Over 25% of Students Achieve Top A-level Grades
UCAS has reported an increase in the number of students accepted onto degree courses this year, with 82 percent of all applicants securing a place at their first choice.
The proportion of candidates receiving top grades in their A-Level exams has also risen compared to last year, with over a quarter achieving As and A*s.
Across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, exam results showed an improvement, with grades higher than those pre-COVID lockdowns.
Some 27.8 percent of students achieved an A or A*, up from 27.2 percent in 2023 and surpassing the 25.4 percent seen in 2019.
Specifically for A*s, 9.3 percent of students attained the top score, an increase from 8.9 percent in 2023 and higher than the 7.7 percent in 2019.
In England, 4,135 individuals managed to score three A* grades, a remarkable achievement considering that the A* grade, introduced in 2010, requires a minimum score of 90 percent.
This percentage of three A* grade students is higher than in 2023 and 2019.
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The overall pass rate, encompassing all grades from E to A*, was a notable 97.2 percent, slightly lower than last year but still high.
Over three-quarters of entries achieved a grade C and above, showing an improvement from the previous year.
Comparisons of grading this year exclude marks from 2020 to 2022, when assessments were based on teacher evaluations instead of exams due to lockdowns.
This academic year marks a return to pre-pandemic grading levels.
Gender Gap Reduction
There was notable interest in science subjects among A-Level students this year, with mathematics being the most popular choice for the 11th consecutive year.
Psychology and biology followed as the second and third most popular subjects. Further mathematics experienced the largest percentage increase in entries, rising by 20 percent compared to the previous year.
The gender attainment gap has narrowed, with boys closing the gap with girls.
Twenty-eight percent of girls achieved A and A* grades this year, slightly higher (0.4 points) than the corresponding percentage for boys.
The lead that girls maintain over boys has decreased compared to the previous year.
Conversely, boys have extended their lead over girls in A* grades, with 9.5 percent of boys achieving the highest grade compared to 9.4 percent for girls.
Increased University Acceptances
For many students, receiving A-Level results is a significant milestone in their academic journey towards higher education (HE).
Students also discovered this year if they were accepted into their preferred university or college.
According to UCAS, there has been an increase in the number of students accepted onto degree courses this year.
UCAS revealed that 82 percent of all applicants secured their first choice, a higher figure than the previous year.
Among 18-year-olds, the acceptance rate also improved.
Rethinking Tuition Fee Policies
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson praised the students’ hard work and achievements over the last two years.
She acknowledged the challenges students face regarding tuition fees and living costs and stated that the government intends to reform the overall system instead of increasing tuition fees.
PA Media contributed to this report.
