Summary

  • Boys outperform girls in terms of top A-level grades for the first time in seven years across England, Wales and Northern Ireland

  • Get in touch: It's also BTec and T-level results day and we're answering your questions about clearing, resits and more - WhatsApp us, external your queries

  • Headline stats: Record numbers get their first-choice university place, top A-level results rise, while T-levels in England grow in popularity

  • Regional differences: The gap between the highest-performing region (London) and the lowest-performing region (the North East) has grown, with Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson calling grade inequalities a "national outrage"

  • 'Time to celebrate': One Belfast student tells us he's off to Red Bull's F1 team as an apprentice, while these twins in Wales look forward to being "more individual" at separate universities

  1. As results day draws to a close, the future for thousands takes shape - congratulationspublished at 17:22 British Summer Time 14 August

    Imogen James
    Live reporter, reporting from Leeds

    Parents embrace their daughter who is in between them. The girl smiles, and holds her paper. The mum faces the dad and child with her hand on the child. The dad looks emotional.Image source, PA Media

    There have been a lot of elements to today, and I bet a lot of you are glad it's over. Speaking of over, our live coverage is also drawing to a close.

    Results were released today for BTec nationals, T-levels and A-levels, as hundreds of thousands learned the outcome of their exams, prompting confetti, tears and smiles.

    Key takeaways from the stats show boys beat girls in terms of top A-level grades for the first time since 2018, the top A-level grades rose again, and there's been another increase in the number taking T-levels in England. Interest in arts subjects fell, with a rise in business and economics studies instead.

    We heard from a lot of students, including a boy celebrating securing a place at university to study music, and being cancer-free, as well as a girl who got into university while balancing her studies with being a part-time carer.

    Clearing remains open for those who missed out on the university course they want. If you didn't get what you wanted, check out our interactive guide.

    Of course, not everyone wants to go to university. Apprenticeships, gap years, and work are all options. We spoke to a zoo keeper and a celeb photographer who told us about their career paths.

    It's age old advice, but try not to stress now about what is done. I did university AND an apprenticeship, because life has so many options.

    I think I'll end with one big congratulations to all of you - now go celebrate! We'll see other students this time next week, for GCSE results. If you aren't super keen to be at the pub, here's five key takeaways complied by our education correspondent.

    Bye for now.

  2. Why we haven't been able to look so closely at Btec resultspublished at 17:15 British Summer Time 14 August

    We've taken a close look at how today's A-level and T-level results break down already, but we can't quite do the same for BTecs.

    That's because the data provided by the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) - which represents the UK's eight largest exam boards - covers the category of vocational and technical qualifications, or VTQs, more broadly, but does not provide specific information for BTecs, which are a subset of VTQs.

    A BTec, which stands for the Business and Technology Education Council, is a type practical qualification, which at Firsts level is equivalent to GCSEs, and BTec Nationals are equivalent to A-levels, counting as a level three qualification.

    JCQ-awarding organisations, which provide 90% of Ofqual-regulated VTQs, awarded just over 250,000 VTQs this year - of which 23,959 were given at the top grade.

    Business management was the most popular subject, with around 45,000 VTQs awarded, with sociology and social policy next with around 44,000, and science third with 32,000.

  3. From the classroom to the football fieldpublished at 16:52 British Summer Time 14 August

    Emily Holt
    Reporting from Manchester

    Headshot of Aisha who stands in front of a yellow wall with her arms in front of her and hands together

    Aisha is a footballer and has just signed a contract for Blackburn Rovers FC.

    She has secured a place at Manchester Metropolitan University, where she will be studying sport business.

    But she's taking a gap year first to decide if she wants to pursue football or university.

    She's waiting till the end of the day to open her results - good luck!

