Higher Physics grade boundaries 2026: A, B, C, D marks

Higher Physics grade boundaries 2026

The table is the Physics row of the Higher sheet in Grade boundaries 2026 (release 26GB, 4 August 2026); the grade counts come from the 2026 course report.

An A took 68.0% of the marks, a B 57.3%, a C 47.3% and a D 36.7%. The upper A, 124, was exactly the same as in 2025, at 82.7%. See the Higher Physics guide.

What the 150 marks are made of

This was the last series with two question papers: Paper 1 (25 multiple-choice marks, 45 minutes) and Paper 2 (130 marks, 2 hours 15 minutes). They counted for 80% together, scaled from 155 to 120, and the assignment (20 marks, scaled to 30) for 20%. From 2027 the two papers merge into one with two sections and a different total, so none of these boundaries will apply.

The assignment is a report on an experiment, written up in school in at most 2 hours under supervision and marked externally.

How many candidates got each grade in 2026

The 8,663 candidates were slightly more than 2025's 8,561. 28.8% got an A (2,496), up from 27.7%, and 9.7% got No Award, down from 10.6%. B was 24.5%, C 21.1% and D 16.0%.

Turning a mark into a grade

A candidate scores 93 of the 155 paper marks and 14 of the 20 assignment marks. The paper scales to 72 (93 × 120 ÷ 155) and the assignment to 21 (14 × 30 ÷ 20), a total of 93. That is above B at 86 and 9 marks short of A at 102, so it is a B.

The lines follow from A and C by formula. With A at 102 and C at 71, the gap is 31, so B = 71 + ⌊63 ÷ 4⌋ = 71 + 15 = 86 and D = 71 − ⌈61 ÷ 4⌉ = 71 − 16 = 55, the published values.

2026 against earlier years

The jump from 2025 is 2 marks at each of A, B, C and D (100 to 102, 84 to 86, 69 to 71, 53 to 55). Against 2024 the A line is 3 marks lower (105) and C is 2 marks lower (73). The A boundary has gone 105, 100, 102 in three years, so it is not a one-way trend.

What Qualifications Scotland said about the 2026 papers

The report says both papers performed as expected and were fair and accessible. The C boundary was adjusted for questions 7(b) and 13(a) on Paper 2, which did not function wholly as intended, and the A boundary was adjusted for 13(a). The assignment performed as expected, aligned with 2024 and 2025, and was not adjusted.

Candidates lost marks in several places. Few described how to use the apparatus and process the data for the mandatory practical on a vehicle's acceleration (question 2(a)). Many answered about accuracy when the question asked about precision (2(b)(iii)). In 4(a)(ii) a number did not divide by four although the number was in bold. Only some defined the work function (7(a)(i)), few explained why the central maximum is white (path difference zero for all wavelengths, 8(a)(ii)), and a number suggested invalid averaging in the grating experiment (8(b)(i)). The report repeats earlier concerns about recall of definitions, practical questions, handwriting and giving more answers than the question asks for.

What the 2026 boundaries mean for you

The report singles out practical work, so learn to describe the mandatory practicals, not just do the sums. Learn each method, the variable you change and measure, and how you reduce uncertainty. The report's point on precision versus accuracy is a quick win. The Orbit Simulator helps with the field and motion questions on Paper 1.

The previous series is Higher Physics grade boundaries 2025, and every course is in SQA grade boundaries 2026.

Check yourself with today's paper

Use today's Higher Physics paper as a short timed mock. It has 8 questions and 25 to 35 marks, is written by us, and has no assignment. A mark of 21 out of 30 is 70%, above the 68.0% an A took in 2026. A mark of 15 out of 30 is 50%, above the C share of 47.3%.

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Scotland · HigherHigher Physics grade boundaries 2025: A, B, C, D marksHigher Physics grade boundaries 2025 from the SQA: A needed 100 of 150, B 84, C 69 and D 53, with 27.7% getting an A, and 2024 and 2019 compared.