As our live coverage draws to a close for the day, let's re-cap the main news as thousands of students across England, Wales and Northern Ireland received A-level and vocational results.

• In England, close to 40% of A-level entries were marked down by at least one grade as part of a system to estimate results, after exams were cancelled during the coronavirus lockdown
• In Wales, the same figure rose even higher - to 42% - as an exams watchdog said grades there were "too generous"
• In Northern Ireland, more than a third of estimated grades allocated by teachers to A-level and AS level students were lowered in the final results
• But overall, 9% of entries received A* up from 7.8% in 2019
• While 27.9% were A* and A - up from 25.5% last year
• School leaders warned some lowered grades seem to be "unfair and unfathomable" as they criticised the government's handling of the results
• Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said "something has obviously gone horribly wrong with this year's exam results"
• But for those hoping to go to university, this year was expected to be a "buyer's market" with institutions showing more flexibility than ever

Thank you for joining us. You can keep up to date with more news and reaction from our education team here.

Any statistical model used to moderate exam results would produce anomalies, an Ofqual board member has said.

Ian Bauckham told BBC Radio 4's The World at One that the system was not designed in panic, despite criticism describing it as "chaotic".

Image source, Reuters

Boris Johnson has said the system for awarding grades to students who could not take exams due to the pandemic is "robust" and he still has confidence in Education Secretary Gavin Williamson.

The PM said on a visit to Belfast: "I think obviously it was going to be very difficult, in the absence of formal proper exams this year of the kind that we normally have because of the virus, we've had to put in the system we have.

"I do think it's robust and as I say, a couple of things I think are very important - first of all, more students than ever before are able to go to their university of choice, to do the course of their choice.

"And on your point about kids, pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds, more than ever before are now able to go to university, are going to university this year as a result of the grades they've got today."

Asked if he has confidence in Mr Williamson, the PM said: "Of course I do, but I think this is a robust system and it's one that is dependable for employers.

"It's very important that for years to come people should be able to look at these grades and think these are robust, these are dependable."

Many students at Wilberforce Sixth Form Academy in Hull have been frustrated by their A-level results and what they see as a confusing and unfair system to decide grades.

One told the BBC that her grades had been downgraded, which has cost her a place at university.

Today's exam results have thrown up a lot of questions.

Experts Eddie Playfair and Catherine Sezen, senior policy managers at the Association of Colleges, are on hand to answer them for you.

Megan, from Wisbech, asked:

My daughter has been home-schooled for the last three years. How, or does, she get results?

Your daughter might get results if the school or college that was going to enter her for exams had sufficient evidence (coursework for example) to give her a centre-assessed grade. If not there will be an opportunity for your daughter to take an exam in the autumn. The school or college will have more details about that.

You can see more answers to your burning questions here and you can send in a question of your own by using the form at the bottom.

Image source, Charlie Fletcher

Charlie Fletcher says "leniency" from Oxford University allowed him to take his place at one of the world's top universities after his A-level results were downgraded twice.

Mr Fletcher, from Bromley in south-east London, was awarded A*A*A by his school in maths, economics and geography.

However after standardisation he was downgraded to A*AB, falling below his conditional offer to study politics, philosophy and economics at Oxford.

"Despite this Oxford still allowed me to take my place," Mr Fletcher said.

"I know Oxford have given much more leniency this year which does suggest a lack of trust in the Ofqual system."

He says the government has "compromised on the fairness of individual grades" in order to get results that were broadly in line with previous years.

He said: "There’s been three months for the government to make decisions on the awarding of grades.

"Instead of making clear decisions far in advance, an unclear announcement was made in the 11th hour which raised more questions than it answered. This only increased the stress levels of students."

We have heard a lot of complaints about the system used to decide pupils' A-level grades.

One of those unhappy is Vicky Linsley, headteacher at Saint Mary Magdalene Academy in Islington.

She told BBC Radio 4's World at One a student had been dropped three grades in geography because of the school's past performance in the subject.

"In two of those previous years, one student has had an E grade," she said. "Now this year, we've got a much bigger cohort, more like 15 students. They were much more able on entry with their GCSE grades but because of this blunt instrument model, someone had to have an E grade so our lowest B grade has been downgraded to an E."

