Cambridge 9701 · grade thresholds

AS Chemistry 9701 grade boundaries

In May/June 2026, a grade A on Cambridge 9701 Paper 1 cost 30 marks on variant 14 but only 25 on variant 12 — a 5-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 9701 — 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 9701 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 23 9701 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	30	28	22	17	12
Paper 12	40	25	22	18	14	11
Paper 13	40	27	25	20	16	11
Paper 14	40	30	28	22	17	12
Paper 21	60	44	35	30	23	17
Paper 22	60	37	27	22	18	12
Paper 23	60	39	30	25	19	13
Paper 24	60	45	35	30	24	17
Paper 31	40	25	23	19	15	11
Paper 32	40	22	20	16	13	10
Paper 33	40	22	17	14	12	10
Paper 34	40	26	20	17	14	11
Paper 35	40	22	17	14	12	10
Paper 37	40	22	17	14	12	10
Paper 38	40	26	20	17	14	11
Paper 41	100	71	62	52	42	31
Paper 42	100	66	52	42	31	20
Paper 43	100	71	62	52	42	31
Paper 44	100	69	56	46	35	24
Paper 50	75	63	54	45	36	27
Paper 51	30	21	19	16	13	11
Paper 52	30	23	21	17	14	11
Paper 53	30	21	19	16	13	11
Paper 54	30	23	21	17	14	10
Paper 60	75	61	54	44	34	24

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 + 51	260	209	185	161	133	106	79
11 + 21 + 32 + 41 + 51	260	207	183	159	132	105	79
12 + 22 + 33 + 42 + 52	260	201	168	135	110	86	62
12 + 22 + 34 + 42 + 52	260	205	171	137	112	87	62
13 + 23 + 35 + 43 + 53	260	201	175	149	124	99	74
14 + 24 + 37 + 44 + 54	260	215	184	153	125	98	71
14 + 24 + 38 + 44 + 54	260	219	187	155	127	99	71
50 + 60	150	137	124	108	89	70	51
41 + 51 + 84	260	204	179	154	127	101	75
41 + 51 + 87	260	203	178	153	126	100	74
41 + 51 + 94	260	207	181	155	131	108	85
41 + 51 + 95	260	203	180	157	132	108	84
41 + 51 + 98	260	202	180	158	133	108	83
42 + 52 + 85	260	203	172	141	116	91	66
42 + 52 + 88	260	206	174	142	116	91	66
42 + 52 + 95	260	205	177	149	123	98	73
42 + 52 + 96	260	209	178	147	122	98	74
42 + 52 + 98	260	204	177	150	124	98	72
42 + 52 + 99	260	208	176	144	120	96	73
43 + 53 + 86	260	206	182	158	131	104	77
43 + 53 + 94	260	207	181	155	131	108	85

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	29	27	22	17	13
Paper 22	60	43	37	32	27	21
Paper 33	40	28	24	20	17	14
Paper 42	100	64	53	44	34	24
Paper 52	30	24	21	18	15	12

Papers combined	Max	A*	A	B	C	D	E
12 + 22 + 33 + 42 + 52	260	206	181	156	131	106	81

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	26	23	19	15	11
Paper 12	40	27	24	20	16	12
Paper 13	40	29	27	22	17	13
Paper 14	40	27	25	20	16	12
Paper 21	60	41	32	25	19	13
Paper 22	60	39	30	24	19	14
Paper 23	60	41	32	26	20	13
Paper 24	60	41	31	26	20	14
Paper 31	40	26	24	20	16	12
Paper 32	40	25	23	18	14	10
Paper 33	40	22	18	17	14	12
Paper 34	40	25	20	17	14	12
Paper 35	40	26	24	20	16	12
Paper 37	40	22	18	17	14	12
Paper 38	40	25	20	17	14	12
Paper 41	100	70	60	49	37	25
Paper 42	100	69	54	44	33	22
Paper 43	100	70	60	49	37	25
Paper 44	100	70	58	47	36	25
Paper 50	75	55	45	39	33	28
Paper 51	30	19	17	14	12	10
Paper 52	30	22	20	17	14	11
Paper 53	30	19	17	14	12	10
Paper 54	30	22	20	17	14	11

Papers combined	Max	A*	A	B	C	D	E
14 + 24 + 37 + 44 + 54option AC	260	206	177	148	122	96	71
11 + 21 + 31 + 41 + 51option AX	260	202	176	150	122	95	68
12 + 22 + 33 + 42 + 52option AY	260	206	174	142	117	92	68
12 + 22 + 33 + 41 + 52option AW	260	202	175	148	122	96	71
13 + 23 + 35 + 43 + 53option AZ	260	204	179	154	126	98	70
44 + 54 + 85option BN1	260	208	176	144	118	92	66
44 + 54 + 88option BN2	260	205	174	143	117	91	65
41 + 51 + 84option BX1	260	195	172	149	121	94	67
41 + 51 + 87option BX2	260	197	173	149	121	94	67
42 + 52 + 85option BY1	260	210	175	140	114	88	63
42 + 52 + 88option BY2	260	207	173	139	113	87	62
41 + 52 + 85option BW1	260	206	176	146	119	92	66
41 + 52 + 88option BW2	260	203	174	145	118	91	65
43 + 53 + 86option BZ1	260	204	175	146	119	93	67
44 + 54 + 96option CN1	260	207	178	149	125	101	77
44 + 54 + 99option CN2	260	210	180	150	125	101	77
43 + 53 + 94option CP1	260	202	175	148	124	100	76
41 + 51 + 95option CQ1	260	195	171	147	122	97	72
41 + 51 + 98option CQ2	260	198	174	150	125	100	75
42 + 52 + 96option CR1	260	209	177	145	121	97	74
42 + 52 + 99option CR2	260	212	179	146	122	98	74
41 + 52 + 96option CW1	260	205	178	151	126	101	77
41 + 52 + 99option CW2	260	208	180	152	127	102	77
41 + 51 + 94option CX1	260	202	175	148	124	100	76
42 + 52 + 95option CY1	260	202	173	144	119	94	70
42 + 52 + 98option CY2	260	205	176	147	122	97	73
14 + 24 + 38 + 44 + 54option HC	260	209	179	149	123	97	71
11 + 21 + 32 + 41 + 51option HX	260	201	175	149	121	94	67
12 + 22 + 34 + 42 + 52option HY	260	209	176	143	118	93	68
12 + 22 + 34 + 41 + 52option HW	260	205	177	149	123	97	71
50option P1	75	—	55	45	39	33	28
11 + 21 + 31option S1	130	—	87	73	59	46	33
11 + 21 + 32option S2	130	—	86	72	58	45	32
12 + 22 + 33option S3	130	—	83	68	57	46	35
12 + 22 + 34option S4	130	—	85	69	57	46	35
13 + 23 + 35option S5	130	—	90	77	63	49	35
14 + 24 + 37option S7	130	—	85	70	58	46	35
14 + 24 + 38option S8	130	—	87	71	59	47	35

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	27	22	19	16	13
Paper 12	40	25	22	18	15	12
Paper 13	40	27	22	19	16	13
Paper 14	40	28	22	19	16	13
Paper 21	60	41	32	28	23	19
Paper 22	60	43	37	32	26	20
Paper 23	60	41	32	28	23	19
Paper 24	60	40	30	26	21	17
Paper 31	40	28	26	22	18	15
Paper 33	40	26	23	19	16	13
Paper 34	40	26	24	20	16	12
Paper 35	40	28	26	22	18	15
Paper 36	40	25	23	19	16	13
Paper 37	40	28	26	22	18	15
Paper 38	40	25	23	19	16	13
Paper 41	100	70	61	50	39	26
Paper 42	100	63	53	43	32	21
Paper 43	100	70	61	50	39	26
Paper 44	100	66	58	49	39	28
Paper 51	30	24	21	18	15	13
Paper 52	30	23	20	17	14	11
Paper 53	30	24	21	18	15	13
Paper 54	30	24	21	17	14	11

