When A-levels were first introduced in the scholastic system there was a simple pass or fail grade. The fail grades were also divided into two types, one was where the student had failed to reach a level of pass that granted them an A-level but did grant them an O-level.

The other fail meant that the student had not reached a pass level that warranted either an A-level grade or an O-level grade. In 1953 this was extended to include a distinction grade to people who had passed the A-level course with a high level of achievement. Universities raised protest at this, as they were not able to satisfactorily select the best students with this basic system.

The system was revised to a proportional system of grading meaning that out of all the students sitting the exams, 10% of the highest grades would receive A marks and 15% B marks and so on. In 1987 the system was further altered to change from a proportional system to a marked boundary grade level and this remained in place till 2000. The O-level was dropped and the GCSE was introduced. In today’s A-level grading system the grades that can be awarded range from A to E. In 2010 there will be the introduction of the A* grade.