Over 800,000 students across the UK have received their A-level results, with data showing a strong year for grades – not only for the 3,890 students who achieved an impressive three As. In England, the proportion of students gaining A, A, B, or C grades was higher than any year outside the pandemic period, when teacher-assessed grades led to a surge in top marks. Similar trends were recorded in Northern Ireland and Wales.
Boys outperformed girls at the very top level, securing more A* grades – a result rarely seen outside the Covid years. However, girls continued to dominate when it came to achieving grades of C and above. There was also a noticeable drop in the number of lower grades (E and U) compared with the past two years, suggesting overall performance has improved.
Subject choices revealed a continued rise in interest for STEM subjects, with increasing numbers also opting for business-related courses. These areas appear to be gaining popularity as students focus on future career opportunities in growing industries.
Despite the positive trends, the long-standing regional attainment gap remains, with some parts of the country seeing significantly higher results than others. Education leaders have called for ongoing efforts to address these inequalities and ensure opportunities are more evenly spread.