Papers combined	Max	A*	A	B	C	D	E
14 + 24 + 37 + 44 + 54option AC	260	207	179	151	127	103	80
11 + 21 + 31 + 41 + 51option AX	260	210	183	156	131	106	82
12 + 22 + 33 + 42 + 52option AY	260	199	174	149	124	99	74
13 + 23 + 35 + 43 + 53option AZ	260	210	183	156	131	106	82
44 + 54 + 62option BC1	260	201	175	149	124	99	74
44 + 54 + 63option BC2	260	204	177	150	124	99	74
41 + 51 + 86option BS1	260	209	184	159	130	102	74
42 + 52 + 84option BT1	260	200	173	146	119	92	65
42 + 52 + 87option BT2	260	199	172	145	118	91	64
43 + 53 + 85option BU1	260	204	177	150	124	99	74
43 + 53 + 88option BU2	260	207	179	151	125	99	74
41 + 51 + 84option BX1	260	207	181	155	127	99	72
41 + 51 + 87option BX2	260	206	180	154	126	98	71
42 + 52 + 85option BY1	260	197	169	141	116	91	67
42 + 52 + 88option BY2	260	200	171	142	117	92	67
43 + 53 + 86option BZ1	260	209	184	159	130	102	74
44 + 54 + 96option CN1	260	202	176	150	126	103	80
44 + 54 + 99option CN2	260	205	178	151	127	103	80
41 + 51 + 94option CX1	260	207	180	153	128	104	80
42 + 52 + 95option CY1	260	193	168	143	118	93	69
42 + 52 + 98option CY2	260	196	171	146	121	96	72
43 + 53 + 96option CZ1	260	207	180	153	128	104	80
43 + 53 + 99option CZ2	260	210	182	154	129	104	80
42 + 52 + 75option EV	260	200	177	154	128	103	78
14 + 24 + 38 + 44 + 54option HC	260	206	177	148	125	102	79
12 + 22 + 34 + 42 + 52option HY	260	198	174	150	124	98	73
13 + 23 + 36 + 43 + 53option HZ	260	209	181	153	129	105	81
11 + 21 + 31option S1	130	—	89	74	63	53	43
12 + 22 + 33option S3	130	—	88	76	64	53	42
12 + 22 + 34option S4	130	—	88	77	65	53	41
13 + 23 + 35option S5	130	—	89	74	63	53	43
13 + 23 + 36option S6	130	—	87	71	61	51	42
14 + 24 + 37option S7	130	—	89	72	61	51	41
14 + 24 + 38option S8	130	—	87	69	59	49	40

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	29	27	22	17	13
Paper 22	60	43	37	33	28	23
Paper 33	40	25	22	19	16	13
Paper 42	100	61	54	45	35	24
Paper 52	30	23	18	15	12	10

Papers combined	Max	A*	A	B	C	D	E
12 + 22 + 33 + 42 + 52option AY	260	197	175	153	128	104	80
42 + 52 + 85option BY1	260	198	168	138	113	88	64
42 + 52 + 88option BY2	260	195	166	137	112	87	63
42 + 52 + 95option CY1	260	190	166	142	118	94	71
42 + 52 + 98option CY2	260	193	169	145	121	97	74
42 + 52 + 75option EV	260	200	176	152	127	102	78
12 + 22 + 33option S3	130	—	91	81	69	57	46

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	29	27	22	17	13
Paper 12	40	27	24	20	15	11
Paper 13	40	29	27	22	17	13
Paper 21	60	36	28	22	17	11
Paper 22	60	38	27	22	17	11
Paper 23	60	38	27	21	16	11
Paper 31	40	24	22	18	14	11
Paper 32	40	25	23	19	15	11
Paper 33	40	25	20	17	14	11
Paper 34	40	23	18	15	12	9
Paper 35	40	25	20	17	14	11
Paper 41	100	63	52	43	32	21
Paper 42	100	63	51	41	31	20
Paper 43	100	63	52	43	32	21
Paper 51	30	20	17	14	11	8
Paper 52	30	20	17	14	11	9
Paper 53	30	20	17	14	11	8

