More than 800,000 students received their A-level results today, with the proportion of top grades (A*, A, B or C) in England reaching a record high outside the pandemic era. Some 28.3% of entries were awarded an A or A*, up from 27.8% in 2024 and above the pre-pandemic level of 25.4% in 2019. The overall pass rate (A* to E) rose to 97.5%, though this remains slightly below the 2019 figure of 97.6%.
Boys outperformed girls in top grades for the first time since 2018, with 28.4% of boys' entries achieving A or A* compared to 28.2% for girls. The gap widened at the A* level, where 9.9% of boys' entries received the highest grade versus 9.1% for girls. Ofqual, the exam regulator, dismissed concerns over grade inflation, noting a lower proportion of 18-year-olds taking A-levels and fewer low-achieving entrants.
Regional disparities persisted, with London recording the highest share of A or A* grades at 32.1%, while the North East had the lowest at 22.9%. The gap between these regions widened to 9.2 percentage points, the largest since the current grading system began in 2010. Henri Murison of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership highlighted these “significant and deep-seated regional disparities.”
Mathematics remained the most popular subject for the 12th consecutive year, with 112,138 entries (up 4.4%). Business studies entered the top five for the first time, replacing history, while physics rose from ninth to sixth place. Overall, 882,509 A-levels were awarded, a slight decrease of 0.5% from last year.
University admissions saw an increase in acceptances, with more students securing places through clearing. The Guardian’s University Guide 2026 will be published in early September to assist prospective students.
