AQA A-level Physics grade boundaries 2026: what each option needed

AQA A-level Physics grade boundaries June 2026

From the Physics Adv rows of AQA's A-level grade boundaries for June 2026 (version 1.0, published 13 August 2026). Each is the lowest total out of 250 for the grade. AQA Physics (7408) has three papers: Paper 1 and Paper 2 are 85 marks each, and Paper 3 is 80 marks, made up of 45 marks of practical skills and data analysis in Section A and 35 marks on one optional topic in Section B. That sums to 250. Because each option has its own Section B, AQA publishes a separate boundary row for each.

Our guides to A-level Physics and AQA A-level Physics cover the content, and the data sheet guide lists what you are given.

What changed since 2025

Beside AQA's 2025 figures:

Astrophysics rose most at A* (182 to 191, up 9). Engineering Physics A* did not move at 190, though its A rose by 6. The E boundary went up in every option, and by 11 marks in Astrophysics (50 to 61), taking it from 20% to 24% of the total.

Over four summers the Astrophysics A boundary has gone 129, 138, 152, 162, a total rise of 33 marks.

Worked example: Electronics in 2026

A candidate on the Electronics option scores 64 on Paper 1, 58 on Paper 2, and 34 across Paper 3 (Section A and Section B together), a total of 156 out of 250. The Electronics A boundary in 2026 is 159 and the B boundary is 134, so 156 is a B, 3 marks short of an A. In 2025 the Electronics A boundary was 153, so the same 156 would have been an A.

Compare the options on a single total. A score of 160 is a B on Astrophysics (A needs 162) but an A on Medical Physics (A needs 157).

Section B in AQA's notional figures

Notional boundaries for each Section B option, out of 35, for illustration only:

Astrophysics had a notional A* of 29 out of 35, above the 25 for Medical Physics. The papers are graded on the total.

Using the 2026 numbers

• An A is 63% to 65%.
• An A* is 74% to 76%.
• An E is 23% to 24%. 57 to 61 marks.

Use today's paper to estimate your grade

Open Physics Paper 1 or Paper 2 from today. Each is a short timed paper of 8 questions worth 25 to 35 marks, written by us and not by AQA. Mark it and divide by the total: 21 out of 31 is 68%, above the A share of 63% to 65% and below the A* share of 74% to 76%. A week of results averaged gives a better answer than one paper.

Mistakes to avoid

• Using last year's table. The 2026 A boundary rose by 6 to 10 marks.
• Comparing options. Only the row for your own Section B option applies.
• Assuming a trend continues. Three rises in a row do not guarantee a fourth.

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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.