Papers combined	Max	A*	A	B	C	D	E
11 + 21 + 31 + 41 + 51option AX	260	191	166	141	114	87	61
12 + 22 + 33 + 42 + 52option AY	260	200	167	134	109	84	59
13 + 23 + 35 + 43 + 53option AZ	260	200	169	138	112	86	61
41 + 51 + 84option BX1	260	192	165	138	113	88	63
41 + 51 + 87option BX2	260	192	165	138	112	87	62
42 + 52 + 85option BY1	260	198	163	128	104	80	57
42 + 52 + 88option BY2	260	198	163	128	104	80	57
43 + 53 + 86option BZ1	260	191	163	135	110	86	62
43 + 53 + 94option CP1	260	196	166	136	113	90	67
41 + 51 + 95option CQ1	260	198	168	138	113	88	63
41 + 51 + 98option CQ2	260	195	166	137	111	86	61
42 + 52 + 96option CR1	260	197	166	135	112	89	67
42 + 52 + 99option CR2	260	196	165	134	111	89	67
41 + 51 + 94option CX1	260	196	166	136	113	90	67
42 + 52 + 95option CY1	260	199	168	137	112	87	63
42 + 52 + 98option CY2	260	196	166	136	111	86	61
11 + 21 + 32 + 41 + 51option HX	260	193	167	141	114	87	61
12 + 22 + 34 + 42 + 52option HY	260	197	165	133	108	83	58
11 + 21 + 31option S1	130	—	83	72	58	45	32
11 + 21 + 32option S2	130	—	84	72	58	45	32
12 + 22 + 33option S3	130	—	84	66	54	42	30
12 + 22 + 34option S4	130	—	82	65	53	41	29
13 + 23 + 35option S5	130	—	86	69	56	44	32

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	27	22	19	16	12
Paper 12	40	25	21	18	14	11
Paper 13	40	27	22	19	16	12
Paper 21	60	41	32	28	23	18
Paper 22	60	40	34	29	24	18
Paper 23	60	41	32	28	23	18
Paper 31	40	24	22	19	16	14
Paper 33	40	23	20	16	13	10
Paper 34	40	26	24	20	17	14
Paper 35	40	24	22	19	16	14
Paper 36	40	26	24	20	17	14
Paper 41	100	70	61	49	37	24
Paper 42	100	67	58	47	35	22
Paper 43	100	70	61	49	37	24
Paper 51	30	23	20	17	14	11
Paper 52	30	24	21	17	14	11
Paper 53	30	23	20	17	14	11

Papers combined	Max	A*	A	B	C	D	E
11 + 21 + 31 + 41 + 51option AX	260	206	179	152	126	101	76
12 + 22 + 33 + 42 + 52option AY	260	197	173	149	122	96	70
13 + 23 + 35 + 43 + 53option AZ	260	206	179	152	126	101	76
42 + 52 + 84option BT1	260	197	174	151	122	93	65
42 + 52 + 87option BT2	260	199	175	151	122	93	65
43 + 53 + 85option BU1	260	207	177	147	119	92	65
43 + 53 + 88option BU2	260	204	175	146	118	91	64
41 + 51 + 84option BX1	260	199	176	153	124	95	67
41 + 51 + 87option BX2	260	201	177	153	124	95	67
42 + 52 + 85option BY1	260	205	175	145	117	90	63
42 + 52 + 88option BY2	260	202	173	144	116	89	62
43 + 53 + 86option BZ1	260	208	179	150	122	94	67
42 + 52 + 95option CY1	260	204	176	148	121	94	67
42 + 52 + 98option CY2	260	201	174	147	119	92	65
43 + 53 + 96option CZ1	260	204	176	148	123	98	73
43 + 53 + 99option CZ2	260	203	175	147	122	97	73
42 + 52 + 75option EV	260	207	183	159	131	104	77
12 + 22 + 34 + 42 + 52option HY	260	200	176	152	125	99	73
13 + 23 + 36 + 43 + 53option HZ	260	209	181	153	127	101	76
11 + 21 + 31option S1	130	—	86	71	61	51	41
12 + 22 + 33option S3	130	—	82	70	59	48	37
12 + 22 + 34option S4	130	—	85	73	62	51	40
13 + 23 + 35option S5	130	—	86	71	61	51	41
13 + 23 + 36option S6	130	—	88	72	61	51	41

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	30	27	22	17	13
Paper 22	60	44	37	32	28	22
Paper 33	40	24	21	18	15	12
Paper 42	100	59	53	43	33	23
Paper 52	30	23	20	17	14	11