  4. Five key takeaways from 2025's A-level resultspublished at 16:37 British Summer Time 14 August

    Hazel Shearing
    Education correspondent

    A group of four friends open their exam results and another classmate looks on in the background. They are smiling and and have their arms around one another. The student on the far left wears thick rimmed glasses and a black hoodie over a white t-shirt, and is facing the student to his right, who is wearing headphones and a blue tracksuit. Second from the right, another student with short blonde hair and sunglasses smiles towards the camera. Furthest on the right, a student in a blue shirt wearing glasses looks away from the camera towards the rest of the groupImage source, EPA

    Just catching up? Here are five things you should know about this year's Level 3 results day.

    Top A-level grades rise again: Overall, 28.3% of A-level grades across England, Wales and Northern Ireland were marked at at A* or A - up from 27.8% last year. Wales is the only nation to have seen a drop.

    Regional gap grows in England: The gap between the highest- and lowest-performing regions in England has grown again.

    In London, 32.1% of A-level grades were marked at A* or A. In the north-east, it's 22.9%.

    Record numbers get their first choice of university: Overall, 82% of 18-year-old offer-holders woke up to the news that they'd been accepted by their first choice of university.

    A total of 226,580 got into their "firm" choice – up from 216,750 last year.

    Boys take the lead in top grades: Boys have outperformed girls at A-level for the first time since 2018.

    Of boys' grades, 28.4% were awarded an A* or A – compared to 28.2% of girls' grades.

    T-level numbers rise but dropouts remain high: A total of 11,909 students received T-level grades today – up from 7,435 last year.

    The dropout rate remains high, though – and some students take longer than the standard two-years to complete the course.

  5. Apprenticeship was a no-brainer to get a head start in my careerpublished at 16:20 British Summer Time 14 August

    Annabelle Ariyanayagam
    BBC World Service

    Annabelle sits at a large round table in front of a busy newsroom full of computer screens. There's a tv behind her where you can see the words BBC NewsImage source, Annabelle Ariyanayagam

    While it may seem like every 17- and 18-year-old in the UK is thinking about their A-level results and whether they made it into their top university choice today, many won’t be gearing up for "freshers week" or thinking about decorating their student accommodation.

    I wasn’t on my results day! My mind was on the looming first day of work in a newsroom. Instead of following what seemed to be the trend of university, I chose to do an apprenticeship.

    Throwing yourself in the deep end at 18 is becoming increasingly common in the UK. Last year, more than 280,000 people started an apprenticeship.

    For me it was a no-brainer. I wanted to move out, live in London, make money and grow my connections within media. Most of all, I wanted to have a head start in an extremely competitive industry.

    Doing the apprenticeship, I not only had a textbook education in journalism but was also able to learn the craft from the heart of a newsroom.

    University will always be there, but the opportunity to earn and learn at the same time felt too valuable to pass up.

    I’m now staff for BBC World Service. I have three years experience in the industry - and zero regrets.

  6. Did someone say free food?published at 16:04 British Summer Time 14 August

    BBC Bitesize

    A graphic showing people advertising free food deals online

    This is possibly one of the top perks of patiently waiting for those results.

    Some major restaurant chains will have offers in place on results day, but not all of them.

    Do your research first and make sure your restaurant of choice has a deal in place. But if you see something online that looks too good to be true, it probably is.

    Restaurants may also have conditions, such as minimum spend. Or, they may need you to provide ID and evidence of your results.

    Keep an eye on the official social media accounts of the big high street chains, as they may advertise these deals - and then go ahead and reward your hard work with a bit of a treat.

    BBC Bitesize has been taking a look at the facts, myths and freebies out there on this results day.

  7. Your Questions Answered

    Can I use clearing for next year?published at 15:48 British Summer Time 14 August

    Hannah Imran
    Law Student & Clearing Advisor, Kingston University

    This question was sent in to us and our panel of experts has answered.

    Clearing is only for starting a course that year, you can’t use it to secure a place for next year. If you want to apply for next year instead, you’ll need to go through the usual Ucas application process.

