A total of 44.8% of pupils A-level results were A* or A grades in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
More A* and A grades have been given to A-level students than ever before after exams were cancelled twice due to the Corona Virus pandemic.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 disruption during January all AS-level, A-level and GCSE exams were cancelled.
This meant teachers had to use mock results, assessments and coursework to produce students grades this summer.
Over two in five sixth formers (44.8%) were awarded A* or A grades increasing 6.3% on last year’s 38.5%.
The total number of students who achieved A* grades has skyrocketed by 19.1% making it the new record since A*’s were introduced in 2010.
However, figures show the pass rate did drop slightly by 0.2% from 99.7% to 99.5% for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Scottish Higher results have been published separately.
The reports show females perform better than males in maths and managed to gain more A*’s for the first time with 29.1% of girls getting the top grade compared to 28.5% of boys.
UCAS figures show that the number of students accepted onto their first choice university course also increased by a record-breaking 8% to 395,700.
An increase of 5% accepted onto any course with a total of 435,430 starting to study full-time.
Experts have warned that teachers assessments are starting to cause grade inflation and “lower standards to become the norm”.
Ofqual exam regulators analysis found that 6.9% of students were awarded three A*’s compared to 4.3% in 2020 and 1.6% in 2019.
Last year was an extremely stressful time for students who didn’t know how this would affect their future. Especially with the controversial algorithm U-turn which caused up-roar with pupils and parents who threatened legal action after downgraded results.
Ofqual selected assessments at random and said that 85% of the chosen were satisfactory and the remaining will be subject to further scrutiny.
Director-general of the Joint Council for Qualification (JCQ) Dr Philip Wright defended the assessment scheme saying:
“teachers used their professional judgment in time for us to check and award grades”.
“On behalf of JCQ and the exam boards, I would like to congratulate all students receiving their results today,”
“The impact of COVID-19 has undoubtedly provided a difficult chapter in their education journey and their resilience is to be applauded. We wish them all the best as they take their next steps in life.”
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