Ms Linsley said it had been "incredibly shocking" for the school and the student, who had found it "incomprehensible and deeply unfair".

"I think for those individual students it is just not acceptable at all," she said.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has warned England's exam regulator that it must consider the "equality impacts" of its actions in any decisions it takes concerning A-levels.

EHRC chief executive Rebecca Hilsenrath said it would consider "all our powers" to ensure those such as ethnic minority and disabled students were treated fairly by Ofqual.

She said: "The pandemic has hit the younger generation hard. Education has been particularly disrupted, with potentially life-changing consequences for young people, particularly ethnic minority and disabled children.

"Many of these children come from disadvantaged backgrounds. If we are going to build back better and not make things worse, it needs to start with our children's future."

Ofqual has said it believes that its system is "robust and fair".

Today's exam results have thrown up a lot of questions.

Experts Eddie Playfair and Catherine Sezen, senior policy managers at the Association of Colleges, are on hand to answer them for you.

Juliette, from Bristol, asked:

My daughter's year group was said to be full of very high-achieving students. With the ranking process, could this work against them?

A - The grading and ranking process in your daughter's school will have aimed to make a well-informed prediction of each candidate's likely performance. We can't pre-judge the outcomes, but once students know their final results, they will be able to ask to see their centre assessment grades.

If they have been adjusted downwards, it could be due to a combination of factors, including the previous achievement of students and the centre. This can be the subject of an appeal - including reference to any mock grades.

You can see more answers to your burning questions here and you can send in a question of your own by using the form at the bottom.

While some students will be celebrating today, other have had their teacher-predicted grades lowered, leading to disappointment and confusion.

"My future has been set back completely," says Abbi Fitzgerald.

The student at Wilberforce Sixth Form College in Hull got a Distinction* in her engineering BTec - the highest grade possible - but for her A-levels she got Ds in maths and art and an E in physics, after the results predicted by her teachers were downgraded.

"When I opened them I had a bit of a cry," she tells the BBC.

Schools submitted predicted grades to exam boards and ranked pupils based on who they thought would do best.

The exam boards then took into account data from previous years to adjust the marks, with the aim of ensuring consistency. But teachers say some lowered grades seem to be unfair.

Read more reaction from students here.

Our education editor Branwen Jeffreys explains what you can do if you feel your grades are unfair.

Image source, Tom Chandler

Tom Chandler said he was "completely shocked" when he found out he'd failed his BTEC in business studies - despite passing all the exams with good grades.

Mr Chandler, from Bexley in south-east London, said his "unclassified" mark for two years of work was "nothing like the grade I feel I should have received".

As part of his BTEC Level 3, Mr Chandler had received distinctions for his three required pieces of coursework. In the two exams he'd sat he received a merit and pass grade.

After contacting his school he was told his grade looked like it was "down to an extreme error from the board" and was told to appeal.

Mr Chandler said: "As an 18-year-old, with already enough struggles to overcome in this day and age, this sort of mistake is disgraceful and completely unacceptable.

"Luckily, I have decided to not attend university, but if I was, I would not have been accepted due to the major error of the exam board."

Mr Chandler hopes to join the police force, but this requires at least one A-level equivalent.

"If this mistake is unfixable, the aspirations I have had since a young boy will be shattered," he said.

Today's exam results have thrown up a lot of questions.

Experts Eddie Playfair and Catherine Sezen, senior policy managers at the Association of Colleges, are on hand to answer them for you.

Will having "corona grades" for exams we didn't sit undermine us when we go for jobs?

A - The system this year was designed to make sure that the class of 2020 was not disadvantaged, and to produce outcomes which are broadly similar to previous years. So we expect the national grade profile to reflect this.

This should provide reassurance for employers, universities and colleges that this year's grades have an equivalent value to those of previous years.

You can see more answers to your burning questions here and you can send in a question of your own by using the form at the bottom.

Image source, PA Media

School and college leaders have urged the government to urgently review its moderation process in England after nearly 40% of pupils' estimated A-level grades were lowered by exam boards.

The Association of Colleges (AoC) called on Education Secretary Gavin Williamson and Ofqual, England's exams watchdog, to take action to avert hundreds of colleges from having to make individual appeals.

