Cambridge International A Level Grade Descriptions for Cambridge International A Level Biology 9700 - What are grade descriptions - How do I use this resource

Oct 23, 2026

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Cambridge International A Level grade descriptions explain the level of performance typically shown by candidates awarded grades E, C, and A. They describe how performance varies across content areas covering syllabus topics, assessment objectives, key concepts, aims, and components, presented as a grid. The document clarifies how to read across and down the grid, notes separate standards for AS Level content when relevant, and emphasizes that grade descriptions support teaching and interpreting candidate scores, not setting grade thresholds or challenging individual results.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages7

Reading Time18 min

AccessFree to download

What are grade descriptions?

How do I use this resource?

Grade descriptions

Cambridge International A Level Grade Descriptions for Cambridge International A Level Biology 9700 What are grade descriptions? Grade descriptions describe the level of performance typically demonstrated by candidates achieving the different grades awarded for a qualification. For Cambridge International A Levels, they describe performance at three levels – grades ‘E’, ‘C’ and ‘A’. Grade descriptions sit alongside other key documents that illustrate examination standards, including: • the syllabus, which presents what students should be taught over a course of study and explains how this is assessed • the specimen assessment materials, which exemplify the structure of the assessment and the kinds of tasks that candidates complete • grade thresholds, which show the total mark required to achieve a grade. Grade descriptions are produced with a wide range of audiences in mind. For teachers, they support lesson planning and curriculum development, while students may gain useful insights into what is required to achieve a high grade and what candidate performance at lower grades typically looks like. For university admissions staff and employers, and those less familiar with Cambridge, they paint a picture of typical performance at different grades. Cambridge publishes grade descriptions for a qualification once examinations have taken place for the first time , and we review them when a qualification is substantially revised. They are developed by highly experienced examiners who understand performance standards in the subject area and have studied samples of candidate work. How do I use this resource? Grade descriptions are presented as a grid with content areas at the start of each row and the different grades at the top of each column. The content areas group together various aspects of the syllabus – they reflect topics, assessment objectives, key concepts, syllabus aims and components. The way they are organised is specific to each subject. For each content area, there is a descriptor for each grade. Reading across the row from left to right, the descriptors represent increasing levels of performance, with each grade descriptor building on, and including, the last. Each column represents overall performance at a particular grade. Reading down the column from top to bottom, the descriptors capture the range of knowledge, understanding and skills that a candidate comfortably achieving the grade is likely to demonstrate. Where content areas for the first and second halves of the A Level are distinct, they are also assessed a different standards. Performance for content areas assessed at AS Level is therefore described separately in this document. Cambridge produces grade descriptions to support teaching and learning and the interpretation of candidate scores and grades. We do not use them to set grade thresholds. As such, they cannot be used to challenge the grade awarded to any individual candidate. Grade descriptions | Area of knowledge,
understanding and skills | Typical performance at grade E | Typical performance at grade C | Typical performance at grade A | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | | | | | | DNA, heredity and natural selection | Students recall some events in meiosis and identify correctly some stages of meiosis.
They explain some of the required genetics terms and interpret or construct monohybrid crosses , but they have more difficulty with dihybrid crosses. They show limited understanding of the lac operon and gene control.
They use structured layouts to calculate values in the chi-squared test and t-tests.
They outline some features of phenotypic variation and list the main ideas and principles behind natural and artificial selection and evolution , and usually apply these main ideas to new situations.
They state the main principles of traditional genetic engineering. They show limited knowledge about techniques such as gene editing, polymerase chain reaction (PCR

FAQs

What do Cambridge grade descriptions show for A Levels?

They describe the typical level of performance demonstrated by candidates who achieve grades E, C, and A for a qualification.

How should the grade-description grid be read?

Reading across a row (left to right) shows increasing performance across grades, while reading down a column (top to bottom) captures the range of knowledge, understanding, and skills likely for that grade.

Can grade descriptions be used to challenge an awarded grade or set grade thresholds?

No. They support teaching and interpretation of candidate scores and grades, but Cambridge states they are not used to set grade thresholds and cannot be used to challenge an individual candidate’s grade.

Oct 23, 2026

Upload by acoobca