A-Level Biology grade boundaries — November 2024

Cambridge International AS & A Level (9700). Minimum weighted marks for each grade in the November 2024 series, by paper combination. Find the row matching the papers you sat.

Compared with November 2023, the A* boundary for Papers 11, 21, 31, 41, 51 rose by 8 marks (190 → 198) and the E boundary rose by 7 marks (83 → 90).

A Level options — November 2024

Papers Max A*ABCDE
Papers 11, 21, 31, 41, 51 260 19877% 17568% 15259% 13151% 11043% 9035%
Papers 12, 22, 33, 42, 52 260 19274% 17166% 15058% 12850% 10641% 8533%
Papers 13, 23, 35, 43, 53 260 19575% 17166% 14757% 12549% 10340% 8132%
Papers 41, 51, 86 260 19877% 17869% 15861% 13753% 11645% 9537%
Papers 42, 52, 84 260 19375% 17568% 15761% 13552% 11344% 9135%
Papers 42, 52, 87 260 19475% 17668% 15861% 13552% 11344% 9135%
Papers 43, 53, 85 260 19274% 16765% 14255% 12147% 10139% 8132%
Papers 43, 53, 88 260 19676% 17166% 14657% 12549% 10440% 8433%
Papers 42, 52, 85 260 18572% 16263% 13954% 11846% 9738% 7730%
Papers 42, 52, 88 260 18973% 16664% 14356% 12247% 10139% 8031%
Papers 43, 53, 86 260 19877% 17869% 15861% 13753% 11645% 9537%
Papers 42, 52, 95 260 18672% 16564% 14456% 12348% 10240% 8232%
Papers 42, 52, 98 260 18873% 16664% 14456% 12348% 10240% 8232%
Papers 43, 53, 96 260 19074% 16765% 14456% 12448% 10440% 8433%
Papers 43, 53, 99 260 19074% 16765% 14456% 12348% 10240% 8232%
Papers 42, 52, 75 260 18973% 16965% 14958% 12649% 10340% 8132%
Papers 12, 22, 34, 42, 52 260 19274% 17166% 15058% 12850% 10742% 8634%
Papers 13, 23, 36, 43, 53 260 19776% 17467% 15159% 12850% 10641% 8433%

Marks are minimum weighted totals; percentages are rounded up. Anything below the E threshold is ungraded (U).

AS Level options — November 2024

Papers Max ABCDE
Papers 11, 21, 31 130 9170% 8062% 7054% 6047% 5039%
Papers 12, 22, 33 130 9271% 8163% 7054% 5946% 4938%
Papers 12, 22, 34 130 9271% 8163% 7054% 6047% 5039%
Papers 13, 23, 35 130 8767% 7558% 6349% 5240% 4132%
Papers 13, 23, 36 130 9070% 7961% 6752% 5543% 4434%

Marks are minimum weighted totals; percentages are rounded up. Anything below the E threshold is ungraded (U).

Paper (component) thresholds — November 2024

The minimum raw mark on each individual paper. Cambridge weights and adds these to set the syllabus boundaries above; there is no A* at paper level.

Paper Max ABCDE
Paper 11 40 2973% 2768% 2563% 2153% 1948%
Paper 12 40 2973% 2665% 2358% 2050% 1743%
Paper 13 40 3178% 2870% 2460% 2050% 1743%
Paper 21 60 4067% 3356% 2745% 2339% 1729%
Paper 22 60 4067% 3356% 2745% 2237% 1627%
Paper 23 60 3660% 3050% 2440% 1932% 1322%
Paper 31 40 2973% 2768% 2460% 2153% 1948%
Paper 33 40 3178% 2973% 2665% 2358% 2153%
Paper 34 40 3178% 2973% 2665% 2460% 2256%
Paper 35 40 2768% 2358% 2050% 1743% 1538%
Paper 36 40 3178% 2870% 2563% 2256% 1948%
Paper 41 100 6161% 5252% 4545% 3737% 2829%
Paper 42 100 6262% 5454% 4545% 3636% 2727%
Paper 43 100 6161% 5252% 4545% 3737% 2829%
Paper 51 30 2377% 2067% 1757% 1447% 1240%
Paper 52 30 1757% 1550% 1344% 1137% 930%
Paper 53 30 2377% 2067% 1757% 1447% 1240%

November 2024 vs November 2023

Change in the minimum mark for matching paper routes (same series, one year earlier). Positive = harder to reach the grade.

Papers A*ABCDE
Papers 11, 21, 31, 41, 51 +8 190→198 +7 168→175 +6 146→152 +6 125→131 +6 104→110 +7 83→90
Papers 41, 51, 86 +4 194→198 +6 172→178 +8 150→158 +9 128→137 +10 106→116 +11 84→95
Papers 42, 52, 95 -1 187→186 -2 167→165 -3 147→144 -2 125→123 -1 103→102 ±0 82→82
Papers 42, 52, 75 +3 186→189 +5 164→169 +7 142→149 +7 119→126 +7 96→103 +7 74→81
Papers 11, 21, 31 +5 86→91 +5 75→80 +5 65→70 +5 55→60 +4 46→50

Biology grade boundaries November 2023 → · All sessions since March 2022 →

Frequently asked

What was the A* boundary for Biology in November 2024?
For Papers 11, 21, 31, 41, 51, an A* needed 198 out of 260 weighted marks (77%). Other paper combinations have their own thresholds — see the table above.
What mark was a pass (grade E) in Biology November 2024?
Grade E is the lowest pass. For Papers 11, 21, 31, 41, 51 it needed 90/260 (35%). Below that the result is U (ungraded).
Why are the paper thresholds different from the overall boundaries?
Cambridge sets a threshold for each paper (component) first, then weights and adds them to get the syllabus boundary for each combination of papers. Your grade comes from the weighted total, not from any single paper. Paper thresholds have no A* — the A* only exists at syllabus level.
Did Biology grade boundaries go up or down in November 2024?
Compared with November 2023, the A* boundary for Papers 11, 21, 31, 41, 51 rose by 8 marks (190 → 198) and the E boundary rose by 7 marks (83 → 90). Boundaries move to keep the standard constant when a paper turns out harder or easier than usual.

Calculate your Biology grade → Percentage needed for each grade

← June 2024 · March 2025 →

Official source (PDF) →

Figures sourced from the official Cambridge grade threshold tables. Always confirm with your exam board.