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| Top A-level grade improvement hope in Wales | Top A-level grade improvement hope in Wales |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Thousands of students in Wales are anxiously waiting for their A-level results, with hopes of an improvement in the very top grades. | Thousands of students in Wales are anxiously waiting for their A-level results, with hopes of an improvement in the very top grades. |
| Last year, the percentage of Welsh pupils receiving the highest A-level grades fell for the fourth year in a row. | Last year, the percentage of Welsh pupils receiving the highest A-level grades fell for the fourth year in a row. |
| Education Minister Huw Lewis suggested high achievers could be stretched more. | Education Minister Huw Lewis suggested high achievers could be stretched more. |
| Meanwhile, the eight Welsh universities said they all have some places left to fill through the clearing system. | Meanwhile, the eight Welsh universities said they all have some places left to fill through the clearing system. |
| In 2013, a rise in the overall pass rate for Welsh students was welcomed, but those achieving A* and A grades was below the UK average and has been decreasing. | In 2013, a rise in the overall pass rate for Welsh students was welcomed, but those achieving A* and A grades was below the UK average and has been decreasing. |
| Back in 2009, 25% of pupils got an A or an A* but that has been going down ever since. | Back in 2009, 25% of pupils got an A or an A* but that has been going down ever since. |
| Education standards body Estyn has shared Mr Lewis's concern about the best pupils not being pushed enough. | Education standards body Estyn has shared Mr Lewis's concern about the best pupils not being pushed enough. |
| Girls continued to outperform boys in 2013 and the pass rate for A and A* grades in Wales at 22.9% was lower than the average for all A-level students across England, Northern Ireland and Wales, which was 26.3%. | Girls continued to outperform boys in 2013 and the pass rate for A and A* grades in Wales at 22.9% was lower than the average for all A-level students across England, Northern Ireland and Wales, which was 26.3%. |
| Analysis by education correspondent Arwyn Jones | Analysis by education correspondent Arwyn Jones |
| For the vast majority of students it will be a time to celebrate, even if it does mean a few frantic phone calls for some to get on the course they want. | For the vast majority of students it will be a time to celebrate, even if it does mean a few frantic phone calls for some to get on the course they want. |
| And on that front there's good news. As the higher education sector becomes more and more competitive, universities will be keen to get bums on seats. The advice is phone them, and phone them early. | And on that front there's good news. As the higher education sector becomes more and more competitive, universities will be keen to get bums on seats. The advice is phone them, and phone them early. |
| But on a Wales-wide basis, today will be a chance to see if we've closed the gap between the rest of the UK, especially when it comes to the top grades. | But on a Wales-wide basis, today will be a chance to see if we've closed the gap between the rest of the UK, especially when it comes to the top grades. |
| In Wales, thousands of pupils will also be getting their Welsh Baccalaureate qualifications (WBQ). | In Wales, thousands of pupils will also be getting their Welsh Baccalaureate qualifications (WBQ). |
| The numbers studying for the WBQ has steadily increased over the past few years, as it has been rolled out across Wales. | The numbers studying for the WBQ has steadily increased over the past few years, as it has been rolled out across Wales. |
| At the moment it is a simple pass or fail, and there are concerns that some universities have been more willing than others to accept a pass as being equivalent to an A-level A grade. | At the moment it is a simple pass or fail, and there are concerns that some universities have been more willing than others to accept a pass as being equivalent to an A-level A grade. |
| However, that might change as the WBQ will be graded in two-years time from an A star to a C. | However, that might change as the WBQ will be graded in two-years time from an A star to a C. |
| CLEARING DETAILS | CLEARING DETAILS |
| Are you getting your A-level results today? Send your pictures and results to newsonline.wales@bbc.co.uk or Tweet us @BBCWalesNews. |