A-Level Music grade boundaries — November 2023
Cambridge International AS & A Level (9483). Minimum weighted marks for each grade in the November 2023 series, by paper combination. Find the row matching the papers you sat.
Compared with November 2022, the A* boundary for Papers 02, 03, 04, 12 rose by 17 marks (417 → 434) and the E boundary rose by 14 marks (173 → 187).
A Level options — November 2023
| Papers | Max | A* | A | B | C | D | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Papers 02, 03, 04, 12 | 500 | 43487% | 38076% | 32666% | 27956% | 23347% | 18738% |
| Papers 02, 03, 04, 13 | 500 | 43487% | 38076% | 32666% | 27956% | 23347% | 18738% |
| Papers 03, 04, 88 | 500 | 43487% | 38076% | 32666% | 27956% | 23347% | 18738% |
| Papers 03, 05, 88 | 500 | 43487% | 38076% | 32666% | 27956% | 23347% | 18738% |
| Papers 03, 04, 98 | 500 | 42385% | 37175% | 31964% | 27255% | 22646% | 18036% |
| Papers 03, 04, 99 | 500 | 42385% | 37175% | 31964% | 27255% | 22646% | 18036% |
| Papers 03, 05, 98 | 500 | 42385% | 37175% | 31964% | 27255% | 22646% | 18036% |
| Papers 03, 05, 99 | 500 | 42385% | 37175% | 31964% | 27255% | 22646% | 18036% |
| Papers 04, 05, 98 | 500 | 42385% | 37175% | 31964% | 27255% | 22646% | 18036% |
| Papers 04, 05, 99 | 500 | 42385% | 37175% | 31964% | 27255% | 22646% | 18036% |
Marks are minimum weighted totals; percentages are rounded up. Anything below the E threshold is ungraded (U).
AS Level options — November 2023
| Papers | Max | A | B | C | D | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Papers 12, 82 | 250 | 18072% | 15161% | 12952% | 10844% | 8735% |
| Papers 12, 92 | 250 | 17470% | 14759% | 12651% | 10542% | 8534% |
| Papers 13, 82 | 250 | 18072% | 15161% | 12952% | 10844% | 8735% |
| Papers 13, 92 | 250 | 17470% | 14759% | 12651% | 10542% | 8534% |
| Papers 02, 11 | 250 | 18072% | 15161% | 12952% | 10844% | 8735% |
| Papers 02, 12 | 250 | 18072% | 15161% | 12952% | 10844% | 8735% |
| Papers 02, 13 | 250 | 18072% | 15161% | 12952% | 10844% | 8735% |
Marks are minimum weighted totals; percentages are rounded up. Anything below the E threshold is ungraded (U).
Paper (component) thresholds — November 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 02 | 100 | 7575% | 6565% | 5657% | 4848% | 4040% |
| Paper 03 | 100 | 8080% | 7070% | 6060% | 5050% | 4040% |
| Paper 04 | 100 | 8080% | 7070% | 6060% | 5050% | 4040% |
| Paper 05 | 100 | 8080% | 7070% | 6060% | 5050% | 4040% |
| Paper 11 | 100 | 7070% | 5757% | 4949% | 4040% | 3131% |
| Paper 12 | 100 | 7070% | 5757% | 4949% | 4040% | 3131% |
| Paper 13 | 100 | 7070% | 5757% | 4949% | 4040% | 3131% |
November 2023 vs November 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 02, 03, 04, 12 | +17 417→434 | +16 364→380 | +15 311→326 | +14 265→279 | +14 219→233 | +14 173→187 |
| Papers 03, 04, 88 | +18 416→434 | +16 364→380 | +14 312→326 | +14 265→279 | +14 219→233 | +14 173→187 |
| Papers 03, 05, 88 | +18 416→434 | +16 364→380 | +14 312→326 | +14 265→279 | +14 219→233 | +14 173→187 |
| Papers 03, 04, 98 | +20 403→423 | +17 354→371 | +14 305→319 | +14 258→272 | +14 212→226 | +14 166→180 |
| Papers 03, 05, 98 | +20 403→423 | +17 354→371 | +14 305→319 | +14 258→272 | +14 212→226 | +14 166→180 |
| Papers 04, 05, 98 | +20 403→423 | +17 354→371 | +14 305→319 | +14 258→272 | +14 212→226 | +14 166→180 |
| Papers 12, 82 | +9 171→180 | +7 144→151 | +7 122→129 | +7 101→108 | +7 80→87 | |
| Papers 12, 92 | +3 171→174 | +2 145→147 | +3 123→126 | +4 101→105 | +6 79→85 | |
| Papers 02, 11 | +9 171→180 | +7 144→151 | +7 122→129 | +7 101→108 | +7 80→87 |
Music grade boundaries November 2022 → · All sessions since June 2022 →
Frequently asked
- What was the A* boundary for Music in November 2023?
- For Papers 02, 03, 04, 12, an A* needed 434 out of 500 weighted marks (87%). Other paper combinations have their own thresholds — see the table above.
- What mark was a pass (grade E) in Music November 2023?
- Grade E is the lowest pass. For Papers 02, 03, 04, 12 it needed 187/500 (38%). 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 Music grade boundaries go up or down in November 2023?
- Compared with November 2022, the A* boundary for Papers 02, 03, 04, 12 rose by 17 marks (417 → 434) and the E boundary rose by 14 marks (173 → 187). Boundaries move to keep the standard constant when a paper turns out harder or easier than usual.
Calculate your Music grade → Percentage needed for each grade
Figures sourced from the official Cambridge grade threshold tables. Always confirm with your exam board.