AQA A-level Chemistry grade boundaries 2026: the big rise

AQA A-level Chemistry grade boundaries June 2026

From the Chemistry Adv row of AQA's A-level grade boundaries for June 2026 (version 1.0, published 13 August 2026). AQA Chemistry (7405) is three papers: Paper 1 and Paper 2 are 105 marks each, and Paper 3 is 90 marks, which includes 40 marks on practical techniques and data analysis and 30 marks of multiple choice. They add to 300.

The 2025 column is from AQA's 2025 document. Our guides to A-level Chemistry and AQA A-level Chemistry cover the content, and the data sheet guide lists what you are given.

The largest move of any of our A-levels

A* rose by 16 marks, A by 23, B by 19, C by 15, D by 11 and E by 7. That is a larger swing than any of Maths, Further Maths or Biology saw at A. The 2026 A* of 255 is the highest of the four summers from 2023 (250, 239, 239, 255), and the A of 220 is also the highest.

A boundary that rises by this much means candidates scored more on the 2026 papers. AQA sets boundaries after marking, so a rise is no sign that the grade is harder to reach.

Worked example: the same marks, two summers

A candidate scores 70, 68 and 62, a total of 200 out of 300. The 2026 A boundary is 220 and B is 181, so 200 is a B, 20 marks short of an A. In 2025 the A boundary was 197, so the same 200 would have been an A.

Another: 130 is a D in 2026 (C needs 142) and would have been a C in 2025, when C needed 127.

AQA's paper-level figures for 2026

Notional boundaries for each paper, "for illustrative purposes only":

Every paper's notional A* rose from 2025: Paper 1 from 84 to 91, Paper 2 from 82 to 87 and Paper 3 from 73 to 77. Paper 1's 91 out of 105 is 87%.

Using the 2026 numbers

• An A* is 85%. 255 marks, only 45 below full marks.
• An A is 73%. 220 marks.
• An E is 22%. 66 marks.

Use today's paper to estimate your grade

Try today's Chemistry Paper 1 or Paper 2, a short timed paper of 8 questions worth 25 to 35 marks, written by us and not by AQA. Mark it and turn the result into a share. 23 out of 31 is 74%, which is just above the A share of 73% and below the A* share of 85%. Average several days for a steadier guess.

Mistakes to avoid

• Using the 2025 table. The A boundary rose by 23.
• Calling this year easier. A rise means higher marks, not an easier grade.
• Skipping the multiple-choice marks. Paper 3 carries 30 of them.

Read next

UK · A-levelAQA A-level grade boundaries 2026: every grade, by subjectAQA's official June 2026 A-level grade boundaries for Maths, Further Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Computer Science, against 2025.