As it happened: Top A-level results fall but university admissions near record

1. Top grades for A-level results for England, Wales and Northern Ireland have fallen since last year – with 36.4% of all grades marked at A* or A
2. But the percentage is still higher than 2019 – the last time results were based on students taking exams
3. Grades have been purposefully lowered from levels seen in 2020 and 2021 - when students were assessed by teachers due to the pandemic
4. Students have also received their T-level results for the first time ever - the overall pass rate was 92%
5. These technical qualifications are each broadly equivalent to three A-levels, and involve a mix of classroom learning and industry placements
6. More than 425,000 students have got a place in university or college - the second highest number on record - Ucas figures show
7. A return to in-person exams sees 19% more 18-year-olds accepted into their first or insurance choice than in 2019

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EPA

It's been a big day for teenagers receiving their results and working out their next steps.

Here's a quick look back at what happened:

• Top grades for A-level results for England, Wales and Northern Ireland have fallen since last year – with 36.4% of all grades marked at A* or A
• The lowering was deliberate, after grades were handed out by teachers for two years due to the coronavirus pandemic, which led to a boom in top marks
• But the 2022 grades were higher than in 2019, the last time students sat A-levels in person
• More than 425,000 students have been offered a university or college place: a near-record high
• Labour has called attention to regional disparities in the awarding of top grades; the government insists the "attainment gap" is closing year on year but says more work is needed
• Those needing to use the Ucas clearing system to bag a last-minute higher education place have been urged: "don't dither"
• Some students are still waiting for BTec grades; awarding body Pearson says a "small percentage" of results have been delayed
• Ucas (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) told students affected by delays not to panic, saying their offers would be held to ensure they have time to get their grades confirmed
• The first T-level grades have been revealed for those taking new technical qualifications, with an overall pass rate of 92%

Today's coverage was brought to you by Vanessa Clarke, George Crafer, Alys Davies, James FitzGerald, Marita Moloney and Nathan Standley. The page was edited by Alice Cuddy and Chris Giles.

‘You can still get where you want to be without top choice university'

Alexandra Offer

For those that did not get the grades they wanted, results day can be tough.

“I know right now it probably feels like the end of the world, but it really isn't," says 22-year old Alexandra Offer.

She didn't get into her first choice university on results day.

"Leeds was my firm [favourite], and they had rejected me. I rang them up and asked if there was any way I could get in and they said: no sorry," she recalls.

She went to Cardiff University instead.

"I've absolutely loved it, I wouldn't change it for a thing. Everything happens for a reason and obviously Cardiff was the place for me to go," she says.

She is now about to finish her Masters degree and is starting a job as Executive Search Consultant.

"I'm literally a prime example of [how] you can still be successful and get to where you want to be."

Ucas tells students waiting for results not to panic

Nathan Standley

Education reporter

We've been hearing how some BTec and CTec students have had their results delayed - leaving some worried that their university place might be hanging in the balance.

But Ucas has sought to reassure those students that their offers will be held to ensure that they have time to get their grades confirmed.

Although some might be concerned about clearing places being taken up, the admission service adds that "the important thing is not to panic".

“Students may find they are awaiting their examination results for many reasons, and not all qualifications are awarded on JCQ results day," a spokesman told us.

"Universities are used to managing this in their processes, and we are working with awarding bodies to ensure all students can receive a decision on their application.

"Ucas advises that universities hold offers until 7th September, so any student that has yet to receive their qualification results has time to meet this. Students are also free to start their clearing research should they wish," he added.

Some regions worse-hit by falling grades - Labour

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Shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson accuses the Tories of failing young people

Labour is warning that some parts of England have witnessed more of a drop in students getting top grades than others.

Nationally, there was a fall of 8.4 percentage points in pupils getting A* or A grades compared to 2021 - when pupils were assessed by their teachers due to the pandemic.

Some 36% of A-level entries gained marks in those top categories this year - up from 25.4% in 2019.

But the fall was sharper for students in the North East, Yorkshire and Humber, and the East Midlands, than for those in London and the South East, Labour analysis of the data shows.

"These inequalities reveal the Conservatives’ continued failure to enable all young people to thrive post-pandemic," said the party's shadow education secretary, Bridget Phillipson.

Education Minister Will Quince told BBC Radio 4's World at One programme that the attainment gap was narrowing year on year, but that more work could be done.

Exam boards respond to delays

Two exam boards - Pearson and OCR - have told us they are working to resolve delays in some BTec and CTec results being returned to students.

Students and their families have said they are concerned that without these final grades, their university places can't be confirmed - all as more and more clearing places are taken up by other students.

Both exam boards have been responding on social media asking students to contact them privately so they can "review and advise" them as quickly as possible.

Pearson have also recommended affected students should call them on 0345 618 0440.

Number of top grades in Northern Ireland falls from 2021

The number of top A* and A grades awarded in Northern Ireland has fallen from last year.

But the proportion of top grades is much higher than in 2019 - the last time when results were based on exams.

About 44% of A-level entries have been awarded A* or A grades this year, compared to a record 51% in 2021.

