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14/08/2008
Students Celebrate, But A-Levels To 'Get Tough'
As some 300,000 teenagers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland collected their results today, the A-level pass rate has increased yet again as have the proportion of pupils awarded grade A - prompting moves to make the examinations harder.
The Joint Council for Qualifications has revealed that 97.2% of entries in England, Wales and Northern Ireland passed, up from 96.9%.
The top A grade went up to 25.9% of the entries, up from 25.3%.
In Northern Ireland, 98.2% of entries passed and a third of students achieved an A grade.
Northern Ireland A-Level students in fact outperformed those in England and Wales, with 35.4% gaining an A grade compared to the 25.9% overall figure.
There were a record 827,737 A-level entries and 1.13 AS-levels this year from more than 600,000 pupils.
The subjects showing increases were the sciences with entries for chemistry up 3.5%, biology up 2.7% and physics up 2.3%.
Entries for French increased by 2.8% and Spanish 1.5%.
In England, 97.2% passed with 25.6 awarded A. In Wales, 97.1% passed and 24.1% achieved A.
However, in light of the results, the Government has announced that it is to make A-levels "more challenging" in future.
Tougher A-levels will be set on courses from this September, following successful pilots of the changes.
The existing six modules studied in courses will be cut to four and longer, open-ended questions will then feature in exams.
Professor Deian Hopkins, of Universities UK said "knowledge in itself is fine, but the actual tranferble skills are what matters, and I think we have to strengthen those at every level".
Anthony McClaran, Chief Executive of UCAS, the body which handles undergraduate applications to all UK universities said "as with every year", some people will "inevitably claim" that A-levels are getting easier, "but we shouldn't really take away from the hard work of those students who have done well in their results today".
Jim Sinclair, the Director of the Joint Council said: "These results are excellent and we congratulate all students on their achievement.
"This has to be a day for celebration," he said.
Students starting A-level courses in September will also become the first to be eligible for the new A* grade when they are awarded to those achieving more than 90% in 2010.
(DS)
The Joint Council for Qualifications has revealed that 97.2% of entries in England, Wales and Northern Ireland passed, up from 96.9%.
The top A grade went up to 25.9% of the entries, up from 25.3%.
In Northern Ireland, 98.2% of entries passed and a third of students achieved an A grade.
Northern Ireland A-Level students in fact outperformed those in England and Wales, with 35.4% gaining an A grade compared to the 25.9% overall figure.
There were a record 827,737 A-level entries and 1.13 AS-levels this year from more than 600,000 pupils.
The subjects showing increases were the sciences with entries for chemistry up 3.5%, biology up 2.7% and physics up 2.3%.
Entries for French increased by 2.8% and Spanish 1.5%.
In England, 97.2% passed with 25.6 awarded A. In Wales, 97.1% passed and 24.1% achieved A.
However, in light of the results, the Government has announced that it is to make A-levels "more challenging" in future.
Tougher A-levels will be set on courses from this September, following successful pilots of the changes.
The existing six modules studied in courses will be cut to four and longer, open-ended questions will then feature in exams.
Professor Deian Hopkins, of Universities UK said "knowledge in itself is fine, but the actual tranferble skills are what matters, and I think we have to strengthen those at every level".
Anthony McClaran, Chief Executive of UCAS, the body which handles undergraduate applications to all UK universities said "as with every year", some people will "inevitably claim" that A-levels are getting easier, "but we shouldn't really take away from the hard work of those students who have done well in their results today".
Jim Sinclair, the Director of the Joint Council said: "These results are excellent and we congratulate all students on their achievement.
"This has to be a day for celebration," he said.
Students starting A-level courses in September will also become the first to be eligible for the new A* grade when they are awarded to those achieving more than 90% in 2010.
(DS)
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16 August 2001
Northern Ireland pupils are in a class of their own
Northern Ireland students have outperformed their peers in England and Wales in both A-level and the new AS level exams. Figures released by the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) on Thursday August 16 show a record 48,000 grades have been issued to Northern Ireland students across all exam boards.
Northern Ireland pupils are in a class of their own
Northern Ireland students have outperformed their peers in England and Wales in both A-level and the new AS level exams. Figures released by the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) on Thursday August 16 show a record 48,000 grades have been issued to Northern Ireland students across all exam boards.
18 August 2005
Improved NI A-level exam performance
The Chief Executive of Northern Ireland’s exams body, the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) has saluted the performance of local students who have moved further ahead of their counterparts in England and Wales in gaining the top grades in GCE ‘A’ Level examinations.
Improved NI A-level exam performance
The Chief Executive of Northern Ireland’s exams body, the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) has saluted the performance of local students who have moved further ahead of their counterparts in England and Wales in gaining the top grades in GCE ‘A’ Level examinations.
22 August 2024
Students Across NI Receive GCSE Results
Education Minister Paul Givan has welcomed the success of Northern Ireland's students receiving their GCSE results today. Today's results, awarded to over 32,000 GCSE students across Northern Ireland, reveal that 82.7% of students received grade C/4 and above while 31% received grade A/7 and above.
Students Across NI Receive GCSE Results
Education Minister Paul Givan has welcomed the success of Northern Ireland's students receiving their GCSE results today. Today's results, awarded to over 32,000 GCSE students across Northern Ireland, reveal that 82.7% of students received grade C/4 and above while 31% received grade A/7 and above.
14 August 2003
Northern Ireland's A-level students set new records
Northern Ireland's A-level students have again outperformed their peers in England and Wales after receiving their results this morning. The number of A-grade students saw a slight rise with 28.5% of students achieving top marks - almost 7% ahead of the equivalent national figure of 21.6%. The overall pass rate is also up, with 97.
Northern Ireland's A-level students set new records
Northern Ireland's A-level students have again outperformed their peers in England and Wales after receiving their results this morning. The number of A-grade students saw a slight rise with 28.5% of students achieving top marks - almost 7% ahead of the equivalent national figure of 21.6%. The overall pass rate is also up, with 97.
15 August 2002
Strong performance from local A-level students
Exam result figures released today by the Council for the Curriculum Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) show that local students have performed strongly in their A-levels.
Strong performance from local A-level students
Exam result figures released today by the Council for the Curriculum Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) show that local students have performed strongly in their A-levels.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A very mild, but mostly cloudy day, although with some bright or sunny spells. It will be mostly dry in the morning, but a little patchy light rain or drizzle at times in the afternoon. Maximum temperature 14 °C.Tonight:A band of heavier rain will move east during the evening before clearing eastwards after midnight. then mostly dry through the early hours, but a little rain towards dawn. Minimum temperature 8 °C.
