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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
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| Top A-level grades edge upwards | Top A-level grades edge upwards |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Top A-level grades have increased for the first time in six years, as teenagers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland get their results. | |
| A* and A grades were awarded to 26.3% of entries - up by 0.5 percentage points compared with last year. | A* and A grades were awarded to 26.3% of entries - up by 0.5 percentage points compared with last year. |
| In subjects changed to depend solely on final exams, there was a slight decrease, but the gender gap narrowed. | |
| The number of university places allocated so far has fallen - with thousands of places still available. | |
| The Ucas university admissions body says that 416,000 places have so far been confirmed - down 2% on last year. | The Ucas university admissions body says that 416,000 places have so far been confirmed - down 2% on last year. |
| 'Buyer's market' | 'Buyer's market' |
| This is expected to mean a "buyer's market", with more options available to those looking for university places. | This is expected to mean a "buyer's market", with more options available to those looking for university places. |
| The fall in university entry follows a reduction in applications and a demographic dip in the number of 18-year-olds. | The fall in university entry follows a reduction in applications and a demographic dip in the number of 18-year-olds. |
| The number of students from European Union countries has fallen by 3% compared with last year. | The number of students from European Union countries has fallen by 3% compared with last year. |
| Many universities, including in the prestigious Russell Group, will still have places on offer through the clearing system, which matches people looking for places with vacancies on courses. | Many universities, including in the prestigious Russell Group, will still have places on offer through the clearing system, which matches people looking for places with vacancies on courses. |
| Changes to the qualifications system in England mean 13 A-level subjects this year have been decided solely by final exams, with no link to coursework or AS-levels. | Changes to the qualifications system in England mean 13 A-level subjects this year have been decided solely by final exams, with no link to coursework or AS-levels. |
| The national results have been kept similar to last year, with over a quarter of entries receiving top grades. | The national results have been kept similar to last year, with over a quarter of entries receiving top grades. |
| But in those new-style A-level subjects, including history, English, psychology, physics, chemistry and biology, there were 0.7% fewer A* and A grades. | But in those new-style A-level subjects, including history, English, psychology, physics, chemistry and biology, there were 0.7% fewer A* and A grades. |
| Also, the gender gap has narrowed in these new-style A-levels, with boys' results falling less than for girls. | Also, the gender gap has narrowed in these new-style A-levels, with boys' results falling less than for girls. |
| Head teachers' leader Geoff Barton said the end of the link between A-levels and AS-levels would mean the "death knell" of AS-levels, with schools increasingly likely to abandon the exam. | Head teachers' leader Geoff Barton said the end of the link between A-levels and AS-levels would mean the "death knell" of AS-levels, with schools increasingly likely to abandon the exam. |
| AS-level entries have fallen by more than 40% this year, and Mr Barton, leader of the ASCL head teachers' union, said he regretted this "narrowing" of options. | AS-level entries have fallen by more than 40% this year, and Mr Barton, leader of the ASCL head teachers' union, said he regretted this "narrowing" of options. |
| But the exam changes, and the move to final exams rather than modules, were defended by John Blake, head of education at the Policy Exchange think tank. | But the exam changes, and the move to final exams rather than modules, were defended by John Blake, head of education at the Policy Exchange think tank. |
| "The changes to A-levels were designed to end a culture of endlessly resitting examinations, which was as painful and time-consuming for teachers as it was for students," he said. | "The changes to A-levels were designed to end a culture of endlessly resitting examinations, which was as painful and time-consuming for teachers as it was for students," he said. |
| "It led to less teaching time and made it harder to get a proper grasp of the subject. | "It led to less teaching time and made it harder to get a proper grasp of the subject. |
| "We should all be pleased that it is over." | "We should all be pleased that it is over." |
| But there have been concerns from pupils who have been the first to take these revised exams. | But there have been concerns from pupils who have been the first to take these revised exams. |
| A survey of A-level students from the Student Room website found worries about a lack of textbooks and practice papers for the new style of exams. | A survey of A-level students from the Student Room website found worries about a lack of textbooks and practice papers for the new style of exams. |
| What questions would you like to ask now the A-level results are out? | What questions would you like to ask now the A-level results are out? |
| Use this form to ask your question: | Use this form to ask your question: |