Higher Applications of Maths grade boundaries 2025

Higher Applications of Maths grade boundaries 2025

The table is the Applications of Mathematics row of the Higher sheet in the SQA's Grade boundaries 2025 (release 25GB, 5 August 2025); the candidate numbers are from the SQA's 2025 course report.

An A needed 68.2% of the marks and a C needed 48.2%. Our Higher Applications of Maths guide describes the course.

What the 110 marks are made of

The 110 marks come from two parts. The question paper is 65 marks, scaled to 80, and lasts 2 hours 5 minutes: candidates use spreadsheet and statistical software during it. The project is 30 marks and is a statistical investigation written up over up to 8 hours. The project is worth over a quarter of the total, so it can swing a grade. These figures are from the course specification.

How many candidates got each grade in 2025

More than a quarter of candidates, 26.5%, got a C, which is the biggest single group; 15.6% got an A and 15.3% got No Award. Entries rose by 56%, from 2,996 in 2024 to 4,682.

Turning a mark into a grade

A question paper mark of 52 out of 65 is scaled to 64 out of 80 (52 × 80 ÷ 65 = 64). With a project mark of 22 out of 30, the total is 86 out of 110. That is above A at 75 and below the upper A line of 92, so it is an A, 6 marks short of band 1.

A weaker profile: 39 out of 65 scales to 48, and a project of 14 gives 62. That is above C at 53 and below B at 64, so it is a C. B is worked out from A and C: with A at 75 and C at 53, the gap is 22, so B = 53 + ⌊45 ÷ 4⌋ = 53 + 11 = 64, and D = 53 − ⌈43 ÷ 4⌉ = 53 − 11 = 42.

2025 against earlier years

The boundaries climbed steeply. The A went 64, 67, 73 and then 75 from 2022 to 2025, and C went 41, 43, 50 and 53, so the pass marks have risen by 12 marks in three years. The share of the total for a C went from 37.3% in 2022 to 48.2%, which means each year the awarding meetings moved closer to the 50% notional C.

The workbook gives no 2019 figures for this course, marking them not applicable.

What the SQA said about the 2025 assessment

The course report says the assessment was accessible and the project performed as expected. In the question paper, questions 9(a), 9(b)(ii) and 11(b) were more demanding than expected, which was considered in setting the boundaries.

Most candidates did not determine the minimum time in question 4(c) and most did not describe a distribution correctly in 5(a)(ii), with many saying it was normal or skewed to the left. In question 9(b)(ii) most scored no marks on the null and alternative hypotheses because they did not refer to the difference in the mean mass or answer in context. In 8(c) many did not enter the correct spreadsheet formula, and few referred to the depth of the water in 10(c). On the project, some candidates did not explain the background and context clearly enough to gain the first mark.

What the 2025 boundaries mean for you

Most lost marks are about writing the statistic in context: state the hypotheses with the variable named, say what a p-value means for the claim, and name the measure of location you chose. Practise with the Standard Deviation Calculator, then explain the result in a sentence about the situation.

The next series is in Higher Applications of Maths grade boundaries 2026. Other courses are in SQA grade boundaries 2025.

Check yourself with today's paper

Our Higher Applications of Maths daily paper is a short timed paper of 8 questions and 25 to 35 marks, written by us, and it does not include the software tasks or the project. Mark it, divide, and compare: 18 out of 30 is 60%, above the B share of 58.2% and below the A share of 68.2%. Repeat over several days.

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Scotland · HigherHigher Applications of Maths grade boundaries 2026Higher Applications of Maths grade boundaries 2026 from Qualifications Scotland: A needed 76 of 110, B 63, C 50 and D 37, with 7,024 entries.