Twins among students celebrating A-level results

Twins Adrian and Łukasz, 18, took identical A-levels at college and have offers to study the same course, but at different universities

The proportion of top grades at A-level in Wales has remained broadly similar to last year after years of fluctuations following the Covid-19 pandemic.

The number of A* grades rose slightly to 10.5%, while 29.5% of results were A or A*, compared with 29.9% in 2024.

Extra measures to support students after the pandemic have been gradually dropped as part of a return to "normal" arrangements.

Twins Adrian and Łukasz Koman, from Newport, both got the results they wanted, before they separate for the first time to go to university.

Congratulating students on their results, Wales' Education Secretary Lynne Neagle said she would "continue to work on raising educational standards and ensure every young person has the support they need to achieve their goals".

Results for the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales and some vocational qualifications, including BTecs, were also released on Thursday.

Many students will need confirmation of grades to secure university offers and will be able to get updated information about their places.

The total number of A-level examination entries in Wales this year was 31,791, a decrease of 1.4% from 2024.

At A-level, maths remains the most popular subject, while there has been an overall mixed entry pattern in most subjects compared with 2024, with the largest reduction in entries for business (182 fewer than last year), computing (87 fewer) and psychology (195 fewer).

However, biology (77 more) and physics (129 more) have seen an increase in entries.

In Wales, the overall pass rate for males and females was broadly similar with 96.9% of subject entries by males achieving A* to E grades, compared with 97.9% of entries by females.

However, females continued to outperform males at most grade points, for A* to A by 0.6 percentage points and A* to C by 4.8 percentage points, although males outperformed females by 1.2 percentage points at A*.

"Results are a big milestone in learners' lives, and many of you will be looking forward to your next steps - whether than be to work, an apprenticeship or higher education," said Philip Blaker, chief executive of Qualifications Wales.

A-level students started to receive their results on Thursday morning

Speaking to the BBC at Cardiff and Vale College, identical twins Adrian and Łukasz Koman from Newport have always had similar interests - taking the same A-level subjects and studying together for exams.

Both took maths, further maths, computer science and physics. They got the grades they needed, but will be separating for the first time as they both go their first-choice university.

Both have been offered places to study electronics and electrical engineering - Adrian at Bristol University and Łukasz a short distance away at Bath University.

Łukasz got one A* and two As and Adrian got two A*s and one A, but they insisted there was "no rivalry" and they helped each other study.

"I am just so excited and happy to go to the uni I want," Łukasz said.

"We spend a lot of time together since we've shared the same room for all our lives pretty much. It's nice to go out there and be a bit more individual," said Łukasz.

Adrian said he was "so happy" to have his first choice and he thinks university will be "the time of our lives".

Adrian also said the exams were "stressful".

"We were studying the same things so at least we had each other to help out on what we didn't know and what we didn't understand sometimes."

Meghan Cotty will study law with business at the University of Birmingham

Meghan Cotty, 18, from Caerphilly, balanced her studies alongside being a carer and working part time.

Alongside her mum, she helps care for her brother, who has learning difficulties.

"It's taken a lot of work and patience but I'm so glad it paid off," she said, adding support from her family and college had been "really helpful".

She got two A*s and a B and is going to the University of Birmingham to study law with business.

"I want to be a solicitor so it's a stepping stone to get that," she said.

"I am just so glad my hard work paid off."

Viktoriia Tkackenko, 20 came to the UK after Russia invaded her home country of Ukraine.

She has today received her A-level results after three years of studying at Cardiff and Vale College, and is now off to Swansea University to study history and politics.

She said she was "so happy" with her achievement.

After disruption to exams due to Covid, lasting until 2024 when all extra support measures were dropped, Qualifications Wales kept a "safety net" when setting grade boundaries if performance in a subject was far lower than pre-pandemic levels.

Before results were released the head of Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (Ucas) said a record number of 18-year-olds were likely to get in to their first choice of university this year, even if they narrowly missed their grades.

Dr Jo Saxton said universities were keen to enrol UK undergraduates because there was more "uncertainty" around international student numbers.

The clearing process, offering places on courses which still have space, is also available for students who do not get their grades or who change their minds.

The latest Ucas data said 32.5% of Welsh 18-year-olds had applied to university by the end of June, compared with 41.2% across the UK.

There has been a 5.3% increase in the number of 18-year-olds from the most deprived areas in Wales gaining university places, according to Ucas.

Ngaire has an unconditional university offer but is looking forward to celebrating with friends on results day

Some BTec students have also got confirmation of their final results.

Ngaire Gape, 19, from Cardiff, already has a clear idea of how she has done in her art and design BTec, and has secured a place to study performance design at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.

She said she enjoyed studying the more practical, coursework-based qualification.

"I've really thrived with being able to do a BTec and it's let me explore things that I don't think I would have if I'd stayed on in school," Ngaire said.

She said she was now looking forward to her degree which would include working on set costumes, props and puppetry.

On a pre-results day visit to engineering and manufacturing company Boccard on Deeside, Wales' Skills Minister Jack Sargeant spoke to apprentices about other education routes.

Beau Tattersall, 19, said he started his apprenticeship "with no experience at all".

"I've been learning to weld and fabricate and everything I need to do in a workshop.

"I did two years in college back in Pembrokeshire but I decided I wanted to be earning and learning at the same time so that's why I went for apprenticeship. It's going really well," he said.

Apprentice Laurence Coleman says through "trial and error" he has found a job he loves

Laurence Coleman, 20, said there had already been "a few stressful moments" in his career so far.

"This wasn't actually my first option... but I came through and ended up signing up in college. You've got to have an open mind to it all."

Careers Wales said there were plenty of options available to young people who may be unsure about what to do next.

Adviser Catrin Owen said alternatives to university were to "take a break, go into work or you can look at things like apprenticeships".

She added: "We are seeing more higher level apprenticeships now - degree-level apprenticeships, which are great options for some young people.

"It's really important that you sit down with a professional who can go through everything with you to make sure you're making the best decision that suits you."

Natash Asghar, Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Education, blamed Welsh Labour for top results falling in Wales but increasing elsewhere in the UK, calling it a "bitter disappointment".

Plaid Cymru's Cefin Campbell congratulated students on their hard work and results.

"The success seen across Wales is a testament to the hard work of students and their teachers," he said.

Additional reporting by Oliver Slow