	104	82

Source: copy of the Cambridge grade threshold table, November 2021 (PDF) · November 2021 papers and mark schemes

June 2021: 20 options

A Level, sat in one series

Option	Components	Out of	A*	A	B	C	D	E
AX	11, 21, 31, 41, 51	260	190	168	146	122	99	76
AY	12, 22, 33, 42, 52	260	187	164	141	117	93	70
AZ	13, 23, 35, 43, 53	260	200	177	154	130	107	84
HX	11, 21, 32, 41, 51	260	191	169	147	123	99	76
HY	12, 22, 34, 42, 52	260	185	162	139	115	92	69

AS Level

Option	Components	Out of	a	b	c	d	e
S1	11, 21, 31	130	87	75	62	49	36
S2	11, 21, 32	130	88	76	62	49	36
S3	12, 22, 33	130	88	77	65	53	42
S4	12, 22, 34	130	86	75	63	52	41
S5	13, 23, 35	130	92	80	67	54	41

A Level, staged (AS result carried forward, or A2 only): 10 options

Option	Components	Out of	A*	A	B	C	D	E
BXJ	41, 51	130	92	79	66	54	43	32
BYJ	42, 52	130	90	74	58	44	31	18
BZJ	43, 53	130	97	83	69	57	46	35
CQ1	41, 51, 95	–	182	161	140	119	99	79
CQ2	41, 51, 98	–	180	159	138	117	97	77
CR1	42, 52, 96	–	184	163	142	119	96	73
CR2	42, 52, 99	–	186	164	142	119	96	74
CX1	41, 51, 94	–	181	161	141	120	100	80
CY1	42, 52, 95	–	179	156	133	111	89	67
CY2	42, 52, 98	–	177	154	131	109	87	65

Source: copy of the Cambridge grade threshold table, June 2021 (PDF) · June 2021 papers and mark schemes

March 2021: 6 options

A Level, sat in one series

Option	Components	Out of	A*	A	B	C	D	E
AY	12, 22, 33, 42, 52	260	201	179	157	135	113	91

AS Level

Option	Components	Out of	a	b	c	d	e
S3	12, 22, 33	130	87	76	65	55	45

A Level, staged (AS result carried forward, or A2 only): 4 options

Option	Components	Out of	A*	A	B	C	D	E
BYJ	42, 52	130	105	90	75	62	49	37
CY1	42, 52, 95	–	194	172	150	128	106	85
CY2	42, 52, 98	–	192	170	148	126	104	83
EV	42, 52, 75	–	209	187	165	142	119	97

Source: copy of the Cambridge grade threshold table, March 2021 (PDF) · March 2021 papers and mark schemes

November 2020: 27 options

A Level, sat in one series

Option	Components	Out of	A*	A	B	C	D	E
AX	11, 21, 31, 41, 51	260	177	155	133	113	93	73
AY	12, 22, 33, 42, 52	260	181	159	137	116	96	76
AZ	13, 23, 35, 43, 53	260	183	162	141	120	99	78
HY	12, 22, 34, 42, 52	260	179	157	135	114	94	74
HZ	13, 23, 36, 43, 53	260	185	163	141	120	99	79

AS Level

Option	Components	Out of	a	b	c	d	e
S1	11, 21, 31	130	80	70	60	50	40
S3	12, 22, 33	130	80	69	59	49	39
S4	12, 22, 34	130	78	67	57	47	37
S5	13, 23, 35	130	87	78	67	56	45
S6	13, 23, 36	130	88	78	67	56	46

A Level, staged (AS result carried forward, or A2 only): 17 options

Option	Components	Out of	A*	A	B	C	D	E
BT1	42, 52, 84	–	191	171	151	129	107	85
BT2	42, 52, 87	–	193	173	153	131	109	87
BTJ	42, 52	130	91	77	63	51	40	29
BU1	43, 53, 85	–	188	166	144	123	102	82
BU2	43, 53, 88	–	186	164	142	121	100	80
BUJ	43, 53	130	88	73	58	47	36	25
BX1	41, 51, 84	–	188	167	146	124	102	81
BY1	42, 52, 85	–	191	170	149	128	107	86
BY2	42, 52, 88	–	189	168	147	126	105	84
BYJ	42, 52	130	91	77	63	51	40	29
BZJ	43, 53	130	88	73	58	47	36	25
CY1	42, 52, 95	–	198	176	154	133	112	92
CY2	42, 52, 98	–	197	175	153	133	113	93
CZ1	43, 53, 96	–	187	166	145	125	105	85
CZ2	43, 53, 99	–	187	166	145	124	104	84
EV	42, 52, 75	–	196	174	152	130	109	88
WB1	43, 53, 82	–	187	166	145	124	103	82

Source: copy of the Cambridge grade threshold table, November 2020 (PDF) · November 2020 papers and mark schemes

Frequently asked questions

How many marks do you need for an A* in A-Level Biology?

In June 2026, an A* needed 190 to 202 out of 260 (73% to 78%) for the whole A Level sat in one series, depending on the option (the combination of papers and variants) you were entered for. Across the 18 sessions on this page, that A* threshold ran from 68% to 82% of the marks, so it is worth checking the table for the session you are practising.

How many marks do you need for an a at AS Level Biology?

In June 2026, AS grade a needed 86 to 92 out of 130 (66% to 71%), depending on the option. AS Level is graded a to e.

What are the staged options in the 9700 tables?

Cambridge lets candidates carry forward their AS Level result from one series to complete the A Level in a later series. Staged options are the grade thresholds for that route, and A2-only options cover the A Level papers alone. Your exams officer can tell you which option you were entered for.

Where do these 9700 grade thresholds come from?

From Cambridge International's grade threshold table for each session, linked next to every session on this page. Cambridge publishes grade thresholds after each exam series on its grade threshold tables page.

Official source: Cambridge International AS & A Level grade threshold tables. If a number here ever differs from the table your school received, the school's copy is the one that counts, so ask your exams officer.

More for Biology: Biology hub and past papers · how grade thresholds work