The percentage of A-level students getting A and A* grade in Wales has risen this year while the overall pass rate has fallen slightly.
The proportion of students getting A* or A grades rose from 22.9% last year to 23.3% this year.
The number of pupils who gained A* to E grades fell slightly from 97.6% to 97.5%.
Education and Skills Minister Huw Lewis has praised students in Wales for a strong set of A-level and Welsh Baccalaureate results.
Joining students picking up their results at Gower College Swansea Huw Lewis said: “The A-level pass rate in Wales remains high and that’s something we should all be welcoming. Once again our students have done us proud. They have worked incredibly hard with the support of their teachers and their parents. They should be commended and their achievements celebrated.
“I was very pleased to see the progress our students are making in achieving the higher grades, particularly in key subjects such as physics, history and chemistry which all showed improved A* to A pass rates compared to last year.
“Our performance at A* to C for mathematics, chemistry and history also compares favourably with other parts of the UK and performance at English at A* to C has made great strides.
“These subjects are important for our economy and will stand students in good stead for the future.
“This year’s Welsh Baccalaureate results are also great news for our learners. This qualification gives them the essential skills and experiences they need to be better prepared for the next stage of their life, whether they decide to go on to university or work. The Welsh Bac also gives our young people that all-important edge that our universities and employers are looking for – it’s a unique qualification for Welsh learners and it’s going from strength to strength.”
The Minister also welcomed news that Oxford University has offered more Welsh students places this year than in the past four years, with a total of 86 offers.
“I’m delighted with these figures”, the Minister added. “It’s clear that the excellent work of our Oxbridge Ambassador, Paul Murphy, has already gone some way in encouraging Welsh students to apply.”
The A and AS level results for Wales
- 97.5% of A-level entries resulted in a pass
- 75.2% of A-level entries resulted in a pass at grade A* to C
- 85.7% of AS entries resulted in a pass
- 23.3% of A-level entries resulted in a pass at grade A* to A
The Welsh Baccalaureate results
- 10,666 learners completed Advanced level Welsh Baccalaureate programmes this year;
- 9,856 learners (92.4% of those who completed the programme) achieved the Core certificate of the Advanced level Welsh Baccalaureate. An increase of 4 percentage points on last year); and
- 9,288 learners (87.1% of those who completed the programme) have achieved both the Core certificate and the options requirements and have been awarded the full Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Diploma. An increase of 4.4 percentage points on last year.
Mr Lewis added: “Next year will see the first graded outcomes for the Advanced level Welsh Baccalaureate – which follows an early recommendation from the Review of Qualifications led by Huw Evans, OBE. The Review’s final report made a number of further recommendations for the Bac – we accepted those recommendations. We will build on the strengths of the current Bac, including a renewed focus on developing skills and introducing grading at all of its levels.
“Our current Bac has ensured that thousands of Welsh learners are equipped with the skills we know universities and employers are looking for. The revised model will build on this success to prepare our learners for life in the 21st century.”
Results from across Caerphilly County Borough will follow shortly.