This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-33886031

The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
A-levels: Record numbers claim university places A-levels: Top grades down, but more university places
(35 minutes later)
Record numbers of students have been accepted on university courses, as hundreds of thousands of students are finding out their A-level results. The proportion of top A-level grades has fallen slightly this year, but record numbers have been accepted on university courses.
The Ucas admissions service says there has been a 3% increase compared with results day last year, with 409,000 places now confirmed. A* and A grades were awarded to 25.9% of entries, down 0.1% compared with last year. But in a year of "stable" results, overall passes rose by 0.1%.
This year has seen the lifting of the cap on university places in England. The Ucas university admissions service says 409,000 places have been confirmed, up 3% on last year.
Mary Curnock Cook, head of the admissions service, said the rising numbers were an "impressive outcome". Universities minister Jo Johnson hailed the rising numbers as "great news".
Hundreds of thousands of teenagers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are receiving their A-level results on Thursday.Hundreds of thousands of teenagers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are receiving their A-level results on Thursday.
The removal on limits on student numbers has prompted speculation that universities will try to attract more students at the last minute. The exam boards say that the number of A-levels taken this year has risen to over 850,000, with maths, English and biology the most popular.
These initial figures from Ucas show a 5% increase in places for 18 year olds in the UK, but a reduction among older age groups. "The over-riding message from this year's figures is one of stability. There have been no significant changes to the system," said Michael Turner, director of the Joint Council for Qualifications.
The overall pass rate has risen marginally to 98.1% and the proportion getting the very top A* grade remained the same at 8.2%, with A grades down by 0.1%.
The ASCL head teachers' union said that it was "disappointing" to see a decline in some subjects, such as music, German and design and technology. Heads linked the decline to budget pressures making it difficult to sustain subjects with smaller numbers of pupils.
Gender gap
But this year's lifting of the cap on university places in England has seen more students than ever accepted on to courses.
Initial figures from Ucas show a 5% increase in places for 18 year olds in the UK, but few among older age groups.
The gender gap has widened further, with 27,000 more women than men about to start courses this year.The gender gap has widened further, with 27,000 more women than men about to start courses this year.
The number of international students and from the European Union has also increased.The number of international students and from the European Union has also increased.
'Unconditional offers' With no fixed limit on the number of places universities are permitted to offer, there is likely to be more competition for students.
In the run-up to results day, some universities have been attempting to secure students on to courses by revising conditional offers into unconditional ones.In the run-up to results day, some universities have been attempting to secure students on to courses by revising conditional offers into unconditional ones.
What if my grades are disappointing?What if my grades are disappointing?
Results Day: It was different in my day...Results Day: It was different in my day...
Admission tutors have been asking students to get back in touch with universities ahead of A-level results day. Northern Ireland: Pass rate rises
And with no official limit on the number of places universities are permitted to offer, there is likely to be more scope for movement. Wales: Top grades rise, but below UK average
England's exams regulator, Ofqual, has said there has been a rise in the number of candidates sitting traditional subjects, such as maths and English. Clearing
This rise in popularity may also be linked to the most selective universities urging students to avoid subjects admission tutors perceive to be less rigorous. Any unallocated university places will be matched with students with the right grades through the process known as Clearing.
In 2011, the Russell Group of research-intensive universities published guidance advising students to take at least two choices from a list of "facilitating" A-level subjects. Pam Tatlow, of university think tank Million Plus, said Clearing would not be too different from previous years, despite the removal of the cap on student numbers.
Narrow misses
A Russell Group spokesman said: "The recent increase in the number of students taking facilitating subjects at A-level is welcome news."
Any unallocated university places are matched with students with the right grades through the process known as "clearing", run by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, Ucas.
The spokesman added that some of these universities may have places available for students who had done better than expected, and for highly qualified students who had narrowly missed out on their first choice.
"We encourage those students to get in touch with Ucas to see whether there may be places available to them," he said.
Pam Tatlow, of university think tank Million Plus, said clearing would not be too different from previous years, despite the removal of the cap on student numbers,
"A lot of activity has gone on before clearing in terms of unconditional offers, and as usual there will be competition and students will have choices to make," she said."A lot of activity has gone on before clearing in terms of unconditional offers, and as usual there will be competition and students will have choices to make," she said.
"Students will have to keep calm and think about what is the right course for them.""Students will have to keep calm and think about what is the right course for them."
Are you expecting your A-level results? Do you have a question about what to do next?Are you expecting your A-level results? Do you have a question about what to do next?
Send us your questions and we will put a selection of them to experts from Which? University and the Association of Colleges.Send us your questions and we will put a selection of them to experts from Which? University and the Association of Colleges.
The Q&A will be published on the BBC News website on Thursday afternoon.The Q&A will be published on the BBC News website on Thursday afternoon.
Send your questions to us in the following ways:Send your questions to us in the following ways: