OCR A-Level Maths Grade Boundaries 2026
OCR A-Level maths grade boundaries 2026 will only be confirmed on results day, 13 August 2026. But three years of settled post-pandemic data from the OCR grade boundaries archive now show a consistent pattern: an A* on H240 has required between 209 and 220 raw marks out of 300, and an A has sat between 168 and 180 marks.
Maths is the single most popular A-Level subject in England. According to JCQ's 2025 results data, mathematics attracted more entries than any other A-Level, with STEM subjects including further maths and physics also growing despite a slight overall decline in total entries. That popularity makes OCR-specific boundary data worth understanding closely, particularly for parents benchmarking university offers that often quote A*/A requirements in maths.
This guide unpacks the OCR H240 paper structure, explains what historical boundaries actually tell you, and shows how to use that data practically during revision and after results day.
What Are OCR A-Level Maths Grade Boundaries 2026?
OCR A-Level maths grade boundaries are the minimum raw marks a student must score across the three H240 papers to achieve each grade from E to A*. They are set after all papers have been marked, not before, which means nobody can state the exact 2026 boundaries until results day. Historical data from 2022 to 2024 gives a reliable range, not a fixed target.
The H240 Three-Paper Structure
OCR A-Level Mathematics A is qualification H240. It consists of three equally weighted written papers, each worth 100 marks over two hours. The total available mark is 300. All three papers are taken in May/June of Year 13, with no coursework component.
| Paper | Code | Content | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | H240/01 | Pure Mathematics | 100 | 2 hours |
| Paper 2 | H240/02 | Pure Mathematics and Statistics | 100 | 2 hours |
| Paper 3 | H240/03 | Pure Mathematics and Mechanics | 100 | 2 hours |
Source: OCR A-Level Mathematics A specification H240 (ocr.org.uk). All papers permit a calculator.
Papers 2 and 3 each split roughly 50/50 between pure and applied content. Pure mathematics topics (proof, algebra, calculus, trigonometry, vectors) can appear on any of the three papers. Some Statistics questions on Paper 2 draw on a pre-release data set that OCR publishes several months before the exams. That pre-release data is public, meaning students who study it gain a meaningful preparation advantage.
How Boundaries Are Set After the Exam
After the June sitting, all papers are marked nationally. A panel of senior OCR examiners then reviews scripts at key grade-point thresholds, a process called awarding. They check whether the marks needed for each grade accurately reflect the expected standard for that grade, accounting for how difficult that year's papers were. Ofqual oversees this process to ensure comparability across awarding bodies and across years.
OCR A-Level maths grade boundaries are set after all H240 papers are marked each summer. They reflect that year's paper difficulty. A harder set of papers produces lower raw-mark boundaries; an easier set produces higher ones. The grade itself represents the same standard every year.
OCR H240 Grade Boundaries: 2024 Data
The most recent full-year data from OCR's grade boundaries archive covers June 2024. These figures are the closest proxy for what parents can expect in 2026, subject to the annual shift that reflects paper difficulty.
Overall Qualification Boundaries
The overall H240 grade boundaries for June 2024 (out of a maximum of 300 marks) were as follows. These are the aggregate marks across all three papers that determined each student's final grade.
| Grade | 2024 boundary (out of 300) | Approx % of total marks |
|---|---|---|
| A* | 216 | 72% |
| A | 168 | 56% |
| B | 137 | 46% |
| C | 106 | 35% |
| D | 75 | 25% |
| E (pass mark) | 44 | 15% |
Source: OCR A-Level grade boundaries archive, June 2024 series (ocr.org.uk). 2026 boundaries will differ.
The 2024 A boundary at 168 out of 300 (56%) looks low by percentage, but this reflects paper difficulty rather than any lowering of standards. OCR's papers in 2024 were calibrated at a level where 56% of the total marks correctly identified A-grade performance. Ofqual's monitoring of national A-Level outcomes ensures that the A* rate in maths remains broadly stable across boards and years.
Component-Level Breakdown by Paper
OCR also publishes boundaries for each individual paper. These matter when a student sits a single resit paper, or when you want to understand which paper your child found hardest relative to the boundary. For June 2024:
| Paper | Max marks | A* (2024) | A (2024) | B (2024) | E (2024) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| H240/01 Pure Mathematics | 100 | 73 | 57 | 47 | 15 |
| H240/02 Pure + Statistics | 100 | 72 | 56 | 46 | 15 |
| H240/03 Pure + Mechanics | 100 | 71 | 55 | 44 | 14 |
Source: OCR A-Level grade boundaries archive, June 2024 series. Component boundaries are notional and used for individual paper comparison.
The three papers produced almost identical boundaries in 2024, which suggests OCR achieved a broadly consistent difficulty level across all three. Paper 3 (Mechanics) sat fractionally lower for A*, B, and E, pointing to that paper being marginally more demanding for the cohort. That narrow gap is normal and changes year to year.
