Record number of A stars for Welsh students, while other results remain 'stable'

The total number of A level examination entries in Wales this year was over 36,000 A record number of those entries were awarded A* grades, while the proportion of those entries awarded grades A* to E on the whole has fallen.

While the number of A* grades awarded has improved, the percentage of students who have received A* - A grades for their A levels has fallen to 23.1 per cent.

While 97.3 per cent of students have achieved A* - E grades, this percentage shows a similar decrease on last year's results.

Apart from at the highest A* grade, girls continued to outperform boys in Wales, with 97.9 per cent of subject entries by girls this year gaining A*- E grades, compared to 96.6 per cent of entries by boys.

At the A* grade, the performance of boys was better than that of girls, but the UCAS board have emphasised that differences in performances of boys and girls are strongly associated with subject choice, and therefore comparative conclusions cannot be drawn except within subjects.

Today's A level results show:

• An overall pass rate of 97.3%

• An overall A*-C pass rate of 74.3.%

• An overall A* pass rate of 7.3%

The highest number of students to date will receive the Welsh Baccalaureate Diploma, with this year being the first to introduce a graded 'Core' , with results showing:

• 92.2% pass rate for the Core Certificate of the Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Diploma

• 12.2% achieved grade A*

• 29.3% achieved grade A

• 30.3% achieved grade B

• 20.4% achieved grade C

Many students across the UK will know by now whether or not they have gained entry to their desired university, but those who have missed out on the grades they were hoping for may still be able to gain entry through clearing.

Click here for a guide to the university 'clearing' process.