    BBC
  8. Rise of influencers may be behind uptake in business and economics classespublished at 15:44 British Summer Time 14 August

    Exam bosses this year say that this generation has an "entrepreneurial spirit", potentially driven by the rise of social media influencers.

    Figures this year show a rise in A-level entries for economics and business studies this year - the first time the latter has entered the top five subjects.

    Claire Thomson, executive director of regulation and compliance at the AQA exam board tells PA Media "they are clearly relevant for lots of career opportunities whether it’s finance, marketing, management".

    With money to be made on social media, she adds that "people see [influencers] making what seems like lots of money, and that idea of gaining some entrepreneurial skills so that they can go out and emulate the people that they see all the time on social media.”

    It's a theory backed up by Jill Duffy, chief executive of the OCR exam board: "We see a very entrepreneurial spirit in this generation of young people. They’ve often got side hustles going on.”

  9. 'I got my uni and that's what matters'published at 15:39 British Summer Time 14 August

    Emily Holt
    Reporting from Connell Co-op College in Manchester

    Shaheer Shafqat stands alongside another person holding results
    Image caption,

    Shaheer (right) says he got into his uni of choice and is excited to begin his studies

    Shaheer studied two BTecs: computing and applied psychology. He also took A-level media.

    "I wasn't disappointed" with results, he says. "I wasn't too happy, but I got my uni and that's all that matters."

    He’s off to Manchester Metropolitan University to study cyber security and is excited to begin his studies, but is aware of the costs.

    "The living costs are pretty high aren't they? It's worrisome.”

    Shaheer says he's expecting to work part-time jobs during university.

  10. Aspiring musician with cancer diagnosis celebrates double winpublished at 15:31 British Summer Time 14 August

    Oliver Slow
    BBC Wales News

    Dylan Griffiths wearing a black tshirt and smiling as he strums a black guitar. He appears to be sitting at the top of some stairs and in the background is a glass barrierImage source, Coleg y Cymoedd

    An aspiring musician who spent his first year of college battling cancer is celebrating securing a place at university to study music - and being cancer-free.

    Dylan Griffiths was diagnosed with stage 3 - possibly stage 4 - Hodgkin lymphona in May 2024 when he was 18, undergoing chemotherapy and steroid treatment.

    “One minute I had just played a gig with my band and then the next, I had a cancer diagnosis - it was a lot,” he said.

    He was eventually able to return to his music practitioners diploma at Coleg y Cymoedd in Nantgarw, Rhondda Cynon Taf, and will now study popular commercial music at the University of South Wales.

    He hopes to become a music producer or have success with his band.

    “It’s been a challenging but rewarding two years and it’s set me up really well for the future and pursuing my dream job,” he said.

  11. Your Questions Answered

    How do you go about getting a paper re-marked - and how long does it take?published at 15:21 British Summer Time 14 August

    Gemma Simmons-Blench
    Deputy CEO of Leeds City College

    This question comes to us from the BBC News Instagram account.

    You should contact your school or college if you would like to request a re-mark of one of your exams. Your school or college will be able to advise you on the process, as it will depend to an extent on the relevant exam board.

    In some cases, a priority review can be requested. There can also sometimes be a fee associated with a re-mark if there is no change in mark. Check this information with your school or college.

    If you do go ahead with the review and your mark changes, your new grade could be higher or lower than the original grade. After this, if you still believe that your exam has been marked incorrectly, you should speak with your school or college to ask about the possibility of a further appeal.

    BBC
  12. Your Questions Answered

    If we meet offers, do we need to do anything on the Ucas website?published at 15:16 British Summer Time 14 August

    Samantha Sykes
    Ucas advisor

    A question sent into us about uni offers, which our panel of experts has answered.

    Congratulations! You don’t need to do anything in your application, you’ll see your place is confirmed and your chosen university will send you details of what you need to do next.

    Exciting times ahead!

