A-Level History grade boundaries — March 2023
Cambridge International AS & A Level (9489). Minimum weighted marks for each grade in the March 2023 series, by paper combination. Find the row matching the papers you sat.
Compared with March 2022, the A* boundary for Papers 12, 22, 32, 42 rose by 17 marks (136 → 153) and the E boundary rose by 11 marks (59 → 70).
A Level options — March 2023
| Papers | Max | A* | A | B | C | D | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Papers 12, 22, 32, 42 | 200 | 15377% | 13568% | 11759% | 10151% | 8543% | 7035% |
| Papers 32, 42, 88 | 200 | 14271% | 12663% | 11056% | 9548% | 8040% | 6633% |
| Papers 32, 42, 98 | 200 | 14171% | 12764% | 11357% | 9749% | 8141% | 6533% |
| Papers 32, 42, 78 | 200 | 14070% | 12563% | 11056% | 9447% | 7839% | 6231% |
Marks are minimum weighted totals; percentages are rounded up. Anything below the E threshold is ungraded (U).
AS Level options — March 2023
| Papers | Max | A | B | C | D | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Papers 12, 22 | 100 | 6666% | 5556% | 4747% | 4040% | 3333% |
Marks are minimum weighted totals; percentages are rounded up. Anything below the E threshold is ungraded (U).
Paper (component) thresholds — March 2023
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 | A | B | C | D | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 12 | 40 | 2358% | 2050% | 1743% | 1538% | 1333% |
| Paper 22 | 60 | 4372% | 3559% | 3050% | 2542% | 2034% |
| Paper 32 | 40 | 2973% | 2665% | 2460% | 2153% | 1640% |
| Paper 42 | 60 | 4067% | 3660% | 3152% | 2644% | 2135% |
March 2023 vs March 2022
Change in the minimum mark for matching paper routes (same series, one year earlier). Positive = harder to reach the grade.
| Papers | A* | A | B | C | D | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Papers 12, 22, 32, 42 | +17 136→153 | +15 120→135 | +13 104→117 | +12 89→101 | +11 74→85 | +11 59→70 |
| Papers 32, 42, 88 | +3 139→142 | +4 122→126 | +5 105→110 | +5 90→95 | +5 75→80 | +5 61→66 |
| Papers 32, 42, 98 | +5 136→141 | +7 120→127 | +9 104→113 | +9 88→97 | +9 72→81 | +8 57→65 |
| Papers 12, 22 | +10 56→66 | +7 48→55 | +7 40→47 | +8 32→40 | +8 25→33 |
History grade boundaries March 2022 → · All sessions since March 2022 →
Frequently asked
- What was the A* boundary for History in March 2023?
- For Papers 12, 22, 32, 42, an A* needed 153 out of 200 weighted marks (77%). Other paper combinations have their own thresholds — see the table above.
- What mark was a pass (grade E) in History March 2023?
- Grade E is the lowest pass. For Papers 12, 22, 32, 42 it needed 70/200 (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 History grade boundaries go up or down in March 2023?
- Compared with March 2022, the A* boundary for Papers 12, 22, 32, 42 rose by 17 marks (136 → 153) and the E boundary rose by 11 marks (59 → 70). Boundaries move to keep the standard constant when a paper turns out harder or easier than usual.
Calculate your History grade → Percentage needed for each grade
Figures sourced from the official Cambridge grade threshold tables. Always confirm with your exam board.