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19/08/2004
A-levels results success as grades rise
A-level results have revealed that more students than ever before have achieved top grades and the overall pass rate has risen further.
This year's results showed that the overall pass rate has risen to 96%, up from 95.4% last year. A grades at A level increased by 0.8 percentage points to 22.4%, up from 21.6% in 2003.
However, the grade success has fuelled a row among educationalists - twenty years ago the A grade pass rate was close to at 10%, half that of this year's results - and they point out that the lower pass grades, D and E could be effectively useless as the university benchmark was likely to shift to at least C grade passes.
But the results revealed that boys, who had previously performed more poorly than girls at A-level, are beginning to close the gender grade gap.
Minister of State for School Standards David Miliband said that today's A level results was "taking forward the education revolution and opening up opportunity to more pupils than ever before".
The Minister congratulated the students on their success and thanked teachers and support staff for their hard work in helping their pupils fulfil their potential. "Don't let anyone tell you that standards have fallen because more of you have done well," he said.
He said: "These results today show there is an education revolution underway in our country that is opening up opportunities for more young people than ever. These results are built on the hard work of students, schools and colleges. I congratulate the students and thank our teachers for their commitment.
"My message to them is simple. Don't let anyone tell you that standards have dropped because more of you have done well, this is simply a myth. Your hard work has merited success.
"At a time when Ofsted says the standard of teaching has never been higher, we should expect to have rising levels of achievement in our schools and colleges. We are getting better as a country at getting the best out of our young people. We should applaud them and applaud their schools and colleges."
The results also revealed regional variations in the number of A grades - students in Northern Ireland achieved 30%, Wales had 23.5% and England 22.1%.
Traditional A-level subjects English and Maths remain popular, but psychology has become more popular than chemistry and the numbers taking French have declined as have subjects viewed as difficult such as physics.
Over a quarter of a million A-level exams were taken this year.
(SP)
This year's results showed that the overall pass rate has risen to 96%, up from 95.4% last year. A grades at A level increased by 0.8 percentage points to 22.4%, up from 21.6% in 2003.
However, the grade success has fuelled a row among educationalists - twenty years ago the A grade pass rate was close to at 10%, half that of this year's results - and they point out that the lower pass grades, D and E could be effectively useless as the university benchmark was likely to shift to at least C grade passes.
But the results revealed that boys, who had previously performed more poorly than girls at A-level, are beginning to close the gender grade gap.
Minister of State for School Standards David Miliband said that today's A level results was "taking forward the education revolution and opening up opportunity to more pupils than ever before".
The Minister congratulated the students on their success and thanked teachers and support staff for their hard work in helping their pupils fulfil their potential. "Don't let anyone tell you that standards have fallen because more of you have done well," he said.
He said: "These results today show there is an education revolution underway in our country that is opening up opportunities for more young people than ever. These results are built on the hard work of students, schools and colleges. I congratulate the students and thank our teachers for their commitment.
"My message to them is simple. Don't let anyone tell you that standards have dropped because more of you have done well, this is simply a myth. Your hard work has merited success.
"At a time when Ofsted says the standard of teaching has never been higher, we should expect to have rising levels of achievement in our schools and colleges. We are getting better as a country at getting the best out of our young people. We should applaud them and applaud their schools and colleges."
The results also revealed regional variations in the number of A grades - students in Northern Ireland achieved 30%, Wales had 23.5% and England 22.1%.
Traditional A-level subjects English and Maths remain popular, but psychology has become more popular than chemistry and the numbers taking French have declined as have subjects viewed as difficult such as physics.
Over a quarter of a million A-level exams were taken this year.
(SP)
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25 August 2011
'Record-breaking Results' For GCSE Students
Around 750,000 students across England, Wales and Northern Ireland received their GCSE results today in another year of record-breaking results. The number of top grades awarded to students has risen every year since the exams were first introduced in 1988 and it was revealed that just under 70% of results were awarded a grade between A* and C.
'Record-breaking Results' For GCSE Students
Around 750,000 students across England, Wales and Northern Ireland received their GCSE results today in another year of record-breaking results. The number of top grades awarded to students has risen every year since the exams were first introduced in 1988 and it was revealed that just under 70% of results were awarded a grade between A* and C.
19 August 2010
Another Record Year For A-Level Grades
It has been another record-breaking year for A-Level results, with one in 12 of all exams (8%) being awarded the new A* grade. More than a quarter of entries (27%) were awarded an A grade - a slight rise from 26.7% last year. Overall, the pass rate rose again, for the 28th year in a row, with 97.6% of entries gaining an E grade or higher.
Another Record Year For A-Level Grades
It has been another record-breaking year for A-Level results, with one in 12 of all exams (8%) being awarded the new A* grade. More than a quarter of entries (27%) were awarded an A grade - a slight rise from 26.7% last year. Overall, the pass rate rose again, for the 28th year in a row, with 97.6% of entries gaining an E grade or higher.
27 August 2009
'A' Grades Dominate GCSEs
Twenty percent of students taking GCSEs this year scored an A or A*. According to results published today, the figure relates to those taking five or more of the examinations in the national examination. More than 670,000 pupils in England and Wales received their results with both the pass rate and the number of top grades edged up again.
'A' Grades Dominate GCSEs
Twenty percent of students taking GCSEs this year scored an A or A*. According to results published today, the figure relates to those taking five or more of the examinations in the national examination. More than 670,000 pupils in England and Wales received their results with both the pass rate and the number of top grades edged up again.
21 August 2008
GCSE Students Celebrate Exam Success
GCSE students are celebrating top grades in the biggest annual rise since 1990. As 750,000 teenagers collect their results, it has emerged that entries awarded at least a C increased more than two percentage points to 65.7%. This year, 65.7% of the exams taken were awarded A* to C grades, a rise of 2.4% from 63.
GCSE Students Celebrate Exam Success
GCSE students are celebrating top grades in the biggest annual rise since 1990. As 750,000 teenagers collect their results, it has emerged that entries awarded at least a C increased more than two percentage points to 65.7%. This year, 65.7% of the exams taken were awarded A* to C grades, a rise of 2.4% from 63.
22 August 2003
Independent schools score 'near perfect' A level pass rate
This summer’s provisional A level results from independent schools show that their candidates achieved a near-perfect pass rate, the Independent Schools Council (ISC) has said. Provisional results achieved by more than 30,000 candidates from 476 schools were released today by the ISC information service. At GCE A-level the data reveals that 99.
Independent schools score 'near perfect' A level pass rate
This summer’s provisional A level results from independent schools show that their candidates achieved a near-perfect pass rate, the Independent Schools Council (ISC) has said. Provisional results achieved by more than 30,000 candidates from 476 schools were released today by the ISC information service. At GCE A-level the data reveals that 99.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:It will be cloudy again throughout the day. Mainly dry in the morning, but patchy drizzle in places, becoming more widespread and persistent in the afternoon. Freshening southwesterly winds. Maximum temperature 12 °C.Tonight:Cloudy with a spell of heavy rain pushing south through late evening and the early hours, followed by some clear spells. Minimum temperature 6 °C.
