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Results day arrives for A-level, T-level and BTec students Top grades rise again on A-level, T-level and BTec results day
(about 8 hours later)
Students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland have received their A-level, T-level and BTec National results.Students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland have received their A-level, T-level and BTec National results.
The amount of students getting top A-level results is expected to be broadly similar to 2024, after years of flux as a result of the Covid pandemic. The number of students getting top A-level results has reached a record high this year, with 28.3% of all grades across the three nations marked at A* or A, up from 27.8% last year.
A record number of 18-year-olds will get into their first choice of university, the head of the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (Ucas) has predicted. A record number of 18-year-olds also got into their first choice of university.
Dr Jo Saxton stressed that this year's Year 13s had received lower GCSE grades than previous cohorts as part of a plan to push down grade inflation that happened during Covid, and they would need universities to take that into account. But the gap between the highest-performing region, London, and the lowest-performing region, the north east of England, has grown. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said it was a "national outrage".
Last year, 27.8% of all A-level grades were marked at A* or A - but there were big differences between regions in England. There were "entrenched inequalities that continue to blight the life chances of too many young people", she added.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson warned there were "entrenched inequalities that continue to blight the life chances of too many young people".
She said "those from white working class backgrounds who have long been overlooked" were especially affected, and that the government was making "encouraging progress" to address the issue.She said "those from white working class backgrounds who have long been overlooked" were especially affected, and that the government was making "encouraging progress" to address the issue.
Boys have outperformed girls in this year's top A-level grades, for the first time in seven years across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The pass rate for National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher exams in Scotland rose across the board last week.The pass rate for National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher exams in Scotland rose across the board last week.
BTec National and Cambridge Technical results are also due to be released on Thursday along with AS-levels - which, in Wales and Northern Ireland, will count towards students' final A-level results next summer. BTec National and Cambridge Technical results are also released on Thursday along with AS-levels - which, in Wales and Northern Ireland, will count towards students' final A-level results next summer.
This is also the fourth year of results for vocational T-level qualifications in England.This is also the fourth year of results for vocational T-level qualifications in England.
To achieve the technical qualification, time is split between classroom learning and industry placements - with students awarded a pass, merit, distinction or distinction* after two years of work and study. A total of 11,909 students received T-level grades on Thursday – up from 7,435 last year.
The dropout rate remains high, though – and some students take longer than the standard two-years to complete the course.
A-level results: follow liveA-level results: follow live
More teens to get their choice of uni even if they miss their grades, says UcasMore teens to get their choice of uni even if they miss their grades, says Ucas
Your full guide to A-level results dayYour full guide to A-level results day
What are T-levels and what are the grades worth?What are T-levels and what are the grades worth?
What are BTecs and how are they graded?What are BTecs and how are they graded?
Freya, a student at Middlesbrough College, will be getting her grade for a T-level in health. Olivia Melville, a student at Telford College, achieved a distinction in her health T-level and is hoping to get a place on a university midwifery course through clearing.
"It gives you a hands-on experience in what sort of things you're going to do in a real-world scenario, rather than just learning from a book," she said. The 18-year-old said she chose a T-level over A-levels because she liked the idea of being "hands-on" and going on a work placement.
She is about to start a full-time job in an NHS maternity department, and hopes to ultimately become a midwife. "I knew I was in one of the first cohorts of T-levels which was really exciting, and I just feel really good about it," she said.
"I thought coming here [and] doing this course would give me the theoretical and physical knowledge to be able to achieve what I want to do," she added. Olivia wants to use her T-level to study midwifery at university
Dr Jo Saxton, the chief executive of Ucas, said last week that it was a "really, really good year" for UK students applying to university.Dr Jo Saxton, the chief executive of Ucas, said last week that it was a "really, really good year" for UK students applying to university.
She said universities were keen to enrol UK undergraduates because there was more "uncertainty" around international student numbers and domestic students offered universities "stability" for "financial planning".She said universities were keen to enrol UK undergraduates because there was more "uncertainty" around international student numbers and domestic students offered universities "stability" for "financial planning".
They could "quite possibly" accept students who did not meet the conditions of their offer, she added.They could "quite possibly" accept students who did not meet the conditions of their offer, she added.
How much does university cost, and is it worth it?How much does university cost, and is it worth it?
How do student loans work and when are they written off?How do student loans work and when are they written off?
What is an apprenticeship and how much are apprentices paid?What is an apprenticeship and how much are apprentices paid?
'I didn't go to uni - now I work as a celebrity photographer''I didn't go to uni - now I work as a celebrity photographer'
Dr Saxton also said Year 13 students would need universities to "respect and understand" the specific circumstances they have gone through.Dr Saxton also said Year 13 students would need universities to "respect and understand" the specific circumstances they have gone through.
They were in Year 8 and Year 9 during national lockdowns in 2020 and 2021.They were in Year 8 and Year 9 during national lockdowns in 2020 and 2021.
Both years saw spikes in pass rates at GCSE and top grades at A-level, after exams were cancelled and results were based on teachers' assessments.Both years saw spikes in pass rates at GCSE and top grades at A-level, after exams were cancelled and results were based on teachers' assessments.
What followed was a phased effort to bring grades back in line with pre-pandemic levels.What followed was a phased effort to bring grades back in line with pre-pandemic levels.
The year that these students sat their GCSEs, 2023, was the final stage of that process in England. Grading returned to pre-pandemic standards in Wales and Northern Ireland last year.The year that these students sat their GCSEs, 2023, was the final stage of that process in England. Grading returned to pre-pandemic standards in Wales and Northern Ireland last year.
It meant GCSE passes fell in 2023, with the steepest drop in England.It meant GCSE passes fell in 2023, with the steepest drop in England.
Dr Saxton said the "significant national programme to deflate their grades" at GCSE represented an "important backdrop" for those getting the grades for their Level 3 qualifications this week.Dr Saxton said the "significant national programme to deflate their grades" at GCSE represented an "important backdrop" for those getting the grades for their Level 3 qualifications this week.
She also pointed out that, with GCSE grades down in 2023, fewer achieved the results they needed to start A-levels.She also pointed out that, with GCSE grades down in 2023, fewer achieved the results they needed to start A-levels.
A-level entries fell from 825,355 last summer to 821,875 this summer, according to provisional data for England. It meant this year's A-level cohort was "smaller" and "stronger", she said.
Dr Saxton said that students' previous grades would therefore "probably" be "fractionally higher" across the cohort. There has been less emphasis this year on how grades compare to 2019 and more on how they compare to last year, since it is the second year that grading has returned to pre-pandemic levels across the board.
Last year, with grading back to pre-pandemic standards across all three nations, 27.8% of all A-level grades were marked at A* or A - up from 27.2% in 2023 and 25.4% in 2019.
There is likely to be less emphasis this year on how grades compare to 2019 and more on how they compare to last year, since it is the second year that grading has returned to pre-pandemic levels across the board.
Students heading to university will pay higher fees in England and Wales this year. They have risen to £9,535 for undergraduate courses.Students heading to university will pay higher fees in England and Wales this year. They have risen to £9,535 for undergraduate courses.
Maintenance loans have also gone up, meaning that students can borrow more to help with their living costs.Maintenance loans have also gone up, meaning that students can borrow more to help with their living costs.