•Group of students in England
Students in England have achieved their highest A-level results in 15 years, with male students outperforming their female counterparts in the top grades for the first time in recent years.
Data from Ofqual, the exam regulator, shows that 28.2% of A-level entries in England received an A or A, up from 27.6% in 2024, while 9.4% achieved an A alone.
These are the best results outside the pandemic years since the A* grade was introduced in 2010.
Male students led with 28.4% of entries earning an A or A, compared with 28% for female students. Among 18-year-olds, 9.9% of male entries gained an A, compared with 9.1% for females.
Officials attributed the improved outcomes to a “smaller, stronger” cohort of students, with fewer low-achievers taking A-levels.
Maths remained the most popular subject, with a notable rise in entries for economics and business studies, a trend linked to career prospects and the influence of social media.
However, regional disparities deepened. London maintained its lead with 32.1% of entries earning A or A*, while the north-east lagged behind at 22.9%, the only region still below pre-pandemic levels. Education experts warn that these widening gaps require urgent attention.
Across the UK, 28.3% of entries were graded A or A*, with Wales the only nation to see a slight drop. University admissions also rose, with a record 255, 130 UK 18-year-olds securing places, up 4.7% from last year.
