Higher Physics grade boundaries 2025: A, B, C, D marks

Higher Physics grade boundaries 2025

The figures are the Physics row of the Higher sheet in the SQA's Grade boundaries 2025 (release 25GB, 5 August 2025); the grade counts are from the SQA's 2025 course report.

That makes an A 66.7% of the total, and a C 46%. Among the Higher rows in the workbook only Media (A at 66.0%) was lower at A. See the Higher Physics guide.

What the 150 marks are made of

In 2025 there were two question papers and an assignment. Paper 1 was 25 multiple-choice marks in 45 minutes, Paper 2 was 130 marks in 2 hours 15 minutes, and the assignment was 20 marks. The papers count for 80% and the assignment for 20%, so the 155 paper marks were scaled to 120 and the assignment to 30, which gives 150. The marks and timings are in the improving assessment paper, as the arrangements before the 2027 change.

How many candidates got each grade in 2025

27.7% of candidates, 2,368, got an A, and 24.8% a B. No Award was 10.6%, 910 candidates. Entries rose from 8,064 in 2024 to 8,561, a 6% increase.

Turning a mark into a grade

A candidate scores 124 of the 155 paper marks and 16 of the 20 assignment marks. The paper scales to 96 (124 × 120 ÷ 155) and the assignment to 24 (16 × 30 ÷ 20), for 120. That is above A at 100, and 4 short of the upper A at 124.

A weaker case: 62 of 155 gives 48 and an assignment of 12 gives 18, so 66. That is above D at 53 and below C at 69, so it is a D, 3 marks short of a C. The B line is calculated from A and C: 69 + ⌊(2 × 31 + 1) ÷ 4⌋ = 69 + 15 = 84.

2025 against earlier years

The 2024 boundaries were A 105, B 89, C 73 and D 57. In 2025 each fell by 5, 5, 4 and 4. The 2025 boundaries of 100, 84, 69 and 53 are identical to the 2019 ones, so these lines are back at the pre-pandemic level. The 2022 and 2023 columns are on a 120 scale and are not comparable raw.

What the SQA said about the 2025 papers

The course report says Paper 1 was more demanding than expected, and that questions 9(a) and 9(c) on Paper 2 did not function wholly as intended. Boundaries were adjusted for both, which is why they fell. The assignment performed in line with expectations, and its marks matched 2019 and 2024, so no adjustment was made for it.

On Paper 1, few candidates calculated the mean force because many ignored that the velocities are vectors (question 6), and many measured the refraction angle from the surface rather than the normal (17). On Paper 2, many candidates did not say it was total momentum that is conserved, or that there were no external forces (2(a)). Some explained a star's red colour through redshift instead of temperature (5(b)(ii)), and only some stated the conclusion from beta decay studies, which is mandatory content (6(b)(ii)). The report also notes weak recall of facts and definitions, questions about practical work that some candidates could not answer, and handwriting that made scripts hard to read.

What the 2025 numbers mean for you

The 100 needed for an A is two thirds of the total, below the 70% starting point. Most of the named losses are about definitions and method: write the law of momentum with "total" and "no external force", treat velocities as vectors, and measure angles from the normal. Use the Wave Speed Calculator and a diagram to check wave and refraction questions.

For the next series see Higher Physics grade boundaries 2026. For every course see SQA grade boundaries 2025.

Check yourself with today's paper

Our Higher Physics daily paper is a short timed paper of 8 questions and 25 to 35 marks, written by us. Mark it and divide: 20 out of 30 is 66.7%, equal to the 2025 A share, while 14 out of 30 is 46.7%, a little above the C share of 46.0%. Repeat across several days.

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Scotland · HigherHigher Physics grade boundaries 2026: A, B, C, D marksHigher Physics grade boundaries 2026 from Qualifications Scotland: A needed 102 of 150, B 86, C 71 and D 55, with 28.8% getting an A, and 2025 compared.