In 2019, when exams were last held in person, just over 30% of entries were awarded the top two grades.

You can read more about Northern Ireland's results here.

BBC

What are the top A-level trends?

Earlier we told you that English Literature has dropped out of the top 10 most popular A-levels this year.

Here are some other key trends reported by the Press Association:

• Boys have re-taken the lead over girls in top grades for maths, after more female students gained the best results in the subject for the first time last year
• More girls studied political studies than boys for first time, but the subject is becoming increasingly popular among all students
• Computing still has the biggest gender imbalance - with boys making up 85% of entries once more
• Entries for music and drama rose, continuing last year's trend after decades of declining numbers
• More people studied Spanish than French once again, with Spanish remaining the most popular language A-level

WATCH: AQA students ‘let down’ by exam board

A-level results: AQA students ‘let down’ by exam board

It's been a day of celebrations for thousands of A-level students, but some are feeling “let down” after they were given the wrong advance information.

In England, students were given additional detail this year due to disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. However, an AQA A-level law exam included topics students were not expecting.

A spokesperson for AQA admitted the issues made the exam “more challenging” for students, but said grade boundaries for the affected paper were lowered.

However, some students at Outwood Post-16 Centre in Workshop, Nottinghamshire, said it made them “lose all composure” during the exam.

'I wasn’t expecting that at all'

Shaun Da Costa

Newsbeat Reporter

BBC

Lana Cardo, 17, is studying a T-level in Health Assistant Adult Nursing at The Manchester College.

In her first year of T-levels, which are two-year courses equivalent to three A levels, she got an A*, A and B.

“I was really happy when I got them, I wasn’t expecting that at all,” she told BBC Newsbeat.

Lana described the course as “a really in depth course in terms of theory and practical”.

We have done placements within a hospital which have been really insightful into the workforce and healthcare sector. And a lot of the theory has been based on legislation and other healthcare which has been really good.”

Lana will be applying to university later this year and said she was hoping to go to Manchester or Salford.

92% of T-level students achieved a pass or above

The first students to take T-levels have been receiving their results - 1,029 pupils have completed courses in education and childcare; design, surveying and planning; and digital production.

92% of students achieved a pass or above - and 370, or 71%, of those who applied for a university course have so far been successful.

The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education says others have already secured an apprenticeship or a job.

You can find out more on this story here:

First T-level students receive their results in England

BTec delays reported by multiple exam boards

Nathan Standley

Education reporter

It's not just Pearson affected by today's delays in BTec results.

Exams board OCR has also apologised to students still waiting for their Cambridge Technicals (C-Tec) grades - the OCR equivalents of BTecs.

Dad David Callow told us his daughter had received her A-level results - but her university place studying paramedic science won't be confirmed until she gets her C-Tec results in health and social care.

"She's desperately wanted to be a paramedic for years, she's really been throwing herself into it, and now she's sat here with the exam board failing to do the basics," he said.

"She's got friends out celebrating, knowing that they're definitely going to university, and she doesn't."

He said they were also worried that more and more clearing courses are being taken up "by the hour" as the wait continues.

An OCR spokesperson said: “While most results were delivered on time, we are sorry for a delay in issuing Cambridge Technicals for some students."

"In these exceptional cases, we are working with schools and colleges to deliver results as soon as possible and to keep Ucas informed where results are needed for university offers. We will provide regular updates to those affected," they added.

Why the grade gap matters

Hazel Shearing

Education correspondent

As we reported, 58% of private school candidates in England got A* and A grades at A-level, compared with 30.7% of comprehensive school pupils.

Fee-paying schools did particularly well last year when teachers' assessments were used for A-level grades. Some 70.4% of private school pupils got the top two grades, compared with just 39.4% of comprehensive schools.

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While this year's percentage-point gap is narrower, it's still significant.

And it matters because those pupils with top grades will be the ones competing for courses at the most academically selective universities.

Not all pupils got the same help when schools closed during lockdowns and they had to learn remotely – which disrupted Year 11 and Year 12 for pupils getting their results today.

Some schools were better able to provide laptops to pupils for remote learning. Their pupils may have had more access to computers and to the internet at home, or more physical space in which to learn.

It was not the same story for everyone.

Lady Louise Windsor among those who received grades

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Lady Louise was pictured at the Commonwealth Games earlier this month

A-level results day is an anxious occasion, whoever you are.

One of those who got her grades today was the Queen's granddaughter, Lady Louise Windsor.

Buckingham Palace didn't reveal what her results were but says she'll now attend the University of St Andrews to study English.

It's one of the country's top universities, with standard entry grades set at AAA and minimum entry grades of ABB for the English MA.

Lady Louise will follow in the footsteps of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who met at the university in Fife, Scotland, when Kate was studying history of art and William was reading geography.

In pictures: Emotions running high for students

As we've been reporting, hundreds of thousands of students have been receiving their A-level results today.

They all sat their exams this summer for the first time since the coronavirus outbreak.

Education Secretary James Cleverly has paid tribute to the "resilience and hard work" shown by students who "experienced unprecedented disruption over the last couple of years".

