Everything You Need To Know AQA A-Level Grade Boundaries 2022

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Written by: Phillip McKenna

Reviewed by: Oisin Devoy

Updated: 3/10/2026

Published: 2/19/2026

4 min read
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Table of Contents
  1. AQA A-Level Grade Boundaries 2022 Analysis
  2. What is the best way to prepare for your AQA A-Level exams?
  3. How to Understand the 2022 Grade Boundaries for AQA A-Level Exams?

Grade boundaries play an important role in helping students understand how their AQA results are decided. They show the minimum marks needed for each grade and give a clearer sense of how well you performed in your AQA A-Level exams. Because every exam series is different, the grade boundaries for 2022 may not be the same as in previous years.

AQA sets these boundaries only after all papers in the exam series have been marked. This makes sure grading stays fair for all students, even when the exam turns out to be more difficult.

SimpleStudy provides the latest AQA A-Level 2022 grade boundaries in a clear, student-friendly format, along with helpful guidance so students can understand the grades and prepare with more confidence.

AQA A-Level Grade Boundaries 2022 Analysis

Here’s a clear breakdown of the AQA A-Level grade boundaries of 2022 in a simple table format.

Subject TitleYearMaximum MarkA*ABCDE
ACCOUNTING ADV2022240166144121987552
ART & DES ADV(ART,CRAFT & DES)202296797462503827
ART & DES ADV (FINE ART)202296797462503827
ART & DES ADV (GRAPHIC COM)202296797462503827
ART & DES ADV (TEXTILE DESIGN)202296797462503827
ART & DES ADV (3D DESIGN)202296797462503827
ART & DES ADV (PHOTOGRAPHY)202296827866554433
BENGALI ADV202240029625021217413699
BIBLICAL HEBREW ADV202230023219016113210375
BIOLOGY ADV2022260173142115896337
Subject TitleYearMaximum MarkA*ABCDE
Arabic 01 02 03202237025820017014011182
Art and Design (3D Design) 1A 1B202215011810584634222
Art and Design (Fine Art) 1A 1B202215011810584634222
Art and Design (Graphic Communication) 1A 1B202215011810584634222
Art and Design (Photography) 1A 1B202215011910786654424
Art and Design (Textile Design) 1A 1B202215011810584634222
Art, Craft And Design 1A 1B202215011810584634222
Biology A (Salters Nuffield) 01 02 0320223001861551281017549
Biology B 01 02 032022300184147121956943
Business 01 02 03202233523921818415111885
Subject TitleYearMaximum MarkA*ABCDE
Ancient History All options2022196157134108825630
Biology A20222701841561301047852
Biology B (Advancing Biology)2022270153134115967860
Business20222401891681391108153
Chemistry A2022270213168132976227
Chemistry B (Salters)20222702051651341037343
Classical Civilisation Option A: 11+21+3120222501921681411148760
Classical Civilisation Option B: 11+21+3220222501961711431158861
Classical Civilisation Option C: 11+21+3320222501941691411148760
Classical Civilisation Option D: 11+21+3420222501911671401138660
Subject TitleYearMonthMaximum MarkGrade 9Grade 8Grade 7Grade 6Grade 5Grade 4Grade 3Grade 2Grade 1
ART & DESIGN (3D DESIGN)2022Jun9681746759524532208
ART & DESIGN (ART,CRAFT & DES)2022Jun9681746759524532208
ART & DESIGN (FINE ART)2022Jun9681746759524532208
ART & DESIGN (GRAPHIC COMM)2022Jun9681746759524532208
ART & DESIGN (PHOTOGRAPHY)2022Jun9681746759524532208
ART & DESIGN (TEXTILES DESIGN)2022Jun9681746759524532208
BENGALI TIER F2022Jun240----135110815224
BENGALI TIER H2022Jun2402001771541301068371--
BIOLOGY TIER F2022Jun200----126109794920
BIOLOGY TIER H2022Jun20013211810486685142--
Subject TitleYearMonthMaximum MarkGrade 9Grade 8Grade 7Grade 6Grade 5Grade 4Grade 3Grade 2Grade 1
Arabic (Foundation) Paper(s) 1F 2F 3F 4F2022June280----142101826446
Arabic (Higher) Paper(s) 1H 2H 3H 4H2022June2802282001731441158773--
Art & Design: 3D Design2022June7259534841342719114
Art & Design: Fine Art2022June7259534841342719114
Art & Design: Graphic Communication2022June7259534841342719114
Art & Design: Photography2022June7259534841342719114
Art & Design: Textile Design2022June7259534841342719114
Art, Craft & Design2022June7259534841342719114
Astronomy2022June2001431321221089582624324
Biblical Hebrew2022June2001551391231079175614733
Subject TitleYearMonthMaximum MarkGrade 9Grade 8Grade 7Grade 6Grade 5Grade 4Grade 3Grade 2Grade 1
Ancient History All options2022June165132118105917763503725
Biology A (Gateway Science) Foundation Tier: 01+022022June180----10278604326
Biology A (Gateway Science) Higher Tier: 03+042022June18013111610283654738--
Biology B (Twenty First Century Science) Foundation Tier: 01+022022June180----9881614223
Biology B (Twenty First Century Science) Higher Tier: 03+042022June1801251109578614537--
Business2022June16011110090786655412815
Chemistry A (Gateway Science) Foundation Tier: 01+022022June180----9673553719
Chemistry A (Gateway Science) Higher Tier: 03+042022June18014212210383634333--
Chemistry B (Twenty First Century Science) Foundation Tier: 01+022022June180----9985623916
Chemistry B (Twenty First Century Science) Higher Tier: 03+042022June1801251099375584132--

