Boys outperform girls for top grades again
Boys have outperformed girls in terms of top grades again, after doing so for the first time in seven years last year.
Overall, 28.9% of boys’ A-level entries scored an A* or A this summer, compared to 28.0% of their female classmates’ entries – a gap of 0.9 percentage points.
The gap between the proportion of boys and girls achieving A* and A grades in England widened in 2026The gap between the proportion of boys and girls achieving A* and A grades in England widened in 2026
There were 72,619 boys’ entries for A-level maths this year, making up 63% of entries, compared to 42,761 for girls’ (37%).
Economics has also seen a leap in popularity this year. It is now the fifth most popular subject for students, climbing up from 10th in 2025. In total, there were more than 47,000 UK entries for economics.
“Maths is the obvious one that we’ve talked about already, further maths is another one, economics, law,” head of exams regulator Ofqual Ian Bauckham told PA of the England data.
“These are all subjects that have a very strong either vocational flavour or are proven to be linked to higher earning potential, and in students’ minds will be associated with the trends that we’re seeing in the economy.
“So, I do think it’s plausible to suggest that those considerations are, for most, in students’ minds.”
Key events
Prime minister Andy Burnham offered his congratulations to A-level students this morning.
He said:
double quotation markI want to congratulate everyone receiving their results today. I know there will have been a mix of excitement, nerves and relief this morning, but you should all be proud of the hard work that got you here.
It’s brilliant to see more students succeeding in T-levels, more taking maths and Stem subjects, and more young people progressing to the next stage of their education or training.
The talent is there in every town and city in this country. Our task is to match that talent with opportunity, whether that’s through university, an apprenticeship or a technical pathway that leads to a great career. That’s how we’ll build a stronger Britain, restore hope and ensure every young person can look to the future with confidence.
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Richard Adams
This year’s top 10 most chosen subjects is once again the same as last year– but there has been some movement.
Once again, maths has dominated – with more than 214,000 students taking the subject (and that’s not including 46,462 further maths entries!)
Economics has shot up the rankings to become the fifth most popular subject, overtaking sociology, physics and business. History was also a big winner, rising three places to become the 6th most popular subject.
Sociology fell four places – but the drop was more than made up by rises in students taking other social sciences. Politics, law and psychology – like economics – all saw significant rises in entries.
Results day is always governed by strict embargo, but some anxious students got their news early after the University of Surrey accidentally sent out text messages to successful applicants last night.
Instead of sending the information at 8.10am Thursday morning, text messages went out to 2,400 successful applicants (about half the total) at 8.10pm last night when the nation was enjoying the eclipse.
A spokesperson for the University of Surrey said:
double quotation markA scheduled results day text message was sent at the wrong time to some University of Surrey offer holders.
The information and recipients were correct, but the message was sent at 8.10pm on Wednesday rather than 8.10am on Thursday.
We are extremely sorry for this error. We self-reported to Ucas and worked closely with their team through the evening.
We immediately put in place a dedicated line for people who received the messages in error and were available to provide support through the night.
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Sally Weale
Among the most striking trends in A-levels this year is the surge in popularity of economics at A-level which jumped to the fifth most popular course, up from 10th position last year, with more than 47,000 entries.
Myles McGinley, managing director of the Cambridge OCR exam board, speaking at a briefing by the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ), said: “The students getting their A-level results today were born around 2008.
“So they’re the children of the financial crisis [and they] will have experienced the implications and impacts of that through Covid and beyond, and those forces that really shape the world.
So I think it feels natural that they should be interested in that. And of course we know that economics provides excellent career options.”
Economics has risen five places to become the fifth most popular subject in 2026Economics has risen five places to become the fifth most popular subject in 2026Share
The gap between the proportion of A-level entries in London getting the top grades and the equivalent figure in both north-east England and the East Midlands has reached a new record size.