Papers combined	Max	A*	A	B	C	D	E
12 + 22 + 33 + 42 + 52option AY	260	195	174	153	128	103	78
42 + 52 + 85option BY1	260	191	162	133	109	85	62
42 + 52 + 88option BY2	260	191	162	133	109	85	62
42 + 52 + 95option CY1	260	192	167	142	117	92	68
42 + 52 + 98option CY2	260	189	165	141	116	91	66
42 + 52 + 75option EV	260	183	165	147	122	97	73
12 + 22 + 33option S3	130	—	92	80	68	56	44

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	28	26	21	17	13
Paper 12	40	27	23	19	15	11
Paper 13	40	28	26	22	18	13
Paper 21	60	35	26	22	17	12
Paper 22	60	36	24	19	14	9
Paper 23	60	35	26	22	17	12
Paper 31	40	25	22	18	15	12
Paper 32	40	25	23	18	14	10
Paper 33	40	22	17	14	12	10
Paper 34	40	22	17	14	12	10
Paper 35	40	22	18	15	12	10
Paper 41	100	59	51	42	32	22
Paper 42	100	60	47	38	28	18
Paper 43	100	59	51	42	32	22
Paper 50	75	55	45	39	33	28
Paper 51	30	19	16	13	11	8
Paper 52	30	21	18	15	13	10
Paper 53	30	19	16	13	11	8
Paper 60	75	55	46	40	35	29

Papers combined	Max	A*	A	B	C	D	E
11 + 21 + 31 + 41 + 51option AX	260	184	160	136	112	88	64
12 + 22 + 33 + 42 + 52option AY	260	197	161	125	102	79	56
41 + 51 + 84option BX1	260	175	150	125	101	77	53
41 + 51 + 87option BX2	260	175	150	125	101	77	53
42 + 52 + 85option BY1	260	185	153	121	97	74	51
42 + 52 + 88option BY2	260	187	154	121	97	74	51
43 + 53 + 86option BZ1	260	174	149	124	100	76	53
43 + 53 + 94option CP1	260	181	155	129	107	85	63
41 + 51 + 95option CQ1	260	178	153	128	104	81	58
41 + 51 + 98option CQ2	260	177	152	127	103	80	57
42 + 52 + 96option CR1	260	189	158	127	105	83	61
42 + 52 + 99option CR2	260	189	158	127	104	82	60
41 + 51 + 94option CX1	260	181	155	129	107	85	63
42 + 52 + 95option CY1	260	186	156	126	102	79	56
42 + 52 + 98option CY2	260	185	155	125	101	78	55
11 + 21 + 32 + 41 + 51option HX	260	184	160	136	111	87	63
12 + 22 + 34 + 42 + 52option HY	260	197	161	125	102	79	56
50option P1	75	—	55	45	39	33	28
50 + 60option P2	150	129	110	91	79	68	57
60 + 80option P3	150	131	115	99	85	72	59
11 + 21 + 31option S1	130	—	82	69	57	45	34
11 + 21 + 32option S2	130	—	82	69	57	45	33
12 + 22 + 33option S3	130	—	80	60	49	38	28
12 + 22 + 34option S4	130	—	80	60	49	38	28
13 + 23 + 35option S5	130	—	80	66	55	44	33

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	28	23	19	15	12
Paper 12	40	26	21	17	14	11
Paper 13	40	28	23	19	15	12
Paper 21	60	36	27	24	21	17
Paper 22	60	39	30	25	19	13
Paper 23	60	36	27	24	21	17
Paper 31	40	25	22	18	15	12
Paper 33	40	27	24	20	16	13
Paper 34	40	24	22	18	14	11
Paper 35	40	25	22	18	15	12
Paper 36	40	24	21	18	15	12
Paper 41	100	63	57	46	35	24
Paper 42	100	60	54	43	32	21
Paper 43	100	63	57	46	35	24
Paper 50	75	55	45	39	33	28
Paper 51	30	21	19	16	13	10
Paper 52	30	21	19	16	13	10
Paper 53	30	21	19	16	13	10

