'Stable and strong performance' from NI A-Level students

Students in Northern Ireland have continued to perform well in both AS and A-Level exams however the gender gap is widening with girls outperforming boys across the grades.

In Northern Ireland, 98.2% of A-Level entries achieved the pass grades A*-E, a slight decrease from 2017.

Almost one in three entries (30.4%) in Northern Ireland achieved the top A* and A grades, the same as the previous year.

For the first time since the A* was introduced, males performed better than females by 0.4%.

Mathematics continued to be the most popular A-level, accounting for 1 in 10 entries, closely followed by Biology, Religious Studies, English Literature and History.

At AS Level, outcomes have also remained stable with 95.1% of candidates achieving A-E grade however there was a 4% decline in Northern Ireland entries.

Commenting on the release of the summer GCE results, Justin Edwards, Chief Executive of examining body CCEA said: “Today’s A level examination results are a testament to the hard work of students. I congratulate them all and wish them the very best for their future.

He continued: "Once again, Northern Ireland’s students have performed well, with a steady and strong performance across all grades. The results are also recognition of the dedication and support provided by teachers and schools."

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