PA Media

There were lots of happy faces among this group of students at Norwich School today

Reuters

Genevieve Boateng and her teacher, Sharna-Kay Prehay, share a hug at Harris City Academy in Crystal Palace, London

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Sarim Rafique smiles with his mum after he receives his A-level results at Ffynone House School in Swansea

PA Media

Atlanta Watson (centre) reacts after opening her A-level results at Lagan College, Belfast

PA Media

Twin sisters Elena and Rosa Launder received identical top results in Somerset, but are heading to different universities

What if results day is affecting my mental health?

Getting your grades can be really tough.

If you feel like it's impacting your mental health today, there are plenty of helpful resources you can access.

Amid rising levels of anxiety in the run up to results day, Childline said it had seen large numbers of students receiving counselling for concerns about their grades.

Childline's advice for anyone who may not have achieved the results they wanted is:

• Ask a teacher or any adult you trust what they think and discuss your options and how you are feeling
• Remind yourself of what you did well in whether that be specific pieces of coursework, or other parts of your life
• Don’t compare yourself to your friends

• Look at other courses or training programmes and apprenticeships that you can do

You can call Childline for free on 0800 1111 or contact them via their website.

Other sources of support include:

• Mind - call on 0300 123 3393 or visit their website here
• YoungMinds - call on 0808 802 5544 or visit their website here

And you can find plenty more help via BBC Action Line.

'I've managed to pull it out the bag'

BBC

Telford College students Jag, Poppy and Kyra with their friend Abi Taras (second from right)

Poppy Akiti from Telford College in Shropshire got triple distinctions in their BTecs this morning.

They are going to Birmingham City University to study law with the dream of becoming a civil rights solicitor.

"Family life and background made me want to take it as a career path," Poppy said.

"I have seen people be treated not nicely, so I'd rather help people who are having this treatment and hopefully make everyone proud - including my teachers."

Jag Uppal, meanwhile, got a distinction and two merits - the grades he needed to get into Birmingham City University to study cyber security.

"I'm pretty over the moon to be honest," he said.

"I was not expecting this at all. I don't know how I've done this [but] I've managed to pull it out the bag."

How many people got their first choice university place?

If you're wondering how many people got their first choice university place this year, here are some figures from Ucas, the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service:

• In 2022, 65.3% of students received their first choice university
• In 2021 it was 72.7%
• In 2019 it was 64.2%

This shows a reduction in the number of students getting their first choice of university this year compared with last year, but an increase of 1.1 percentage points when compared with 2019 - the last time pupils sat exams.

Some BTec students still waiting for grades after results delay

Some students who were expecting their BTec results today are still nervously waiting for their grades after a delay in results coming in.

One mum of twin girls in Tameside, Greater Manchester, told the BBC there were a number of missing BTec results at her daughters' college.

Qualifications board Pearson confirmed there had been issues, but said the delayed results accounted for only a "very small percentage" of the grades being awarded today.

But the Tameside mum told the BBC her daughters were "stressed" not knowing whether they have their places at Huddersfield University or not.

"They didn’t get to do GCSEs because of Covid, didn’t get to have a prom. Now this, it’s a joke," she said.

A spokesperson for Pearson said they were aware that "a very small percentage of BTec students are experiencing a delay in receiving their results".

"BTecs are a modular qualification and in order for us to award an overall grade, we require unit grades to be provided for each module studied. Where unit information is missing, we are working closely with schools and colleges to resolve this and provide any outstanding results as soon as we can," the spokesperson added.

Biggest day of the year for Ucas clearing staff

Navtej Johal

BBC News Midlands correspondent

BBC

It's the busiest day of the year here at Ucas headquarters in Cheltenham.

The people behind me have been on the phone since about 08:00. They’ve been dealing with enquiries from loads of students - loads of people concerned about what to do next.

There are 270 staff here dealing with enquiries from roughly 20,000 people. It's the day they trained for, the day they look forward to. One member of staff described it to me earlier as their Christmas Day.

The advice coming from them time and time again is to remain optimistic, whatever's happened. Remain flexible. There are 27,000 courses available via clearing.

If you didn’t get the results you’ve wanted, or if you've done better than you expected, there are lots of options there for you.

Three things to do if your grades aren't what you wanted

Ellie Cleverley

Newsbeat Reporter

You've opened the envelope or email containing your A-level, BTec or T-level results and they're not what you expected.

Don't panic - there are things you can do next.

1. Double check

It's always worth double checking with your university if you can still attend, despite not getting the grades you needed.

2. Clearing

If you applied for university but just missed the mark, some universities may still have a place for you thanks to clearing.

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So, if you still want to go to university, visit the Ucas website to see the universities that have available places.

Find a university you like? As soon as you can, phone the admissions contact number for the university which you applied for. Tell them the grades you got and see if they will allow you to enrol as a student.

3. Appealing or re-sitting

If clearing doesn't work out and you think your grades are incorrect, you could potentially appeal your exam results and pay to have your papers remarked. This needs to be done as soon as possible so don't wait around!