Papers combined	Max	A*	A	B	C	D	E
11 + 21 + 31 + 41 + 51option AX (AX1)	260	191	167	143	119	95	72
11 + 21 + 31option AX (AX2)	130	—	83	67	57	47	38
12 + 22 + 33 + 42 + 52option AY (AY1)	260	190	166	142	116	90	65
12 + 22 + 33option AY (AY2)	130	—	85	69	57	45	34
13 + 23 + 35 + 43 + 53option AZ (AZ1)	260	191	167	143	119	95	72
13 + 23 + 35option AZ (AZ2)	130	—	83	67	57	47	38
42 + 52 + 84option BT (BT1)	260	184	163	142	116	90	65
42 + 52 + 87option BT (BT2)	260	184	163	142	116	90	64
43 + 53 + 85option BU (BU1)	260	192	164	136	111	86	62
43 + 53 + 88option BU (BU2)	260	192	164	136	111	86	62
41 + 51 + 84option BX (BX1)	260	187	166	145	119	93	68
41 + 51 + 87option BX (BX2)	260	187	166	145	119	93	67
42 + 52 + 85option BY (BY1)	260	189	161	133	108	83	59
42 + 52 + 88option BY (BY2)	260	189	161	133	108	83	59
43 + 53 + 86option BZ (BZ1)	260	186	164	142	117	92	67
42 + 52 + 95option CY (CY1)	260	178	156	134	109	84	59
42 + 52 + 98option CY (CY2)	260	177	155	133	108	83	58
43 + 53 + 96option CZ (CZ1)	260	184	161	138	114	90	67
43 + 53 + 99option CZ (CZ2)	260	184	161	138	114	90	66
12 + 22 + 33 + 42 + 52option DV (DV1)	260	190	166	142	116	90	65
42 + 52 + 75option DV (DV2)	260	181	164	147	121	95	70
42 + 52 + 85option DV (DV3)	260	189	161	133	108	83	59
42 + 52 + 88option DV (DV4)	260	189	161	133	108	83	59
42 + 52 + 95option DV (DV5)	260	178	156	134	109	84	59
42 + 52 + 98option DV (DV6)	260	177	155	133	108	83	58
12 + 22 + 33option DV (DV7)	130	—	85	69	57	45	34
12 + 22 + 33 + 42 + 52option DY (DY1)	260	190	166	142	116	90	65
42 + 52 + 85option DY (DY2)	260	189	161	133	108	83	59
42 + 52 + 88option DY (DY3)	260	189	161	133	108	83	59
42 + 52 + 95option DY (DY4)	260	178	156	134	109	84	59
42 + 52 + 98option DY (DY5)	260	177	155	133	108	83	58
12 + 22 + 33option DY (DY6)	130	—	85	69	57	45	34
13 + 23 + 35 + 43 + 53option DZ (DZ1)	260	191	167	143	119	95	72
43 + 53 + 86option DZ (DZ2)	260	186	164	142	117	92	67
43 + 53 + 96option DZ (DZ4)	260	184	161	138	114	90	67
43 + 53 + 99option DZ (DZ5)	260	184	161	138	114	90	66
13 + 23 + 35option DZ (DZ6)	130	—	83	67	57	47	38
42 + 52 + 75option EV	260	181	164	147	121	95	70
12 + 22 + 33 + 42 + 52option GT (GT1)	260	190	166	142	116	90	65
42 + 52 + 84option GT (GT2)	260	184	163	142	116	90	65
42 + 52 + 87option GT (GT3)	260	184	163	142	116	90	64
42 + 52 + 95option GT (GT4)	260	178	156	134	109	84	59
42 + 52 + 98option GT (GT5)	260	177	155	133	108	83	58
12 + 22 + 33option GT (GT6)	130	—	85	69	57	45	34
13 + 23 + 35 + 43 + 53option GU (GU1)	260	191	167	143	119	95	72
43 + 53 + 85option GU (GU2)	260	192	164	136	111	86	62
43 + 53 + 88option GU (GU3)	260	192	164	136	111	86	62
43 + 53 + 96option GU (GU4)	260	184	161	138	114	90	67
43 + 53 + 99option GU (GU5)	260	184	161	138	114	90	66
13 + 23 + 35option GU (GU6)	130	—	83	67	57	47	38
12 + 22 + 34 + 42 + 52option HY (HY1)	260	187	164	141	115	89	63
12 + 22 + 34option HY (HY2)	130	—	83	68	56	44	32
13 + 23 + 36 + 43 + 53option HZ (HZ1)	260	190	166	142	118	95	72
