Cambridge 9609 · grade thresholds

A Level Business 9609 grade boundaries

In May/June 2026, a grade A on Cambridge 9609 Paper 2 cost 44 marks on variant 21 but only 40 on variant 23 — a 4-mark difference on the same paper, in the same series. Thresholds are set after every series so that the standard stays constant while the papers vary, which means a harder paper gets a lower boundary. Variants are the same paper written for different exam zones, and your zone — not you — decides which one you sit.

Below is every series Cambridge has published for 9609 — 2023 to 2026, all three exam series — with each paper’s threshold and the overall syllabus thresholds beneath it. The numbers are Cambridge’s and every series links to the table they came from.

Updated 22 September 2026

Component and syllabus thresholds are different numbers

Almost every page that quotes “the 9609 grade boundaries” is quoting one of two different things, so it is worth separating them:

A component threshold is the raw mark one paper needed. Cambridge states that grade A* does not exist at the level of an individual component — so if you see an A* against a single paper anywhere, it is invented.
A syllabus threshold is the total across a combination of papers, after weighting, and it is the grade that appears on the certificate. A* exists only here.

The combinations matter more than students expect. Cambridge offers several entry routes, each a different set of papers with its own maximum and its own thresholds — which is why two candidates with the same raw total can be awarded different grades. Quanta has broken down 38 9609 past papers, and each one shows its own threshold beside its topic breakdown.

May/June 2026

Component thresholds — the raw mark each paper needed. Grade A* is not set at component level.

Paper	Max	A	B	C	D	E
Paper 11	40	34	32	29	26	23
Paper 12	40	36	33	30	27	25
Paper 13	40	35	33	30	27	25
Paper 21	60	44	40	35	30	25
Paper 22	60	41	38	34	30	25
Paper 23	60	40	36	31	27	22
Paper 31	60	41	38	34	30	25
Paper 32	60	39	37	33	29	25
Paper 33	60	39	37	34	30	26
Paper 41	40	27	25	22	19	16
Paper 42	40	27	25	23	21	19
Paper 43	40	29	25	21	18	15
Paper 50	75	60	53	44	35	27
Paper 60	75	56	51	43	35	27

Syllabus thresholds — the overall mark, after weighting, needed across a combination of papers. This is where A* exists. Which row applies to a student depends on which papers they were entered for.

Papers combined	Max	A*	A	B	C	D	E
11 + 21 + 31 + 41	200	157	146	135	119	104	89
12 + 22 + 32 + 42	200	153	143	133	120	107	94
13 + 23 + 33 + 43	200	155	143	131	116	102	88
50 + 60	150	128	116	104	87	70	54
31 + 41 + 87	200	155	143	131	116	102	88
31 + 41 + 97	200	163	152	141	126	112	98
31 + 41 + 99	200	159	148	137	123	109	95
32 + 42 + 88	200	158	147	136	123	110	97
32 + 42 + 97	200	160	150	140	127	114	101
32 + 42 + 98	200	153	144	135	122	109	96
33 + 43 + 89	200	162	149	136	122	108	94
33 + 43 + 98	200	157	146	135	121	107	93
33 + 43 + 99	200	160	148	136	122	108	95
60 + 80	150	128	116	104	88	72	57

Source: Cambridge’s grade threshold table for May/June 2026.

Feb/March 2026

Component thresholds — the raw mark each paper needed. Grade A* is not set at component level.

Paper	Max	A	B	C	D	E
Paper 12	40	37	33	30	27	25
Paper 22	60	44	38	34	30	26
Paper 32	60	42	38	33	28	22
Paper 42	40	27	24	20	16	13

Papers combined	Max	A*	A	B	C	D	E
12 + 22 + 32 + 42	200	167	150	133	117	101	86

Source: Cambridge’s grade threshold table for Feb/March 2026.

May/June 2025

Component thresholds — the raw mark each paper needed. Grade A* is not set at component level.

Paper	Max	A	B	C	D	E
Paper 11	40	35	32	28	25	22
Paper 12	40	35	33	30	27	25
Paper 13	40	34	32	29	26	24
Paper 21	60	40	36	33	29	25
Paper 22	60	46	41	37	33	28
Paper 23	60	47	42	38	34	29
Paper 31	60	38	36	32	27	22
Paper 32	60	39	37	34	30	25
Paper 33	60	39	37	34	30	25
Paper 41	40	30	28	24	20	17
Paper 42	40	23	21	19	17	16
Paper 43	40	30	28	24	20	17
Paper 50	75	54	45	36	27	18
Paper 60	75	54	45	36	27	18