    BBC
  13. Your Questions Answered

    How many years can you defer university for?published at 15:12 British Summer Time 14 August

    Kate Arif
    Careers Adviser, National Careers Service

    Let's take a question sent in to us about university deferrals, which our panel of experts has answered.

    Many universities will let you defer for one year and in some cases two years - but it’s best to check with your university of choice.

    Just remember, if you contact them without a plan, they may be less interested. If you give them a detailed reason regarding what you are doing to grow yourself over that period that could help your case - this could be traveling, work experience, or dealing with family issues.

    Be prepared to answer: "why?"

    BBC
  14. Not even a wedding could keep this teacher away from results daypublished at 15:07 British Summer Time 14 August

    Emily Doughty
    Your Voice Your BBC News reporter, reporting from Middlesbrough College

    A person holding an ipad and smiling. There's someone on a video chat on the ipad also smiling while wearing heart shaped sunglasses and a blue robe
    Image caption,

    Meg Davison joined in from a wedding to see her students' results

    Meg Davison, who teaches Psychology, has been using Teams to join her students on results day.

    Beaming in from her best friend's wedding in Whitby, she tells us seeing her students' excitement has “a thousand percent” made this day better.

    “You want the closure see how they have done and see how they react to doing so well and where they go next” she says. “It’s gone really well, it’s going to make the rest of the wedding a hell of a day!”

  15. Arts A-level entries hit lowest levels in 15 years, campaign group sayspublished at 15:00 British Summer Time 14 August

    The proportion of entries in arts subjects has fallen by 31% since 2010 and is "approaching a one-third collapse", according to an analysis by the charity Campaign for the Arts.

    In a statement, the group says performing arts subjects - such as drama and music - have seen the "steepest long-term" declines. The proportion of students taking these subjects has halved in the last 15 years, the group has found.

    Some of the biggest declines were seen in dance, down 59%, drama by 53%, and music, which is down 47%.

    Art and design, by contrast, had a much smaller drop in entries - 9.4% - over the same period.

    Campaign for the Arts director Jack Gamble says that arts subjects have been "systematically underfunded and undervalued" in recent years, particularly in English state secondary schools.

    "That’s bad for young people - especially those from less privileged backgrounds, for whom opportunities at school are even more essential - but also for the health of our entire society and culture," he said.

    A line chart showing the number A-level entries in Drama, Music and Performing arts across England, Wales and Northern Ireland since 2007. In 2025, there were 8,038 entries in Drama, compared with 5,418 in Music and 1,168 in Performing arts.  All three subjects have declined in popularity since 2007.
  16. Middlesbrough College principal says poverty may be behind regional results differencespublished at 14:49 British Summer Time 14 August

    Vanessa Clarke
    Education reporter

    Zoe Lewis, principal of Middlesborough College. She has blonde hair and is wearing a pink top and smiling at the cameraImage source, BBC News
    Image caption,

    Zoe Lewis says it's her 'favourite day of the year' and students have gotten their best results yet

    “It's been fantastic, favourite day of the year,” says Zoe Lewis, principal and chief exec of Middlesbrough College.

    It’s been a really successful day at her college, she says, with students achieving their “best results yet” across A-Levels, T-Levels, apprenticeships and vocational programmes.

    Digital, construction, engineering, health and social care are key subjects at the college, Zoe says - which she believes will set students up for “great jobs and great careers” in “priority sectors”.

    But, it's a different picture in other parts of the region. Her college is in the north-east of England, which has seen the lowest proportion of students receiving As or A*s in A-Levels this year.

    Zoe says she thinks this regional trend is “probably to do with the impact of poverty”. Attendance can be a big issue and barrier to education, she says.

    So, Middlesbrough College has invested heavily in financial support and welfare services like counselling, as well as classroom support for students with Send.

    “This is making a difference - as our attendance rates are very, very high, higher than most schools, which is unusual,” Zoe says. The college has also invested in digital support for its students, after finding out that 700 of their students didn’t have access to digital devices at all at home.

