Increase in A-Level Top Grades Amidst Attainment Gap

A-level results for 2024 show an increase in top grades across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, with 27.8% of entries awarded A or A* grades, up from 27.2% in 2023 and significantly above the pre-pandemic level of 25.4% in 2019. The percentage of A* grades rose to 9.3%, marking an 8% increase from last year and a 20% rise since 2019. London emerged as the highest-performing region, while Wales and Northern Ireland saw a decline in top grades as they returned to pre-pandemic grading standards. This year also noted a record number of disadvantaged students gaining university placements, with overall university acceptances up 3% from last year. Despite the rise in top grades, the overall pass rate fell slightly to 97.2%. The exam results reflect a recovery in student performance following the disruptions caused by the pandemic.