Cambridge grade inflation myths — why mark schemes matter more than anecdotes
Viral grade stories vs how Cambridge awards marks — use schemes and examiner reports, not corridor rumours, to predict your performance.
- Cambridge grade inflation
- mark schemes
- grade boundaries
- A-Level grades 2026
- examiner reports
Written by Hassan · Founder & A-Level student
Built MarkScheme after marking hundreds of Cambridge past papers by hand. Writes guides from real revision sessions — not generic AI filler.
- Cambridge International A-Level student
- Hands-on past-paper marking workflow
Information gain: Practical revision guide · Tables · See marking benchmarks
Overview
Every results day brings “grades are easier/harder this year” posts. Most are anecdote. Your mock-to-exam trajectory is shaped by mark schemes and boundaries, not TikTok inflation theories.
Myth vs mechanism
For Cambridge which Cambridge A-Level subjects, | Myth | Mechanism | |------|-----------| | “They always fail everyone in June” | Standards set per paper; cohort performance shifts boundaries | | “Grade inflation makes A* free” | Top bands still require full mark-scheme coverage | | “Our school is marked harshly” | Centre variation exists — your script is marked to the same scheme | | “Boundary leaked = I know my grade” | Boundaries apply after marking; pre-exam guesses mislead |
Key takeaway: Anecdotes describe feelings; mark schemes describe rules.
Why mark schemes beat rumours
For Cambridge which Cambridge A-Level subjects, schemes define:
- Exact acceptable wording and method steps
- Mark tariffs per bullet — what earns 1 vs 2 marks
- Dependencies — A marks often need preceding M marks
Read how to read a mark scheme before debating inflation online.
Grade boundaries — what they actually do
For Cambridge which Cambridge A-Level subjects, boundaries translate raw marks to grades after papers are marked. They:
- Move slightly year to year
- Differ by component, not just subject
- Are not revision targets — raw mark skill is
See grade boundaries guide for sensible use in mocks.
Examiner reports — the antidote to myths
For Cambridge which Cambridge A-Level subjects, reports explain:
- Where all candidates lost marks
- Misconceptions that repeat every session
- How harsh examiners actually were on specific questions
Pair reports with ECF guide in maths/science.
Practical prediction method (no crystal ball)
For Cambridge which Cambridge A-Level subjects, 1. Mark three recent papers strictly 2. Track raw % per component 3. Compare to published boundaries for those sessions (guide only) 4. Improve scheme alignment — not boundary gambling
Upload uncertain essays to MarkScheme for second opinions.
Inflation talk and mental health
For Cambridge which Cambridge A-Level subjects, viral “only 2% got A*” posts spike anxiety. Redirect energy:
- One more marked question beats one hour of Reddit
- Teachers / advisors over anonymous forums
FAQ
For Cambridge which Cambridge A-Level subjects, aggregate national trends ≠ your script. Scheme mastery moves your marks.
Broadly moderated — but your task is maxing the paper in front of you.
No — polish exam technique and command words instead.
IF YOU'RE STILL WONDERING
What if I picked the wrong combination?
Switch early if your school allows; compare university requirements before dropping sciences.
Read more →
KEY QUESTIONS
- Did 2025 prove inflation?
- Aggregate national trends ≠ your script. Scheme mastery moves your marks.
- Are Cambridge grades comparable year to year?
- Broadly moderated — but your task is maxing the paper in front of you.
- Do harder boundaries mean I should cram new content last week?
- No — polish exam technique and [command words](/blog/cambridge-command-words-past-papers-guide) instead. ## What to read next - [Self-marking past papers](/blog/how-to-mark-cambridge-past-papers-yourself) - [Common self-marking mistakes](/blog/common-mistakes-self-marking-past-papers) - [May/June countdown](/blog/cambridge-may-june-2026-exam-series-countdown) ## Bottom line Ignore inflation myths; live in mark schemes. The students who rise in 2026 are those who mark honestly, read examiner reports, and fix named errors — not those who chase boundary gossip.
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MarkScheme is not affiliated with Cambridge International. Syllabus codes and mark schemes are used for educational purposes. See our about page for how we mark.
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