What are the OCR A Level Grade Boundaries in 2022 and Why They Matter

Grade boundaries set by OCR are the minimum number of marks you need to score in your A Level exam to achieve a certain grade. The grade boundaries change for every exam series, so they will be different in 2022 than they were in previous years. Grade boundaries are set after your OCR A Level exams have been marked, so you won’t know the exact grade boundaries for the 2022 exams before you take them.

This article will provide you with the grade boundaries for OCR A Level 2022, help you interpret them, and provide tools to help you succeed in your exams.

SubjectYearMaximum MarkA*ABCDE
Ancient History2022196157134108825630
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
Classical Civilisation Option E: 11+22+3120222501931691411148760
Classical Civilisation Option F: 11+22+3220222501971721441168861
Classical Civilisation Option G: 11+22+3320222501951701421148760
Classical Civilisation Option H: 11+22+3420222501921681411148760
Classical Civilisation Option J: 11+23+3120222501911671401138659
Classical Civilisation Option K: 11+23+3220222501951701421148760
Classical Civilisation Option L: 11+23+3320222501931681401138659
Classical Civilisation Option M: 11+23+3420222501901661391128559
Classical Civilisation Option N: 11+24+3120222501911671401138659
Classical Civilisation Option O: 11+24+3220222501951701421148760
Classical Civilisation Option P: 11+24+3320222501931681401138659
Classical Civilisation Option Q: 11+24+3420222501901661391128559
Classical Greek202230023519016113210476
Computer Science202235026422918915011172
Design and Technology202230022319716713710777
Design and Technology2022300240217187158129100
Design and Technology2022300240217187158129100
Drama and Theatre2022300246224197170143117
Economics20222401851571291017346
English Language20222001631461241028058
English Language and Literature (EMC)20222001551421221038465
English Literature20222001821701441189368
Film Studies20223002322121701298847
Further Mathematics A (H245) Option Y540+Y541+Y542+Y54320223001991601301017243
Further Mathematics A (H245) Option Y540+Y541+Y542+Y54420223002031661361067646
Further Mathematics A (H245) Option Y540+Y541+Y542+Y5452022300193156127997143
Further Mathematics A (H245) Option Y540+Y541+Y543+Y5442022300189150123966942
Further Mathematics A (H245) Option Y540+Y541+Y543+Y5452022300179140114896439
Further Mathematics A (H245) Option Y540+Y541+Y544+Y5452022300183146120946842
Further Mathematics B (MEI) (H645) Route A: Option Y420+Y421+Y43220223602572041621218039
Further Mathematics B (MEI) (H645) Route A: Option Y420+Y421+Y43320223602511991581187838
Further Mathematics B (MEI) (H645) Route A: Option Y420+Y421+Y43420223602511971561157433
Further Mathematics B (MEI) (H645) Route A: Option Y420+Y421+Y43520223602531981561147332
Further Mathematics B (MEI) (H645) Route A: Option Y420+Y421+Y43620223602521981571167636
Further Mathematics B (MEI) (H645) Route B: Option Y420+Y422+Y43120223602521981561147230
Further Mathematics B (MEI) (H645) Route B: Option Y420+Y422+Y43320223602592071641217937
Further Mathematics B (MEI) (H645) Route B: Option Y420+Y422+Y43420223602592051611187532
Further Mathematics B (MEI) (H645) Route B: Option Y420+Y422+Y43520223602612061621187431
Further Mathematics B (MEI) (H645) Route C: Option Y420+Y431+Y432+Y43320223602491981601238649
Further Mathematics B (MEI) (H645) Route C: Option Y420+Y431+Y432+Y43420223602491961581208244
Further Mathematics B (MEI) (H645) Route C: Option Y420+Y431+Y432+Y43520223602511971581198143
Further Mathematics B (MEI) (H645) Route C: Option Y420+Y431+Y433+Y43420223602431911541178043
Further Mathematics B (MEI) (H645) Route C: Option Y420+Y431+Y433+Y43520223602451921541167942
Further Mathematics B (MEI) (H645) Route C: Option Y420+Y431+Y435+Y43620223602461911531157740
Further Mathematics B (MEI) (H645) Route C: Option Y420+Y432+Y433+Y43420223602562051661278951
Further Mathematics B (MEI) (H645) Route C: Option Y420+Y432+Y433+Y43520223602582061671288950
Further Mathematics B (MEI) (H645) Route C: Option Y420+Y432+Y434+Y43520223602582041641248445
Further Mathematics B (MEI) (H645) Route C: Option Y420+Y432+Y435+Y43620223602592051651268748
Further Mathematics B (MEI) (H645) Route C: Option Y420+Y433+Y434+Y43520223602521991601218244
Further Mathematics B (MEI) (H645) Route C: Option Y420+Y433+Y434+Y43620223602511991611238548
Further Mathematics B (MEI) (H645) Route C: Option Y420+Y433+Y435+Y43620223602532001611238547
Further Mathematics B (MEI) (H645) Route C: Option Y420+Y434+Y435+Y43620223602531981591208142
Geography202230022319416413410474
Geology2022270174149124997449
History A (H505) All options excluding Y109 & Y2132022200150132110886644
History A (H505) All options including Y109 but excluding Y2132022200149131109876544
History A (H505) All options excluding Y109 but including Y2132022200148130108866443
History A (H505) All options including both Y109 & Y2132022200147129107856443
Latin20223002101701451209570
Law2022240178147116865626
Mathematics A2022300193149119906132
Mathematics B (MEI)20222752121721381047138
Media Studies202220014212299765330
Music202230023220517815112497
Physical Education202230020217915513110784
Physics A20222702111811471138047
Physics B (Advancing Physics)2022270177143116896337
Psychology20223002131891571269564
Religious Studies202236028324319514810154
Sociology202230025422818915011274
Source: OCR

