What mark do you need for each grade in A level Sociology?
In June 2026, an A needed 159 out of 240 and an E needed 93 on A Level linear (components 11, 21, 31, 41). On A Level linear (components 12, 22, 32, 42), an A needed 159 out of 240 and an E needed 94. On A Level linear (components 13, 23, 33, 43), an A needed 162 out of 240 and an E needed 97. Boundaries are set again for every series, so these are last time's marks rather than the next exam's.
Is a mock exam grade the same as the real grade?
Not always. Schools often mark mocks against an older year's boundaries, sometimes more strictly to leave room to improve, and the real exam's boundaries are set only after it has been marked. A grade from a mock is a useful guide to where things stand, not a prediction of the result.
Can I work out a grade from one paper?
As a rough guide, yes: Cambridge publishes a boundary for each paper, and the calculator uses those. The real grade comes from the marks for all the papers added together, so one strong or weak paper can be balanced by the others.
Why does the same mark get a different grade in different years?
Boundaries are set after each exam is marked, so that a grade means the same standard even when one year's paper is harder than another's. A harder paper usually has lower boundaries, so the same mark can be worth a higher grade.