Papers combined	Max	A*	A	B	C	D	E
11 + 21 + 31 + 41option AX	200	154	143	132	116	101	86
12 + 22 + 32 + 42option AY	200	154	143	132	119	106	94
13 + 23 + 33 + 43option AZ	200	161	150	139	124	109	95
31 + 41 + 87option BX	200	156	146	136	121	107	93
32 + 42 + 88option BY	200	152	140	128	114	100	87
33 + 43 + 89option BZ	200	154	144	134	119	104	89
31 + 41 + 99option CS	200	157	148	139	124	109	95
32 + 42 + 97option CT	200	152	142	132	119	106	93
33 + 43 + 98option CU	200	160	149	138	122	107	92
31 + 41 + 97option CX	200	158	148	138	122	106	91
32 + 42 + 98option CY	200	153	142	131	117	104	91
50 + 60option P2	150	126	108	90	72	54	36
11 + 21option SX	100	—	75	68	61	54	47
12 + 22option SY	100	—	81	74	67	60	53
13 + 23option SZ	100	—	81	74	67	60	53

Source: Cambridge’s grade threshold table for May/June 2025.

Oct/Nov 2025

Component thresholds — the raw mark each paper needed. Grade A* is not set at component level.

Paper	Max	A	B	C	D	E
Paper 11	40	36	33	30	27	25
Paper 12	40	36	33	30	27	25
Paper 13	40	35	33	30	27	24
Paper 21	60	48	45	41	37	32
Paper 22	60	42	40	36	32	27
Paper 23	60	45	41	37	33	30
Paper 31	60	42	40	34	28	21
Paper 32	60	42	39	35	31	26
Paper 33	60	40	38	33	28	22
Paper 41	40	27	24	20	16	13
Paper 42	40	26	24	21	19	17
Paper 43	40	29	27	24	21	19

Papers combined	Max	A*	A	B	C	D	E
11 + 21 + 31 + 41option AX	200	164	153	142	125	108	91
12 + 22 + 32 + 42option AY	200	156	146	136	122	108	95
13 + 23 + 33 + 43option AZ	200	159	149	139	124	109	95
33 + 43 + 87option BP	200	155	144	133	118	103	88
31 + 41 + 88option BQ	200	162	150	138	121	104	87
32 + 42 + 89option BR	200	161	149	137	123	109	96
31 + 41 + 87option BX	200	156	144	132	115	98	81
32 + 42 + 88option BY	200	161	149	137	123	109	96
33 + 43 + 89option BZ	200	161	150	139	124	109	94
31 + 41 + 97option CX	200	160	149	138	120	103	86
32 + 42 + 98option CY	200	160	148	136	121	107	93
33 + 43 + 99option CZ	200	158	149	140	125	111	97
32 + 42 + 78option EV	200	166	153	140	125	111	97
11 + 21option SX	100	—	84	78	71	64	57
12 + 22option SY	100	—	78	73	66	59	52
13 + 23option SZ	100	—	80	74	67	60	54

Source: Cambridge’s grade threshold table for Oct/Nov 2025.

Feb/March 2025

Component thresholds — the raw mark each paper needed. Grade A* is not set at component level.

Paper	Max	A	B	C	D	E
Paper 12	40	37	33	30	27	25
Paper 22	60	48	44	39	34	29
Paper 32	60	41	37	33	28	22
Paper 42	40	27	24	20	16	13

Papers combined	Max	A*	A	B	C	D	E
12 + 22 + 32 + 42option AY	200	168	153	138	121	105	89
32 + 42 + 88option BY	200	161	146	131	114	97	81
32 + 42 + 98option CY	200	162	148	134	117	101	85
32 + 42 + 78option EV	200	166	151	136	120	104	88
12 + 22option SY	100	—	85	77	69	61	54

Source: Cambridge’s grade threshold table for Feb/March 2025.

May/June 2024

Component thresholds — the raw mark each paper needed. Grade A* is not set at component level.

Paper	Max	A	B	C	D	E
Paper 11	40	35	33	30	28	26
Paper 12	40	36	34	31	28	25
Paper 13	40	35	33	30	28	26
Paper 21	60	43	39	36	32	28
Paper 22	60	42	36	31	26	21
Paper 23	60	40	36	31	26	21
Paper 31	60	43	39	34	29	24
Paper 32	60	37	35	32	29	25
Paper 33	60	44	40	36	31	25
Paper 41	40	31	29	26	23	20
Paper 42	40	22	20	18	16	14
Paper 43	40	30	28	24	20	17
Paper 50	75	54	45	36	27	18
Paper 60	75	54	45	36	27	18