What Does the OCR A-Level Maths Grade A* Require?
The OCR A-Level maths grade A* requires a student to reach the A* threshold on the overall H240 qualification. In 2024 that meant scoring 216 or more raw marks out of 300. Across recent series the A* boundary has ranged from 209 (June 2023) to 216 (June 2024), placing it consistently between 70% and 72% of the total available marks.
The A* Calculation Explained
For A-Level qualifications, the A* is calculated differently from other grades. Ofqual's standard method requires a student to achieve at least an A overall (meeting the A boundary on the total aggregate mark) and then meet an additional threshold based on performance on specific units or components. OCR applies this to H240 by setting the A* boundary above the A boundary on the aggregate mark. The result is that a student who narrowly achieves an A overall but drops marks heavily on one paper cannot compensate by acing another.
If your child is aiming for an A* in OCR maths and a university offer depends on it, consistency across all three papers matters more than excelling on one. An outstanding score on H240/01 alone will not compensate for a weak performance on H240/03. Check the full guide to achieving an A* at A-Level for cross-subject strategies.
How Does OCR Maths Compare to AQA and Edexcel?
Parents often ask whether OCR A-Level maths is harder than AQA or Edexcel, particularly when they see different raw-mark thresholds published on different boards' websites. The honest answer: all three operate to the same standard, and Ofqual monitors national outcomes to ensure that an A on OCR represents the same level of attainment as an A on AQA or an A on Edexcel.
Board Comparison Data
Comparing the approximate 2024 A and A* percentage boundaries across the three main boards illustrates why lower raw marks on one board do not mean an easier path to a grade. Lower percentage thresholds indicate more demanding papers, not lower standards.
OCR Mathematics A (H240)
- •Three papers: pure, pure+stats, pure+mechanics
- •2024 A* boundary: 216/300 (72%)
- •2024 A boundary: 168/300 (56%)
- •Pre-release dataset for Paper 2
- •No coursework component
AQA and Edexcel Maths
- •Both use three-paper formats covering similar content
- •A* and A boundaries vary by year and paper difficulty
- •Percentage thresholds typically sit in the 60-75% range for A*
- •Paper question styles differ between boards
- •No coursework in any of the three main boards
When your child's sixth form uses OCR, they sit OCR past papers in mock exams and follow OCR-specific teaching resources. Switching comparison to AQA or Edexcel past papers during revision can cause confusion, because question styles differ even when the underlying mathematics is the same. Stay within OCR materials for practice. For a direct comparison of how the AQA specification approaches the same subject, see our guide on AQA A-Level maths grade boundaries 2026, and for Edexcel see Edexcel A-Level maths grade boundaries 2026.
Historical Boundary Trends (2022 to 2024)
Three years of comparable post-pandemic data from OCR give a reliable picture of the range parents should expect. The 2022 series was the first full exam sitting after teacher-assessed grades, and boundaries returned to something close to pre-pandemic levels. The 2023 and 2024 figures then confirmed a settled pattern.
| Year | A* boundary | A boundary | E boundary | Max marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 2024 | 216 | 168 | 44 | 300 |
| June 2023 | 209 | ~161 | ~42 | 300 |
| June 2022 | ~220 | ~175 | ~46 | 300 |
OCR H240 historical boundaries. 2023 overall A* confirmed at 209; A and E figures are approximate from available component data. Source: OCR grade boundaries archive.
The range suggests the A* boundary moves between roughly 209 and 220 out of 300 in a typical year. That 11-mark window is the zone of uncertainty parents should plan around: your child does not need a precise target of 216; they need to be scoring comfortably above 210 on practice papers to feel confident.
What the Trend Data Tells Parents
The 2023 A* boundary (209) was lower than 2024 (216), reflecting a harder set of papers in 2023. Neither year saw the artificially generous boundaries of 2020 and 2021 when grades were teacher-assessed rather than exam-based. The OCR H240 pass mark (grade E) has sat between 42 and 46 out of 300 across the same period, confirming that the qualification does not demand an especially high percentage for the minimum pass, but does demand genuine competency across all three papers for A and A*.
OCR also offers a second A-Level maths specification, H640 (OCR B, also known as MEI). MEI has a different fourth component including technology. H240 and H640 produce separate grade boundaries and are separate qualifications, though universities treat them identically for admissions purposes.
Using Boundaries for University Offer Planning
A-Level maths is the most widely demanded subject for competitive university courses. Engineering, mathematics, physics, economics, and computer science degrees at most Russell Group universities specify at least a grade A in maths, with many asking for A* at the most selective institutions. Understanding what that A or A* translates to in raw marks on H240 helps families set realistic revision targets well before results day.