32.7% of entries in the capital were awarded A or A* this year, up from 32.1% in 2025 and the highest for any region in England, the exam results show.
The north-east and the East Midlands had the joint lowest rate, at 23.1%.
The gap between London and each of these two regions now stands at 9.6 percentage points, the largest since the present system of grading began in 2010, according to Press Association analysis.
In north-east England, the gap has widened from 9.2 points in 2025, though the proportion of entries getting A or A* rose slightly this year, from 22.9% to 23.1%.
By contrast, the East Midlands saw a drop in entries awarded the top grades, from 23.8% to 23.1%, the biggest fall of any region. This pushed the gap with London up from 8.3 points in 2025 to 9.6 points this year.
At a national level, 10.7% of A-level entries this year in Wales received A*, higher than the equivalent figure for England (9.6%) and Northern Ireland (8.8%).
For entries awarded A or above, Northern Ireland was ahead at 30.7%, above Wales (29.6%) and England (28.3%).
Regional inequality in top grades has worsenedRegional inequality in top grades has worsenedShare
Updated at 05.20 EDT
Sally Weale
Exam boards pushed back on any suggestion of grade inflation after A-level students recorded record levels at A and A*.
Presenting the results at a briefing by the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ), Richard Henry, director of qualifications and assessment at the Welsh exam board, WJEC, insisted grades could be trusted.
“What grade inflation really means is not outcomes going up. It really means that the grades no longer mean what they used to mean in terms of the level of attainment. The methods that we use to award qualifications are designed to ensure that those grades do mean the same thing.
“So that a learner in 2026 getting an A or an A* or a C can be confident that means the same thing in terms of the underlying knowledge, skills, and understanding that those learners have, compared to those learners in previous years.”
Speaking about England only, the head of exams regulator Ofqual said the “sheer size” of maths affects the overall data.
On top grades rising, Ian Bauckham told the Press Association: “It’s largely driven by those changes in maths, growing popularity at maths and the high achievements that we’re seeing in maths.
“It’s a successful subject, maths A-level is a significant driver of economic growth, and we know that it correlates to higher earning potential for those people who hold A-level maths in their future lives.
“It does, because of its sheer size, have that impact on the overall cohort figures.”
More than a quarter (28.5%) of UK entries were awarded an A or A* grade, up by 0.2% percentage points on last year, when 28.3% achieved the top grades.
The proportion of UK entries awarded the top A* grade this year has also risen, by 0.2 percentage points to 9.6%, compared to 9.4% in 2025, and it is higher than when it stood at 7.7% in 2019.
Maths remained the most popular subject at A-level this year – the 13th year in a row it has topped the table.
More than one in eight of all UK A-level entries (12.7%) were for the subject, the latest figures showed.
More than a quarter (28.5%) of UK entries were awarded an A or A* gradeMore than a quarter (28.5%) of UK entries were awarded an A or A* gradeShareBoys outperform girls for top grades again
Boys have outperformed girls in terms of top grades again, after doing so for the first time in seven years last year.
Overall, 28.9% of boys’ A-level entries scored an A* or A this summer, compared to 28.0% of their female classmates’ entries – a gap of 0.9 percentage points.
The gap between the proportion of boys and girls achieving A* and A grades in England widened in 2026The gap between the proportion of boys and girls achieving A* and A grades in England widened in 2026
There were 72,619 boys’ entries for A-level maths this year, making up 63% of entries, compared to 42,761 for girls’ (37%).
Economics has also seen a leap in popularity this year. It is now the fifth most popular subject for students, climbing up from 10th in 2025. In total, there were more than 47,000 UK entries for economics.
“Maths is the obvious one that we’ve talked about already, further maths is another one, economics, law,” head of exams regulator Ofqual Ian Bauckham told PA of the England data.
“These are all subjects that have a very strong either vocational flavour or are proven to be linked to higher earning potential, and in students’ minds will be associated with the trends that we’re seeing in the economy.