Papers combined	Max	A*	A	B	C	D	E
11 + 21 + 31 + 41option AX	200	164	152	140	126	112	98
12 + 22 + 32 + 42option AY	200	149	137	125	111	98	85
13 + 23 + 33 + 43option AZ	200	161	149	137	121	105	89
31 + 41 + 87option BX	200	165	152	139	124	109	94
32 + 42 + 88option BY	200	147	137	127	114	102	90
33 + 43 + 89option BZ	200	166	156	146	129	113	97
31 + 41 + 99option CS	200	166	153	140	125	110	96
32 + 42 + 97option CT	200	150	140	130	117	105	93
33 + 43 + 98option CU	200	162	150	138	122	107	92
31 + 41 + 97option CX	200	167	155	143	128	113	98
32 + 42 + 98option CY	200	145	135	125	113	101	89
50 + 60option P2	150	126	108	90	72	54	36
11 + 21option SX	100	—	78	72	66	60	54
12 + 22option SY	100	—	78	70	62	54	46
13 + 23option SZ	100	—	75	69	61	54	47

Source: Cambridge’s grade threshold table for May/June 2024.

Oct/Nov 2024

Component thresholds — the raw mark each paper needed. Grade A* is not set at component level.

Paper	Max	A	B	C	D	E
Paper 11	40	33	30	27	24	22
Paper 12	40	33	29	26	24	22
Paper 13	40	36	34	31	28	25
Paper 21	60	47	44	39	35	30
Paper 22	60	47	44	39	33	28
Paper 23	60	44	41	37	34	31
Paper 31	60	40	36	32	27	22
Paper 32	60	37	34	31	27	23
Paper 33	60	41	38	34	29	24
Paper 41	40	26	23	19	15	12
Paper 42	40	23	20	17	15	12
Paper 43	40	30	28	25	23	21
Paper 50	75	54	45	36	27	18
Paper 60	75	54	45	36	27	18

Papers combined	Max	A*	A	B	C	D	E
11 + 21 + 31 + 41option AX	200	159	146	133	117	101	86
12 + 22 + 32 + 42option AY	200	153	140	127	113	99	85
13 + 23 + 33 + 43option AZ	200	161	151	141	127	114	101
33 + 43 + 87option BP	200	160	149	138	125	112	99
31 + 41 + 88option BQ	200	159	144	129	112	96	80
32 + 42 + 89option BR	200	147	135	123	109	95	82
31 + 41 + 87option BX	200	157	144	131	116	102	88
32 + 42 + 88option BY	200	152	138	124	109	95	81
33 + 43 + 89option BZ	200	157	146	135	120	106	92
31 + 41 + 97option CX	200	160	147	134	118	103	88
32 + 42 + 98option CY	200	148	136	124	111	98	85
33 + 43 + 99option CZ	200	162	150	138	124	110	97
32 + 42 + 78option EV	200	157	143	129	115	101	88
50 + 60option P2	150	126	108	90	72	54	36
11 + 21option SX	100	—	80	74	66	59	52
12 + 22option SY	100	—	80	73	65	57	50
13 + 23option SZ	100	—	80	75	68	62	56

Source: Cambridge’s grade threshold table for Oct/Nov 2024.

Feb/March 2024

Component thresholds — the raw mark each paper needed. Grade A* is not set at component level.

Paper	Max	A	B	C	D	E
Paper 12	40	36	32	29	26	24
Paper 22	60	47	43	38	34	29
Paper 32	60	38	34	30	25	19
Paper 42	40	28	25	21	17	14

Papers combined	Max	A*	A	B	C	D	E
12 + 22 + 32 + 42option AY	200	164	149	134	118	102	86
32 + 42 + 88option BY	200	157	144	131	115	99	84
32 + 42 + 98option CY	200	155	142	129	113	98	83
32 + 42 + 78option EV	200	160	146	132	116	101	86
12 + 22option SY	100	—	83	75	67	60	53

Source: Cambridge’s grade threshold table for Feb/March 2024.

May/June 2023

Component thresholds — the raw mark each paper needed. Grade A* is not set at component level.

Paper	Max	A	B	C	D	E
Paper 11	40	34	31	28	25	23
Paper 12	40	34	32	29	26	24
Paper 13	40	34	32	29	26	24
Paper 21	60	44	40	36	32	27
Paper 22	60	44	40	36	32	27
Paper 23	60	48	46	41	36	31
Paper 31	60	42	38	34	29	23
Paper 32	60	42	38	33	28	23
Paper 33	60	45	39	34	29	22
Paper 41	40	30	28	24	20	17
Paper 42	40	30	28	24	20	17
Paper 43	40	30	28	24	20	17
Paper 50	75	54	45	36	27	18
Paper 60	75	54	45	36	27	18