Matching Mock Scores to Boundaries
Mock exams are the most practical tool for benchmarking where your child stands relative to historical OCR boundaries. If their sixth form uses genuine OCR past papers, you can compare their total across three mock papers directly against historical H240 aggregate figures. If the mocks are school-written or from a different board, treat the comparison as a rough directional guide only.
Total the raw marks across all three mock papers
Add H240/01, H240/02, and H240/03 scores. The combined total should be out of 300. If your child sat only two papers in a mock, adjust proportionally.
Identify the OCR paper series used
Ask the school which past paper series the mock drew from (for example, OCR June 2024). This tells you which historical boundary document to consult.
Download the correct boundary document
Visit ocr.org.uk and download the AS and A Level grade boundaries PDF for that series. Search for H240 in the document to find the overall qualification boundaries.
Check the margin above the target grade boundary
If your child is aiming for an A and the 2024 A boundary was 168, and they scored 172 on the mock, they are currently 4 marks above. That is a narrow margin given that exam-day papers will differ.
Set a paper-by-paper revision priority
Break the total into individual paper scores and compare against component boundaries. The paper where the margin is smallest deserves the most intensive revision focus.
Do not treat a mock score above a 2024 boundary as a guarantee of the same grade in 2026. The 2026 papers will be different, and the 2026 boundaries will reflect that difficulty. A student who scored 172 in a mock using 2024 papers might need 175 or 169 for an A in 2026, depending on paper difficulty. Use historical data as a planning guide, not a fixed target. The wider your child's margin above the historical boundary, the more secure they are.
If your child is aiming for an A-Level maths A or A* to meet a specific university offer, the revision strategy that makes the biggest difference is past paper practice under timed conditions, followed by systematic mark-scheme analysis. Our guide on how to use A-Level past papers effectively covers exactly how to do this. For broader context on how A-Level grades map to university entry, the A-Level grade boundaries explained guide covers the overall system.
Where to Find OCR A-Level Maths Grade Boundaries
OCR publishes all A-Level grade boundaries free of charge on its website. The 2026 boundaries will go live at 8am on 13 August 2026, which is A-Level results day. Historical boundaries from 2023 and 2024 are already available in the archive.
Visit ocr.org.uk and go to Grade Boundaries
Navigate to Administration, then Grade Boundaries. You will find links to the current series and the archive for previous years.
Download the AS and A Level boundaries PDF
The document for each series is a PDF covering all AS and A Level qualifications. Open it and search for H240 to jump to the Mathematics A section.
Note the overall qualification boundary and the component boundaries
The qualification boundary (e.g. H240 3M) gives the aggregate mark needed out of 300. The component rows (H240/01, H240/02, H240/03) show per-paper notional thresholds.
Compare your child's raw marks from mocks
Total their mock scores across the three corresponding papers. Compare the total against the aggregate boundary and the individual scores against the component boundaries.
For broader A-Level preparation beyond boundaries, the best A-Level revision resources for 2026 guide covers what is available online from exam boards and what actually moves the needle for maths specifically. If your child is also taking OCR sciences alongside maths, their grade structures work in the same way, as outlined in our guides on OCR A-Level chemistry grade boundaries 2026 and OCR A-Level physics grade boundaries 2026.
A-Level results day 2026: 13 August 2026. OCR publishes boundaries at 8am. Schools release results to students from 8am. If your child is 1 to 2 marks below a grade boundary, ask the school immediately about requesting a review of marking (remark). There is a fee, typically refunded if the grade changes. For the full results day process, see our A-Level results day 2026 guide.
One thing I observed from working alongside families during results day in the tutoring industry: parents who had already studied the grade boundaries before results day coped with the outcomes far better than those who saw the numbers for the first time that morning. Understanding what 216 out of 300 means before the envelope is opened removes a layer of confusion from an already stressful moment.
Key Takeaways
- OCR A-Level Maths (H240) has three 100-mark papers totalling 300 marks, with no coursework component.
- The 2024 A* boundary was 216 out of 300 (72%); the A boundary was 168 out of 300 (56%). These are the closest proxy for 2026 and will shift based on paper difficulty.
- The OCR A-Level maths pass mark (grade E) has sat between 42 and 46 out of 300 in recent years, representing roughly 14 to 15% of total marks.
- OCR, AQA, and Edexcel maths grades are directly comparable because Ofqual monitors national outcomes. A lower raw-mark boundary on one board means a harder paper, not an easier grade.
- Use historical OCR H240 boundaries after mock exams to assess your child's margin above their target grade, and break the analysis down by individual paper.
- The 2026 OCR A-Level maths grade boundaries will be published at 8am on 13 August 2026 on ocr.org.uk, free of charge.
- For university offer planning, focus on the margin above the target boundary rather than chasing a precise raw mark, because the 2026 boundaries will differ from any previous year.
