Advanced Higher Maths grade boundaries 2025: the mark for every grade
Advanced Higher Maths
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Advanced Higher Maths grade boundaries 2025
These figures come from SQA's Grade boundaries 2025 workbook (reference 25GB, released 5 August 2025) and match the minimum marks printed in the 2025 course report for Advanced Higher Mathematics. A boundary is the lowest total that earns the grade. SQA became Qualifications Scotland on 1 February 2026, so the 2025 results were published under the SQA name.
| Advanced Higher Maths, 2025 | Minimum mark | Out of | Share of the maximum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper A (band 1) | 100 | 115 | 87% |
| A | 83 | 115 | 72% |
| B | 71 | 115 | 62% |
| C | 60 | 115 | 52% |
| D | 48 | 115 | 42% |
| No Award | 0 to 47 | 115 | below 42% |
The total of 115 is the sum of two question papers: a non-calculator Paper 1 of 35 marks lasting 1 hour, and a Paper 2 of 80 marks lasting 2 hours 30 minutes, according to the course specification. The grade comes from the sum of both papers. There is no coursework in this subject, so every mark is earned in the exam room. Our Advanced Higher Maths guide covers what the two papers test, and the formula sheet guide lists what you are given.
From a mark to a grade, step by step
Take a candidate who scores 31 on Paper 1 and 52 on Paper 2. The total is 83 out of 115, which is 72% and exactly the A boundary, so the grade is an A. A total that equals a boundary earns that grade, not the one below. One mark fewer, 82, would have been a B, and even the 83 sits 17 marks under the upper A line of 100.
SQA only sets three boundaries directly for each course: C, A and upper A. Grade B and grade D are calculated from the C and A figures. For 2025 that gives B = 60 + ⌊(2 × 23 + 1) ÷ 4⌋ = 71 and D = 60 − ⌈(2 × 23 − 1) ÷ 4⌉ = 48, which are the published numbers. So a change to the C or A boundary pulls B and D along with it.
How 2025 compares with 2024
| Boundary | 2024 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper A | 98 | 100 | +2 |
| A | 80 | 83 | +3 |
| B | 66 | 71 | +5 |
| C | 53 | 60 | +7 |
| D | 39 | 48 | +9 |
Every boundary went up, and the C boundary rose by 7 marks, from 53 to 60. The course report says why: Paper 1 was less demanding than expected, particularly question 8, and Paper 2 was less demanding than expected, particularly questions 5, 11 and 13. When a paper is easier than intended, the boundaries move up so that the same standard is kept. The same mark in 2025 therefore bought a lower grade than in 2024. A candidate with 55 would have had a C in 2024 and a D in 2025.
The notional C boundary is 50% of the total and the notional A is 70%. In 2025 the C boundary was 52% and the A boundary 72%, close to the targets, where in 2024 they were 46% and 70%.
Advanced Higher Maths boundaries since 2019
| Year | Out of | Upper A | A | B | C | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 115 | 100 | 83 | 71 | 60 | 48 |
| 2024 | 115 | 98 | 80 | 66 | 53 | 39 |
| 2023 | 100 | 84 | 70 | 56 | 43 | 29 |
| 2022 | 100 | 84 | 68 | 56 | 44 | 32 |
| 2019 | 100 | 82 | 64 | 53 | 42 | 36 |
The maximum mark changed from 100 to 115 in 2024, so compare shares of the total rather than raw marks across that line. The 2020 and 2021 series were awarded under different arrangements and the workbook does not publish boundaries for them. SQA says it returned to its established awarding procedures from 2025.
Who sat it and how many got each grade
The course report counts 4,469 resulted entries in 2025, up from 4,390 in 2024. Its figures are compiled before the appeals process finishes.
| Grade | Candidates | Share | Cumulative share | Minimum mark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 1,845 | 41.3% | 41.3% | 83 |
| B | 811 | 18.1% | 59.4% | 71 |
| C | 579 | 13% | 72.4% | 60 |
| D | 477 | 10.7% | 83.1% | 48 |
| No Award | 757 | 16.9% | 100% | Not applicable |
Just over 4 in 10 candidates got an A, and about 1 in 6 got No Award. Grade D is reported on the certificate as a course award in its own right, so 83.1% of candidates came away with a grade.
What the course report says to fix
- Simplify the final answer. Marks were lost in 6(b) and 7(b) of Paper 2 for answers left unsimplified.
- Write the full expansion. In Paper 1 question 1 a few candidates gave only the general term, not the binomial expansion.
- Multiply by the conjugate. Some candidates did not do this when dividing complex numbers in question 3.
- Say what you are doing. Answers to 9(b), 13(a)(ii) and 15 in Paper 2 lacked clear communication.
Use today's paper to place yourself
Sit today's Advanced Higher Maths paper, a short timed paper of 8 questions worth 25 to 35 marks, not a full SQA paper. Mark it, turn your mark into a percentage and set it beside the shares above: 72% is where the A boundary sat in 2025 and 52% is where C sat. Repeat it over a week, because one short paper is a rough guide. The worked answers and mark scheme arrive with today's paper once it is marked.
Marks like these are not a forecast. SQA sets the boundaries after the exam, so a harder paper next year will move them down. Aim for a buffer of 8 to 10 marks over the grade you need.
Common questions
What were the Advanced Higher Maths grade boundaries in 2025?
What mark do you need to pass Advanced Higher Maths in 2025?
Were the 2025 Advanced Higher Maths boundaries higher than 2024?
Is there coursework in Advanced Higher Maths?
What is the upper A boundary?
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Scotland · Advanced HigherAdvanced Higher Maths grade boundaries 2026: A to D marksQualifications Scotland's 2026 Advanced Higher Maths boundaries out of 115: A at 81, C at 56. See how they fell from 2025 and what your mark earns.