Papers combined	Max	A*	A	B	C	D	E
11 + 21 + 31 + 41option AX	200	163	150	137	121	105	90
12 + 22 + 32 + 42option AY	200	162	150	138	122	106	91
13 + 23 + 33 + 43option AZ	200	169	157	145	128	111	94
31 + 41 + 87option BX	200	164	151	138	123	108	93
32 + 42 + 88option BY	200	158	145	132	115	98	82
33 + 43 + 89option BZ	200	162	149	136	119	102	86
31 + 41 + 99option CS	200	162	148	134	119	104	89
32 + 42 + 97option CT	200	161	149	137	122	107	93
33 + 43 + 98option CU	200	162	149	136	120	105	90
31 + 41 + 97option CX	200	161	149	137	122	107	93
32 + 42 + 98option CY	200	157	146	135	120	105	91
50option P1	75	—	54	45	36	27	18
50 + 60option P2	150	126	108	90	72	54	36
60 + 80option P3	150	130	114	98	81	64	48
11 + 21option SX	100	—	78	71	64	57	50
12 + 22option SY	100	—	78	72	65	58	51
13 + 23option SZ	100	—	82	78	70	62	55

Source: Cambridge’s grade threshold table for May/June 2023.

Oct/Nov 2023

Component thresholds — the raw mark each paper needed. Grade A* is not set at component level.

Paper	Max	A	B	C	D	E
Paper 11	40	34	32	29	26	23
Paper 12	40	35	33	30	28	26
Paper 13	40	34	30	27	24	22
Paper 21	60	47	43	39	35	31
Paper 22	60	41	37	33	28	24
Paper 23	60	45	42	38	34	30
Paper 31	60	39	35	31	26	21
Paper 32	60	47	43	39	34	29
Paper 33	60	39	35	31	26	21
Paper 41	40	30	28	25	23	21
Paper 42	40	30	28	23	19	15
Paper 43	40	30	28	25	23	21

Papers combined	Max	A*	A	B	C	D	E
12 + 21 + 32 + 42option AW	200	171	159	147	131	116	101
11 + 21 + 31 + 41option AX	200	162	150	138	124	110	96
12 + 22 + 32 + 42option AY	200	165	153	141	125	109	94
13 + 23 + 33 + 43option AZ	200	161	148	135	121	107	94
31 + 41 + 88option BQ	200	159	147	135	121	107	93
32 + 42 + 89option BR	200	169	159	149	132	115	99
31 + 41 + 87option BX	200	160	147	134	120	106	92
32 + 42 + 88option BY	200	167	155	143	127	111	95
33 + 43 + 89option BZ	200	161	151	141	126	111	97
31 + 41 + 97option CX	200	158	146	134	121	108	95
32 + 42 + 98option CY	200	162	151	140	125	110	95
33 + 43 + 99option CZ	200	159	145	131	117	104	91
32 + 42 + 78option EV	200	170	157	144	128	112	97
33 + 43 + 87option GP	200	160	147	134	120	106	92
12 + 21option SW	100	—	82	76	69	63	57
11 + 21option SX	100	—	81	75	68	61	54
12 + 22option SY	100	—	76	70	63	56	50
13 + 23option SZ	100	—	79	72	65	58	52

Source: Cambridge’s grade threshold table for Oct/Nov 2023.

Feb/March 2023

Component thresholds — the raw mark each paper needed. Grade A* is not set at component level.

Paper	Max	A	B	C	D	E
Paper 12	40	34	30	27	24	22
Paper 22	60	46	43	39	35	31
Paper 32	60	39	34	29	24	19
Paper 42	40	27	24	21	18	15

Papers combined	Max	A*	A	B	C	D	E
12 + 22 + 32 + 42option AY	200	161	146	131	116	101	87

Source: Cambridge’s grade threshold table for Feb/March 2023.

Practise Business against real mark schemes

Quanta has real Cambridge A Level Business 9609 past-paper questions, with the case study beside the answer boxes, every answer marked automatically against the published mark scheme objective by objective, and the reasoning shown — and it tracks which skills you’re missing. Free for individual students.

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Common questions

What were the 9609 grade boundaries for May/June 2026?

Every paper’s threshold for that series is in the table above. Paper 12 needed 36 of 40 for a A, and Paper 33 needed 39 of 60. The overall syllabus thresholds, which are the ones that decide the grade on your certificate, are listed beneath them.

Why do grade boundaries change every series?

Because the papers differ slightly in difficulty and the standard must not. Cambridge sets thresholds after marking, so a harder paper gets a lower boundary and a candidate is not penalised for which version they sat. It also means last year’s boundary is a guide, never a promise.

Is there an A* for a single 9609 paper?

No. Cambridge’s own tables say grade A* does not exist at the level of an individual component. A* is set only on the overall syllabus thresholds, across the combination of papers you were entered for.

Where does Cambridge publish these?

As one PDF per syllabus per series, free and without a login, on cambridgeinternational.org. Each series above links to the exact table its numbers were read from — the figures here are re-keyed facts, not a copy of Cambridge’s document.