What is the best way to prepare for your AQA A-Level exams?

Preparing well for AQA A-Level exams becomes much easier when you use the right study tools and focus on staying organised by following the AQA A-Level exams dates for 2022 . Here are effective ways to get started:

Identify your weaker topics

Review all the units & topics across your AQA A-Level subjects and highlight the areas that need more attention. A simple revision plan with short, regular study sessions can help you stay on track.

Use SimpleStudy’s revision notes

Clear, teachers created AQA A-Level revision notes with detailed explanations help you understand key ideas concepts quickly. These study notes simplify difficult topics by making it easier to understand

Practise with exam questions

SimpleStudy’s exam questions help you check your understanding and improve your exam technique through focused practice.

Revise key concepts with flashcards

AQA A-Level Flashcards help you revise important definitions, formulas, key terms and concepts quickly, especially during shorter revision sessions.

Study through past exam papers

Use SimpleStudy AQA A-Level past exam papers to practise under real exam conditions. Practising past papers with a timer helps you improve your timing, focus, and overall exam performance.

Try quizzes

AQA A-Level quizzes give instant feedback and help you see which topics are improving and which ones you still need to work on.


With the right mix of study notes, exam questions, flashcards, quizzes, and past papers, you can prepare for your AQA A-Level exams with more confidence and a stronger grasp of your subjects.


How to Understand the 2022 Grade Boundaries for AQA A-Level Exams?

Grade boundaries are set by exam boards like AQA to reflect how students performed in a particular exam year. These boundaries are finalised after all A-Level exams have been marked, so they accurately reflect the overall difficulty of the papers.

AQA uses a mix of performance data and expert examiner review to make sure grade boundaries are set fairly. These checks help keep each year consistent, even as exam sessions change.

Every AQA A-Level paper is slightly different, so the overall difficulty can vary from year to year. When a paper turns out to be more challenging for many students, the grade boundaries may be lowered to ensure no one is unfairly affected.

Looking at AQA A-Level grade boundaries from previous years can give you a good idea of the marks needed for different grades. When you compare your past paper scores with earlier boundaries, you can see the grade you’re currently working at and how many marks you might need to reach the next level. With this insight and a focused revision approach, improving your grade becomes much more manageable.

Important Note:

Grade boundaries during the COVID-19 years (2020–2022) were adjusted to support students who experienced major disruptions. These years won’t reflect normal patterns, so it’s best to rely on more recent boundaries when planning for 2022 and onwards.

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