More Students Have Passed Their A-Levels In 2025 Than Ever Before — Are AQA's Grade Boundaries To Thank?

A-level results in England, Wales and Northern Ireland have reached their highest point outside the pandemic years, prompting questions over whether changes to AQA's grade boundaries have contributed to the surge.

Figures from the Joint Council for Qualifications show that 28.2% of entries achieved an A or A* — a new high for a non-COVID year. The proportion earning an A* alone rose to 9.4%, the highest since the introduction of A* grades in 2010. Overall pass rates also inched up, from 97.2% in 2024 to 97.5% this year.

The results have driven a record number of 18-year-olds into university places — 255,130 in total, a 4.7% increase on last year. But is this purely the result of harder-working students, or could exam marking thresholds have played a role?

How Grade Boundaries Are Set

AQA, one of the largest exam boards, sets grade boundaries using a process known as 'awarding'. This involves reviewing scripts against previous years, assessing paper difficulty, considering examiner reports, and analysing overall performance — all under Ofqual's supervision.

If a paper proves easier than expected, boundaries are raised; if harder, they're lowered. The aim is to maintain consistent standards year-on-year, rather than artificially inflating grades.

AQA's June 2025 grade boundary tables show variations across subjects, but there is no evidence that thresholds were systematically lowered to boost pass rates.

Why the 2025 Results Stand Out

According to Ofqual, the rise in top grades is attributed to a smaller but academically stronger cohort, as well as demographic changes. Notably, young men outperformed young women at A-level for the first time in years, although the margin remains narrow.

AQA's Director of Regulation and Compliance, Claire Thomson, stated that performance had improved for both genders and that multiple factors contributed to the gains.

AQA Grade Boundaries: 2025 Edition

AQA has released its June 2025 grade boundaries tables (available in both PDF and XLSX formats) for A-Levels, which can be downloaded from their official website. The raw marks required vary by subject, reflecting different assessment demands.

However, there's no evidence that the 2025 thresholds were consistently lower across subjects to intentionally boost pass rates. Instead, preliminary insights suggest a return to post-pandemic normality, with 2025 results aligning closely with 2019 performance levels.

Why the Soaring Results? Not Just Easier Rules

Ofqual attributes the increase not to grade inflation or manipulated boundaries, but to a smaller but able cohort, alongside demographic shifts. Notably, young men outperformed women at A-level for the first time in several years.

According to Guardian live updates, AQA's Director of Regulation and Compliance Claire Thomson emphasised that while performance has improved for both genders, the gaps are small and multifaceted.

Uneven Gains: Regional and Subject Divides

The rise in top grades is not uniform across the UK. London led with 32.1 per cent of A-level entries earning A or A*, while the North East lagged at 22.9 per cent, a widening regional gap of 9.2 percentage points.

Some subject choices have also shifted: mathematics, physics, economics, and business studies have seen growing entries, while modern languages, such as French and German, have continued to decline—the diminishing entries in language courses concern education leaders.

Reflections from Experts

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson called for continued attention to the system's 'stark' disparities, especially among white working-class pupils, and affirmed that a new schools white paper would address these gaps.

Similarly, Cambridge's Director of Admissions, Mike Nicholson, noted that universities might be more flexible this year, perhaps accepting students who narrowly miss offers, especially amid a more stable applicant field.

He said: 'If the student, for instance, needed three As [and] gets AAB, as long as the B is not in something absolutely crucial for the course, I think there's a robust possibility the student would find they'd be getting a place.

'If universities can take near-miss students, I think they'll be very keen to take them this year because those students are already in the system, they've already committed, they've possibly already even applied for accommodation.'

The Grade Inflation Debate

Though figures are rising, the claim that grade boundaries were intentionally skewed remains unsupported. The long-standing accusation of grade inflation in A-levels is not new, but most experts suggest that the improvements reflect genuine effort and talent, rather than system manipulation.

A-level education has evolved, but the standards remain stringently monitored through awarding and regulation. The steady climb in achievement may well owe more to improved teaching, engaged cohorts, and shifting learner profiles than to easier grading.

So, while AQA grade boundaries 2025 form one piece of the puzzle, they are far from the full explanation. This year's success appears to stem from a combination of student resilience, educational reform, and post-pandemic adjustments. The bigger question now: how do we sustain progress while ensuring fairness and access for all?