David Hughes, AoC chief executive, said he has heard from a number of colleges where more than half of their school assessment grades have been adjusted downwards following moderation.

Image source, Cardiff City Foundation

When Heavenly Bomba, from the Democratic Republic of Congo, moved to Cardiff to be reunited with her mother, she wanted to study medicine.

But the 19-year-old could not speak English at the time.

Now, Heavenly is one of the students on the Future Pathways programme, supported by Cardiff City Football Club, who got their exam results today. The programme provides an alternative style of learning to mainstream education for those leaving secondary education.

She enrolled on a traineeship programme with Future Pathways and is now a full-time student. She is studying for a BTec level 3 extended diploma in sport, with the hope of going to university to study physiotherapy. Heavenly received a distinction today and is now going onto the second year of the course.

“Coming here has made me realise that I still have a future and that I can make the most of my education," she said. "I thought I would only be here to develop my English, but I am part of a team here. I am with people who want to help me grow in my new home.”

Today's exam results have thrown up a lot of questions.

Experts Eddie Playfair and Catherine Sezen, senior policy managers at the Association of Colleges, are on hand to answer them for you.

Abigail, from Reading, asked:

How do we appeal art where we didn't get to do our eight-week exam unit?

A - Your college or school will have based your centre assessment grade on a range of evidence they have about your work in art. Once you get your actual grade, you can also access your centre's art grade and there will be an appeal process - in art as for all other subjects.

You can see more answers to your burning questions here and you can send in a question of your own by using the form at the bottom.

BBC Radio 5 Live

Image source, Tracy

Ella Jarvis in Twickenham was driving to school with her mum Tracy when she spoke to BBC Radio 5 Live, trying to find out what options were open to her after she didn't get the grades she wanted.

Ella was predicted AAA* in her A-levels but awarded CBC. She was unable to take her mock exams earlier in the year because she had glandular fever.

She said she feels her “future has been taken away by people who don’t even know me”.

She wants to study English at university after a gap year, but now isn’t sure about her options.

“I was initially hoping to go to a Russell Group uni next year, even Oxbridge, and I have no chance of going to that now because of the grades. If I had done the exams and got these grades I would feel a lot more comfortable because at least it would’ve been me and it would’ve been me in control, but this is completely out of my hands.”

Ella said she’s now wondering whether to sit the exams later on this year.

“I have lots of work planned, I have work experience… we’re just going to see what happens today. It has put a big spanner in the works.”

Today's exam results have thrown up a lot of questions.

Experts Eddie Playfair and Catherine Sezen, senior policy managers at the Association of Colleges, are on hand to answer them for you.

Emma-Louise, from Hackney, asked:

If we're not happy with our results, can we resit Year 13?

A - You need to discuss this with the college or school you attended in 2019-20 to consider the various options open to you. Simply repeating a year is not generally recommended unless there are exceptional circumstances - but of course 2020 has been pretty exceptional!

If you have the possibility of progressing to a higher level - for example university - that might be the best option, but don't make any final decisions without getting support and advice from your college or school first.

You can see more answers to your burning questions here and you can send in a question of your own by using the form at the bottom.

Image source, PA Media

Rapper Tinie Tempah has offered cash to fans who scored top grades in their A-levels.

The Pass Out singer told those who did not do so well that it was "not the end of the world".

The 31-year-old London rapper tweeted: "Good luck to everyone getting their A-level results today."

He offered fans the chance to win £100 per A or A* if they sent him a photo of the result with proof - with the catch being that the video of his new song had to be playing in the background.

Image source, Toby Newton

Toby Newton, from Hillingdon in west London, was on track to achieve his dream of studying medicine, with predicted grades of A*A*A.

However, his plans have been put on hold after he was only awarded grades of BBC.

“It was incredibly disheartening," he told the BBC.

"I feel like the government have let us down and I'm hoping they'll reconsider the points and how they are being rewarded."

Toby now plans to appeal to see if his mock results of ABB can be used instead and is looking at the option of studying at a European university.

“I’ve always wanted to be a doctor and I still want to be a doctor so it hasn’t put me off," he added.