A* passes reach all-time high in Wales on A-level results day

A-level students in Wales have received more A* passes than ever before.

The results put Wales first for A* grades compared to the English regions and Northern Ireland.

25.5% of pupils UK-wide taking A-levels were awarded an A or A* grade this summer, the lowest proportion since 2007 when it was 25.3%.

Students from Coleg y Cymoedd achieved an overall pass rate of 97% for A2 with 63% of learners achieving A*-C. Credit: ITV Wales

The number of top grades earned has also increased by the highest amount yet, with A*-A passes rising by nearly 1% from 2018.

Grades A*-C remained stable with the overall pass rate of 76.3% still at the highest level since 2009.

Education Minister Kirsty Williams AM praised the results.

Among the core subjects, Maths has the highest pass rate at A\*\-A, with 45.2% achieving those grades.

Results are also stable at AS-level, with 20.3% awarded an A grade and 90.0% achieving grades A-E.

The highest A-level result was an A until 2010, when A* grades were first introduced.