    “That makes a huge difference if you’re typing an assignment, if you’re preparing for an exam,” she adds. “I think anything you can do to inhibit the impact of poverty on access to education is going to help.”

  17. Here's how to make the most of clearingpublished at 14:45 British Summer Time 14 August

    For those heading to university, you might be wondering about clearing. It's open, and you can now add your choice on Ucas.

    Here's some top tips to get the best results, according to Ucas:

    Take your time: while you should be calling universities asap, don't rush into any decision just because you feel time pressure. Weigh up your options first.

    Check with uni: this is why there's phone lines. Discuss your application thoroughly, and make sure they can accept you before you make it your choice.

    Research: take a look at your options, whether that's different courses or universities, so you can find the right fit for you.

    Patience: it's a busy day for the call handlers. Be ready to wait for a bit if the lines are preoccupied, and ensure you have all your details to hand for when you do get through to make it go smoothly.

    Relax: okay - easier said that done - but it won't help things if you're stressed. Remember, there's lots of places available.

  18. If university isn't for you, there are other optionspublished at 14:38 British Summer Time 14 August

    University isn’t for everyone. It's dominating a lot of the conversation today since it's a popular next step, but it's important to remember there are lots of routes you can take with your exam results.

    Apprenticeships are one option. This is paid employment, where your employer trains you in a certain industry and covers the cost of that training. It can be useful to go straight to work and learn in a career-based environment.

    You could also go straight into full-time employment. This has the benefits of earning your own money immediately and gaining work experience from a young age.

    Taking gap year is also on the cards - that way you can take some more time to decide what to do next, and use it to travel, work or try something different.

    A mind map with a black and white picture of students smiling in the background. In the middle it says A-level results, what now? Then it has several boxes around the middle. These say resit, appeal, apprenticeship, gap year, employment and university
  19. Some of your key questions answered - all in one placepublished at 14:35 British Summer Time 14 August

    A long thin black graphic with the words Your Voice Your BBC News in white writing

    What happens if I fail, don’t meet the grades, or do badly?

    Not getting the grades you were expecting can be disappointing, but it’s important to remember that there are plenty of options available, like Ucas clearing, alternative courses, or even exploring different career paths that might be a better fit.

    If I resit my exams, do I have to wait for next year? Or can I resit later this year?

    Resits will take place in line with A-level exams, so prepare to take resits next summer, around May or June.

    Have grade boundaries changed?

    Grade boundaries are adjusted annually to match the difficulty of that year's paper, ensuring that achieving a particular grade remains fair and consistent over time.

    If we don’t get our firm choice, is it worth ringing the university and asking anyway?

    Yes, it is worth phoning the university as it may have flexibility. Make sure to have all your details with you including your grades and Ucas details. Have a pen and paper ready and maybe a second set of ears to listen to the information.

  20. Gap between private and state school narrowspublished at 14:27 British Summer Time 14 August

    Hazel Shearing
    Education correspondent

    Private schools have a slightly lower proportion of A* and A grades this year, while top grades for state school entries have risen.

    The independent sector still has a substantial lead - 48.5% of private school entries were marked at A* or A this year, compared with 25.4% of state-funded entries.

    But that gap has narrowed by 0.8 percentage points compared with last year. It's more or less back to where it was in 2023.

    Private schools have been in the headlines this year, after the government introduced VAT on fees in January.

    The Independent Schools Council said fees were 22% higher in January 2025 than they had been in January 2024 – and backed families in a legal challenge over the policy, which was dismissed this summer.

    Barristers for the government said the aim was to raise standards in state schools by making private school parents pay “their fair share”.

    A line chart showing the percentage of A* or A grades at A-level achieved by students at state-funded and independent schools in England from 2019 to 2025. In 2025, the percentage of top grades was 48.5% at independent schools and 25.4% at state schools. The share of state and independent pupils achieving A* or A was higher in 2020 and 2021 when grades were teacher assessed during the Covid-19 pandemic.