13 + 23 + 36option HZ (HZ2)	130	—	82	66	56	47	38
12 + 22 + 34 + 42 + 52option IV (IV1)	260	187	164	141	115	89	63
42 + 52 + 75option IV (IV2)	260	181	164	147	121	95	70
42 + 52 + 85option IV (IV3)	260	189	161	133	108	83	59
42 + 52 + 88option IV (IV4)	260	189	161	133	108	83	59
42 + 52 + 95option IV (IV5)	260	178	156	134	109	84	59
42 + 52 + 98option IV (IV6)	260	177	155	133	108	83	58
12 + 22 + 34option IV (IV7)	130	—	83	68	56	44	32
12 + 22 + 34 + 42 + 52option IY (IY1)	260	187	164	141	115	89	63
42 + 52 + 85option IY (IY2)	260	189	161	133	108	83	59
42 + 52 + 88option IY (IY3)	260	189	161	133	108	83	59
42 + 52 + 95option IY (IY4)	260	178	156	134	109	84	59
42 + 52 + 98option IY (IY5)	260	177	155	133	108	83	58
12 + 22 + 34option IY (IY6)	130	—	83	68	56	44	32
13 + 23 + 36 + 43 + 53option IZ (IZ1)	260	190	166	142	118	95	72
43 + 53 + 86option IZ (IZ2)	260	186	164	142	117	92	67
43 + 53 + 96option IZ (IZ4)	260	184	161	138	114	90	67
43 + 53 + 99option IZ (IZ5)	260	184	161	138	114	90	66
13 + 23 + 36option IZ (IZ6)	130	—	82	66	56	47	38
12 + 22 + 34 + 42 + 52option KT (KT1)	260	187	164	141	115	89	63
42 + 52 + 84option KT (KT2)	260	184	163	142	116	90	65
42 + 52 + 87option KT (KT3)	260	184	163	142	116	90	64
42 + 52 + 95option KT (KT4)	260	178	156	134	109	84	59
42 + 52 + 98option KT (KT5)	260	177	155	133	108	83	58
12 + 22 + 34option KT (KT6)	130	—	83	68	56	44	32
13 + 23 + 36 + 43 + 53option KU (KU1)	260	190	166	142	118	95	72
43 + 53 + 85option KU (KU2)	260	192	164	136	111	86	62
43 + 53 + 88option KU (KU3)	260	192	164	136	111	86	62
43 + 53 + 96option KU (KU4)	260	184	161	138	114	90	67
43 + 53 + 99option KU (KU5)	260	184	161	138	114	90	66
13 + 23 + 36option KU (KU6)	130	—	82	66	56	47	38
50option P1	75	—	55	45	39	33	28
11 + 21 + 31option S1	130	—	83	67	57	47	38
12 + 22 + 33option S3	130	—	85	69	57	45	34
12 + 22 + 34option S4	130	—	83	68	56	44	32
13 + 23 + 35option S5	130	—	83	67	57	47	38
13 + 23 + 36option S6	130	—	82	66	56	47	38

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	28	25	20	16	12
Paper 22	60	38	33	28	23	18
Paper 33	40	23	21	18	15	12
Paper 42	100	55	46	38	29	20
Paper 52	30	23	20	16	13	10

Papers combined	Max	A*	A	B	C	D	E
12 + 22 + 33 + 42 + 52option AY	260	182	161	140	116	92	69
42 + 52 + 85option BY1	260	178	150	122	99	76	53
42 + 52 + 88option BY2	260	180	151	122	99	76	53
42 + 52 + 95option CY1	260	179	153	127	104	81	58
42 + 52 + 98option CY2	260	178	152	126	103	80	57
42 + 52 + 75option EV	260	179	156	133	109	86	63

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

Practise Chemistry against real mark schemes

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Common questions

What were the 9701 grade boundaries for May/June 2026?

Every paper’s threshold for that series is in the table above. Paper 14 needed 30 of 40 for a A, and Paper 12 needed 25 of 40. 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 9701 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.