How AAT Assessments Are Graded: Pass, Merit and Distinction
AAT grade bands are Distinction 90-100%, Merit 80-89%, Pass 70-79%. See how weighting, results times and fees work.
AAT reports results in different ways depending on the assessment, and the difference changes how you read your result. On graded qualifications the AAT publishes these bands: Distinction is 90 to 100 percent, Merit is 80 to 89 percent, Pass is 70 to 79 percent, and Unclassified is 0 to 69 percent, or failing to pass one or more assessments. Unit assessments are reported simply as achieved or not yet achieved. This guide explains the bands, how the percentage of grade weighting works, how long results take and what assessments cost, using the AAT's own grading, results times and fees page. If you are still choosing a level, start with our guide to what AAT is.
AAT grade bands
| Grade | Percentage band |
|---|---|
| Distinction | 90 to 100% |
| Merit | 80 to 89% |
| Pass | 70 to 79% |
| Unclassified | 0 to 69%, or failure to pass one or more assessments |
The AAT says that on graded qualifications you also receive a percentage score, individual task scores and a performance descriptor for each task. That feedback is the most useful part of a result, because it shows which tasks cost you marks. Its grading page does not list which specific qualifications and assessments are graded, so check the qualification page for the one you are studying.
Achieved or not yet achieved
For unit assessments the result is achieved or not yet achieved. Apprenticeship end-point assessment components are reported as competent or not yet competent, and some of those components are also graded at Pass (70 to 89 percent) or Distinction (90 to 100 percent). If you are on an apprenticeship route, the grade is based on a combination of the awarded assessment grades. If you are on a standard route, read the result as a pass or a not-yet-achieved first, then look at any percentage.
How the overall qualification grade is built
Each assessment carries a percentage of grade weighting, which tells you how much it contributes to the final qualification grade. The AAT gives examples: in the Level 2 Certificate in Bookkeeping, Introduction to Bookkeeping and Principles of Bookkeeping Controls each carry 50 percent. In the Level 3 Certificate in Bookkeeping, Financial Accounting: Preparing Financial Statements carries 70 percent and Tax Processes for Businesses carries 30 percent. The page does not publish the calculation method, so do not assume a simple average; check your qualification's weightings before you decide where to put your revision time. A heavily weighted assessment deserves more preparation.
How long results take
The AAT lists different waiting times by assessment type:
| Assessment | Results waiting time |
|---|---|
| Typical bookkeeping and tax assessments at a centre | End of the next working day |
| The same assessments if remotely invigilated | Within 10 working days |
| Synoptic and many other assessments | Within four weeks |
| Level 4 Diploma for Professional Accounting Technicians | Within 15 working days at a centre and remotely; the AAT says this is a temporary quality assurance measure and remote results are usually within 10 working days |
Remotely invigilated results are released within these timeframes unless submission, recording or invigilation issues need investigation. If you are planning around a deadline, such as a job application or a registration cut-off, add the longest waiting time to your exam date. Our guide to AAT exam dates will help you plan.
What assessments cost
From the AAT's fees table: Level 1 awards are £40. Level 2 Certificates cost £67 per assessment, except The Business Environment synoptic at £72. The Level 3 Certificate in Bookkeeping and Level 3 Diploma are £67 per assessment. The Level 4 Diploma in Professional Accounting is £69 per assessment, as is the Level 4 Diploma for Professional Accounting Technicians, with an Audit top-up at £40. Remote invigilation adds £41 per assessment part. Apprenticeship end-point assessments cost £537 at Level 2, £648 at Level 3 and £870 at Level 4, charged on the first attempt at each assessment method only. These are the AAT's published fees as checked in October 2026 and they can change, so confirm with your training provider. For a wider breakdown, see our guide to AAT exam fees.
If you do not pass
The AAT page we reviewed does not state general retake fees or retake rules, other than the apprenticeship wording above. Ask your centre or training provider what it charges and what waiting period applies. Our article on what to do if you failed your AAT exam covers the practical next steps, and our AAT exam tips cover how to avoid it.
A change affecting Level 4 students
The AAT's page records that registrations for the Level 4 Diploma in Professional Accounting closed on 31 August 2026, and the final date to sit its assessments is 31 July 2028. The Level 4 Diploma for Professional Accounting Technicians is listed separately. If you are planning a Level 4 start, check with the AAT which diploma applies to you. See our Level 4 online study guide and the AAT Level 4 course page.
How to use your result
Treat a percentage as a diagnostic. A 72 percent Pass and an 88 percent Merit are both passes, but the second shows which areas are secure. Use the task scores to find where marks were lost, then target those topics in your next unit. If you are heading to Level 3, our guide to how to pass AAT Level 3 and the AAT Level 3 course page are good places to start.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Distinction in AAT?
On graded AAT qualifications, a Distinction is 90 to 100 percent.
What is the AAT pass mark for graded qualifications?
A Pass is 70 to 79 percent. Scores of 0 to 69 percent are Unclassified.
How long do AAT results take?
From the end of the next working day to four weeks, depending on the assessment and whether it is remotely invigilated.
Do all AAT qualifications have grades?
The AAT page does not list which are graded. Unit assessments are achieved or not yet achieved.
Source: AAT, Assessment grading, results waiting times and fees (aat.org.uk), checked October 2026.
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