“So, I do think it’s plausible to suggest that those considerations are, for most, in students’ minds.”
ShareA-level top grades rise for third year in a row
Michael Goodier
About 900,000 students get their A-level results today – and the figures indicate that many will be happy with their lot – and not just the clever clogs who achieved three A*s.
In England the proportion of A*, A, B or C grades rose slightly once again – making this year another record outside the pandemic era when teacher assessments saw a spike in grades with a similar picture in Northern Ireland and Wales.
The general picture is one of stability – there were no massive changes in grades. Boys once again did well, with more boys than girls achieving an A* grade this year, continuing the pattern seen last year. However, as in past years, more girls achieved grades of C and above.
The number of people taking A-levels across the UK has increased by 23,773 since last year – but this is mainly down to a rising number of 18-year-olds. There was also a big rise in the number of people taking T Levels – but more on that later.
Updated at 05.02 EDT
The chief executive of the Russell Group, which represents some of the most selective UK universities, said the figures show students “continue to recognise the benefits” of higher education.
Libby Hackett said: “With an ever-growing spotlight on the value of higher education and the shifting job market, it’s hugely encouraging to see so many young people opting for university again this year – with record numbers of 18-year-olds accepting offers today.
“It shows students continue to recognise the benefits a university education can bring, particularly at high-tariff universities like those in the Russell Group.
“Of course, our education sector is wonderfully diverse with all sorts of excellent courses and choices available, whether that is a traditional degree, an apprenticeship or another option.
“It’s important this includes the right mix of academic and technical options, so students can access fantastic, high-quality education of all types and the UK has the right set of skills for the future workforce we need.”
SharePictured: students celebrate A-level result success
Here are some of the first images coming in of students opening and celebrating their results this morning …
Student twin sisters Natasha (right) and Olivia Reda celebrate their A-level results at Solihull School, Solihull. Photograph: Jacob King/PAA student at Coleg Gwent Blaenau Gwent Learning Zone speaks on the phone after receiving their A-level results on 13 August 2026 in Ebbw Vale, Wales. Photograph: Matthew Horwood/Getty ImagesStudents opens their A-level results at Solihull School, Solihull. Photograph: Jacob King/PAShare
Today’s exam results only cover England, Wales and Northern Ireland, with Scotland having posted a record number of 18-year-olds who qualified for university last week.
According to Ucas, the total number of students aged 18 who achieved the grades for the 2026 academic year is 17,920, up from 17,350 last year.
Those from deprived areas saw a 7% increase to 2,090, which the Scottish government says is the highest on record for this stage in the cycle, and acceptances across all ages were 32,370.
Education secretary Mairi McAllan said:
double quotation markI congratulate all of the applicants who have successfully secured a place at university. This is another set of incredibly positive results, showing the strength of Scotland’s education system with numbers of university acceptances growing and record numbers of 18-year-olds securing a place.
It is particularly encouraging to see even more students from deprived areas going on to university. Scotland has some of the top-ranking universities in the world and our determination to widen access to higher education is giving thousands of young people from more deprived areas the opportunity to further their studies.
ShareRichard Adams
Last year, students in England gained record levels of top grades in A-level exams, driven by young men producing their strongest performances outside the pandemic years.
Ofqual, the exam regulator for England, shrugged off any suggestions of grade inflation, pointing to the lower proportion of 18-year-olds taking A-levels and saying that fewer low-achieving students had entered.
Despite the overall improvement, regional variations remained, with students in the West Midlands and north-east England recording lower grades overall than in 2024. The north-east remained the only region of England with average grades below pre-pandemic levels.
Among the more than 1.1m entries in England, 28.2% gained an A or A* grade, while 9.4% gained the top A* grade, both higher than in 2024 when 27.6% of entries got A and A*s and 9.3% gained A*s. In 2019, before the pandemic, 25.2% of entries received top grades.
Updated at 04.33 EDT