In February/March 2023, an A* in Cambridge International A Level Biology (9700) needed 190 out of 260 (73%) for candidates taking all five papers in this series on the variant 2 papers (option AY: 12, 22, 33, 42, 52). An A needed 167 (64%) and an E needed 79 (30%). At AS Level (Papers 12, 22 and 33), an A needed 87 out of 130 (67%).
All numbers are taken from Cambridge's own grade threshold table for the series (linked at the bottom). Thresholds for each paper are raw marks. Thresholds for each option are out of the weighted total: 260 for the full A Level and 130 for AS Level. Your grade depends on your option, which is set by the paper variants you sat, so check the variant numbers on the front of your papers.
Grade thresholds for each paper, February/March 2023
Raw marks. Grade A* does not exist for an individual paper.
| Paper (component) | Out of | A | B | C | D | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 Multiple Choice, variant 2 (12) | 40 | 30 | 26 | 23 | 20 | 17 |
| Paper 2 AS Structured Questions, variant 2 (22) | 60 | 34 | 28 | 22 | 16 | 11 |
| Paper 3 Advanced Practical Skills, variant 3 (33) | 40 | 31 | 28 | 25 | 22 | 19 |
| Paper 4 A Level Structured Questions, variant 2 (42) | 100 | 58 | 49 | 42 | 35 | 27 |
| Paper 5 Planning, Analysis and Evaluation, variant 2 (52) | 30 | 22 | 20 | 17 | 13 | 10 |
A Level options, all five papers in February/March 2023
| Option | Papers (components) | Out of | A* | A | B | C | D | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AY | 12, 22, 33, 42, 52 | 260 | 190 | 167 | 144 | 122 | 100 | 79 |
AS Level options, February/March 2023
Papers 1, 2 and 3; out of 130. There is no A* at AS Level.
| Option | Papers (components) | Out of | A | B | C | D | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S3 | 12, 22, 33 | 130 | 87 | 75 | 64 | 53 | 42 |
Other options (staged A Level and A Level only)
The rest of Cambridge's table, exactly as Cambridge lists it. Most of these are staged A Level options, which combine this series' Papers 4 and 5 with AS marks carried forward from an earlier series (the components numbered 75 and above), and A2-only options.
| Option | Papers (components) | Out of | A* | A | B | C | D | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BT1 | 42, 52, 84 | 260 | 197 | 174 | 151 | 127 | 104 | 81 |
| BT2 | 42, 52, 87 | 260 | 195 | 172 | 149 | 125 | 101 | 78 |
| BY1 | 42, 52, 85 | 260 | 180 | 158 | 136 | 114 | 93 | 72 |
| BY2 | 42, 52, 88 | 260 | 182 | 160 | 138 | 116 | 94 | 73 |
| CY1 | 42, 52, 95 | 260 | 193 | 167 | 141 | 119 | 97 | 76 |
| CY2 | 42, 52, 98 | 260 | 192 | 166 | 140 | 118 | 96 | 74 |
| EV | 42, 52, 75 | 260 | 182 | 160 | 138 | 116 | 94 | 72 |
| EVM | 42, 52 | 130 | 92 | 78 | 64 | 52 | 40 | 28 |
How to use these thresholds
- Sit a February/March 2023 paper timed, then mark it strictly with its mark scheme.
- Find your paper and variant in the first table to see roughly which grade your raw mark reached.
- Read the examiners' report for every question where you dropped marks.
Thresholds move between series and between variants as papers get harder or easier. See how they compare across every series.
Practise with this series
- Cambridge (CIE) A Level Biology 9700 past papers and mark schemes
- February/March 2023 examiners' report (PDF)
- Cambridge 9700 grade thresholds for every series
Source: Cambridge International, Grade thresholds – March 2023, Biology (9700) (PDF). © Cambridge University Press & Assessment.
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