What is the best way to prepare for your A Level OCR exam?

The best way to prepare for your OCR A Level exam is to start your revision early. Begin with a list of topics for all your A Level courses and highlight the ones you are the most unsure about. Create a revision timetable with short periods of focus, giving the most time to these topics.

Ideally, you will want to revise all the topics for each subject, but often there just isn’t time. Prioritising topics will help you make the best use of the time you do have, and will give you the biggest increase in marks for your A Level exams.

Use revision notes to revise OCR A Level content. Flashcards are a great tool to practice recall, reinforce key concepts and boost memory retention. Then use exam questions to test your understanding and identify any areas that you are still unsure of.

It is also super helpful to use 2022 OCR A Level past exam papers to practice your exam technique. Set a timer for the amount of time allowed for your OCR A Level exam, and sit the paper under exam conditions. This will help you to manage your time more effectively. It will also help increase your exam stamina! It is difficult to concentrate and to write for extended periods, so you need to practice this before the big day.

How to interpret 2022 grade boundaries for OCR A Level exams

Grade boundaries are established by exam boards such as OCR to reflect student performance in any given year. It is important to understand that the A Level grade boundaries are set after the A Level exams have been marked.

A variety of methods are used to ensure the grade boundaries are set fairly. Statistical analysis and examiner judgement are used to ensure the grade boundaries are fair and consistent with previous years.

Each A Level exam paper is different, so the level of difficulty of the paper as a whole can fluctuate slightly from year to year. For example, if an entire cohort of students finds an exam paper particularly difficult, the grade boundary is lowered slightly so that students are not unfairly penalised.

Looking at the OCR A Level grade boundaries for previous years can help you get an idea of the marks you need in 2022 to achieve the grade you want. With this information and your OCR A Level past paper scores, you can get an idea of the grade you are currently working at. You will be able to see how many marks you would have needed to get the higher grade. Armed with this information and an effective revision process, you can successfully work to increase your grade.

A word of caution. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the OCR A Level grade boundaries were lowered to minimise the disadvantage faced by students who missed school due to lockdowns. Therefore, the grade boundaries for the OCR A Level years 2020 to 2022 will not be representative of other years.

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