More than 10,000 pupils in Wales receive A-level results on 13 August
The proportion achieving the top grades is at its highest level since being brought in five years ago
A total of 7.3% of students got A* grades - up from 6.7% but still short of the UK average of 8.2%
Overall pass rate fell from 97.5% to 97.3% and Wales is lower than Northern Ireland, England and any of its regions
Boys performed better than girls at gaining an A* but girls continue to outperform boys for A*- E grades
Education Minister Huw Lewis called the results "another strong performance in Wales"
Here is how the pass rates compare for England, Wales and Northern Ireland
(Figure in brackets is change in percentage points on 2014)
Overall pass rate (A*-E):
England: 98.1% (-0.1)
Wales: 97.3% (-0.2)
Northern Ireland: 98.2% (+0.1)
Top grades (A* and A)
England: 25.9% (-0.1)
Wales: 23.1% (-0.2)
Northern Ireland: 29.3% (-0.6)
Universities offering clearing assistance
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First Minister's message to students
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Clearing continues at Cardiff University
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In north Wales, pupils at Ysgol Emrys ap Iwan, Abergele, celebrate A-level results which the school said are a “significant improvement” on last year
Image source, Ysgol Emrys ap IwanQuote MessageThis is an exceptionally good set of results and everyone concerned can be justifiably proud
Lee Cummins, Head teacher, Ysgol Emrys ap Iwan
Students at Coleg Sir Gâr in LLanelli, Carmarthenshire, are celebrating their A-level results.
The percentage of A* to E grades hit 99%, with a record 28 out of 32 subjects posting a 100% pass rate.
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Students at Coleg Cambria, Wrexham, received their results by email at 06:00 BST - the first time the college has done this.
Image source, bbcQuote MessageWe sent out over 1,000 emails. Only seven bounced and one of those we managed to sort. We've also been busy correcting a few mistakes - the exam boards do get it wrong sometimes, but they've been very good at sorting it out.
Felicity Williams
Plaid calls to 'break the link' between results and poverty
Plaid Cymru welcomes improvements in top grades, but is concerned the pass rate for Wales is still below that for any region of England and of Northern Ireland.
AM Bethan Jenkins, who sits on the assembly's education committee, said Plaid Cymru would "focus on breaking the link between poor educational attainment and economic poverty".
She added that students need to take qualifications "relevant and valued wherever in the world they subsequently choose to work and study".
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Welshpool High School, in Powys, reacts to results
Quote MessageI would like to congratulate all of our students for their achievements, which illustrate their hard work and the dedicated support of the teaching staff. There were several excellent individual performances.
Jim Toal, Head teacher
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Reaction
The pass rate in Pembrokeshire was 98.8% with 21.8*% of pupils gaining A* and A grades.
Quote MessageIt is pleasing that a significant number of our young people have been successful at such a demanding level and the majority of these students will now be able to progress to their higher education and degree courses.
Kate Evan-Hughes, Director for children and schools, Pembrokeshire council
Many students receiving results digitally
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We featured him earlier. Oxford-bound Andrew Williams celebrates his A-level results
Image source, Coleg y CymoeddAssociation of Teachers and Lecturers reaction
Quote MessageAs the UK results have remained static this is one performance gap that we are definitely closing. We are obviously getting some things right but there are still some lessons for us to learn.
Philip Dixon, ATL Cymru director
National Union of Teachers reaction
Quote MessageYear on year Welsh students and teachers have delivered fantastic results. However, we are seeing significant challenges to school budgets which will put pressure on schools in ways that we have potentially not seen in Wales in the past. There will inevitably have to be questions asked if these excellent results can be maintained against this funding gap.
Owen Hathway, NUT Cymru policy officer
Students prepare to join university
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Minister's vow to improve results further
Image source, Welsh GovernmentMore from Education Minister Huw Lewis, who's been congratulating students at Bassaleg School, Newport, on their A-level results.
"This year we're seeing around 16,000 young people from Wales having the doors opened for them for a career at university," he told BBC Wales.
"That's up on last year - a signal to my mind that the forward momentum within the Welsh schools system continues."
Mr Lewis admitted there were "small ups and downs year on year" but "one undeniable trend" was the number of young people from Wales "hitting the very highest levels of achievement".
Though he is "very proud of individual stories of achievement", the minister said he was "never satisfied", adding that "we need to move forward next year".
Arwyn Jones
BBC Wales Education Correspondent
Education Minister Huw Lewis praised the "high outcomes" for key subjects such as maths, further maths, and French.
But it is a bit of a mixed bag when it comes to the Stem subjects (science, technology, engineering and maths).
Fewer pupils sat the biology exam, and the proportion gaining the top grades (A and A*) fell from 24.3% last year to 23.9% this year. Having said that, more pupils got an A*, up from 5.9% to 8.3% this year.
Read more analysis here.
School reaction
Quote MessageOur students have performed well this year and we are all extremely proud of them. So many have achieved their expectations which creates wonderful opportunities for their next steps in life.
Jane Asplin, Headteacher, Llandrindod High School