A-level results have been released today after students sat the first external exams since 2019 this summer.
They show that in Wales 40.9 per cent of entries achieved the top grades of A* or A - and that the A-level A*-C pass rate in Wales hit 85.3 per cent. In England, the A*-C pass rate for A-level this year was 82.1 per cent and in Northern Ireland, it was 89.5 per cent.
Ahead of the results being released, watchdog Qualifications Wales said it would require exam board WJEC to award grades so that they were “broadly midway between 2019 and 2021”; today it said that goal had been achieved. Last year the A*-C pass rate in Wales was 89.2 per cent and in 2019, the last time external exams were held, it was 76.3 per cent.
The proportion of entries obtaining an A* at A level this year in Wales was 17.1 per cent - as compared to 21.3 per cent last year, and 8.9 per cent in 2019.
All maintained schools in Wales run the WJEC’s exams. But this year the exams did not go as smoothly as hoped and the board came under fire after an error in an English A level and complaints that some maths papers were too hard.
Qualifications Wales and WJEC sought to reassure students saying grade boundaries would be adjusted if papers were found to be pitched at the wrong level or if it became apparent students had been disadvantaged.
This year, the A*-C pass rate for English language and literature A level, which had errors in the question paper, was 84.1 per cent, compared to 86.3 per cent last year and 76.5 per cent in 2019. A total of 26.3 per cent of entries attained an A* or A, compared to 33.5 per cent last year and 14.8 per cent in 2019.
For the maths A level, the A*-C pass rate was 84.3 per cent, compared to 88.5 per cent last year and 76.6 per cent in 2019. Meanwhile, well over half of those sitting the exam in Wales obtained an A* or an A: 57.7 per cent this year, compared to 63.4 per cent last year and 45.2 per cent in 2019.
The minister for education and Welsh language, Jeremy Miles, has congratulated learners across Wales who were also receiving AS, Welsh baccalaureate and vocational results this morning.
He said it had been ”a challenging couple of years” and that today was the reward for all the hard work students had put in.
He added: “A record number of young people from Wales will be going to university this year and have an exciting time ahead.
“For anyone who didn’t quite get the results you wanted, or you’re unsure of your next steps, my key message is don’t be too disappointed and don’t be too hard on yourself. There are a wide range of options open to you, including university clearing, apprenticeships, and even starting your own business. Careers Wales is a great place to start for advice and your school or college will be there to support you, too.
“Our Young Person’s Guarantee provides everyone under the age of 25 with the opportunity to enrol in education or training, find work or become self-employed, so be assured you have lots of choices in pursuing the career you want.
“I hope that everyone receiving your results today takes time to congratulate yourself, enjoy the rest of the summer and look forward to the exciting opportunities you have ahead of you.”
This year, qualifications in Wales were adapted to give learners extra support and address the loss of teaching and learning time caused by the pandemic. Qualifications Wales also announced that exams would be graded more generously this year to recognise that learners have had the most extraordinary two years leading up to their exams.
Today, the body said, as intended, this year’s results are broadly midway between the results in 2019, when exams were last held, and the results in 2021, when teachers determined learners’ grades.
This year’s GCSE results will be announced next Thursday, 25 August.
