The Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) has now published national figures giving us the picture of how well the class of 2024 has done with their A-level results.

The results have many categories and are broken down by country and region so there will doubtless be plenty of statistics thrown around today.

So here’s a brief summary of what you need to know:

• The proportion of A-level entries awarded top grades is up on last year and remains above pre-pandemic levels – 27.8% of UK entries were awarded an A or A* grade, up by 0.6 percentage points on last year when 27.2% achieved the top grades
• But the overall pass rate – the proportion of entries graded A* to E – has fallen to 97.2% this year, which is 0.1 % lower than last year
• Boys have pulled further ahead of girls at the top grade this year, with 9.5% of boys’ entries scoring an A* compared with 9.1% of girls’ entries – a gap of 0.4 percentage points
• Ofqual figures show that this summer, 49.4% of independent school candidates scored grade A or above in all subjects, compared with 22.3% of those at comprehensive schools – a gap of 27.1 percentage points which is 1.7 points higher than last year
• The total number of students accepted on to UK degree courses has risen by 3% on the same point last year meaning 82% of students have won places at their first choice university

We will continue to bring you news and reaction throughout the day plus the most heartwarming stories from students across the country.

Here’s one surprising nugget in the results released today.

In A-levels, boys have pulled further ahead of girls at the top grade this year, with 9.5% of boys’ entries scoring an A* compared with 9.1% of girls’ entries – a gap of 0.4 percentage points.

Last year the gap was 0.3 percentage points.

Boys have traditionally led girls, scoring more A* grades than their female classmates every year between 2012 and 2019. But girls overtook boys between 2020 and 2022 – the years of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Girls continued to outperform boys at A* and A but the gender gap has narrowed again this year.

Terrified of the daily air raid sirens over Kyiv at the start of the Ukraine war, Anna Ursakii and her family decided to flee.

Their journey west involved travelling through 10 different countries before she finally made it to northern Italy.

From there she emailed schools at the top of the UK rankings and was thrilled to be awarded a place at the prestigious Brighton College under the school’s pioneering scholarship system.

Today, Anna, 17, has won a place at the University of Cambridge to study Natural Sciences after she achieved four A* grades in four A Levels.

Her achievement at gaining a place at one of the world’s most coveted universities is even more astonishing given English is her second language.

Head teacher Richard Cairns says Anna threw herself into life at £43,000 a year Brighton College, becoming a member of the award-winning chamber choir and part of the dance show team.

During her time at the college she made sure to keep the war in the forefront of everyone’s minds.

Anna, who arrived at the school in 2022 with her six-year-old brother Sasha, said:

I was absolutely terrified of the sirens. They scared me so much.

We heard Brighton College was offering places to Ukrainian refugees and we applied. I just emailed them, chancing my luck and they got back to me.

Maths remained the most popular A-level subject this year for the 11th year in a row.

It had 107,427 entries, up 11% from 96,853 in 2023.

Psychology remains the second most popular subject with 78,556 entries, down 2% from 80,493 in 2023.

While Biology was once again in third, with 74,367 entries, a fall of 0.4% from 74,650.

Chemistry, History, Business Studies, Sociology, Art & Design, Psychics and Economics make up the top 10.

Ofqual’s chief regulator Sir Ian Bauckham told a briefing that exam standards had been maintained from last year amid expectations the levels would fall to pre-pandemic levels.

There is no grade inflation this year. Standards have been maintained from 2023. Any change is largely due to the ability of the cohort.

In Wales and Northern Ireland, exam regulators said they aimed to return to pre-pandemic grading this summer – a year later than in England.

It comes after the Covid-19 pandemic led to an increase in top grades in 2020 and 2021, with results based on teacher assessments instead of exams.

These are the latest pictures we can bring you of students celebrating their A-level results at Solihull School in the West Midlands.

In the West Midlands, the proportion of A* and A grades awarded to pupils was 24.8%, up from 22.9% the previous year.

Every region of England has seen a year-on-year increase in the proportion of A-level entries awarded A and above, the 2024 exam figures show.

All regions also saw a higher proportion of entries awarded A* or A this year than in the pre-pandemic year of 2019.

London saw the highest proportion of entries awarded A and above, at 31.3%, up 1.3 percentage points from 30.0% in 2023, while the East Midlands had the lowest, at 22.5%, up 0.2 points from 22.3%.

In 2023, north-east England had the lowest proportion of entries awarded A or above, at 22.0%, while south-east England had the highest, at 30.3%: a gap of 8.3 points.

But this year the gap between these two regions narrowed to 6.9 points (north-east England 23.9%, south-east England 30.8%).

Meanwhile, the proportion of entries awarded A and above in Wales and Northern Ireland has fallen sharply year on year, as these nations complete the return to pre-pandemic levels of grading.

In Wales, the figure has dropped from 34.0% in 2023 to 29.9%, while in Northern Ireland it has decreased from 37.5% to 30.3%, though both of these are still above the 2019 pre-pandemic figures of 26.5% and 29.4% respectively.

Here are the percentages of A-level entries awarded the top grades (A*/A) by region, with the equivalent figures for both 2023 and the pre-pandemic year of 2019:

• North-east England 23.9% (2023: 22.0%; 2019: 23.0%)
• North-west England 25.5% (2023: 24.1%; 2019: 23.5%)
• Yorkshire & the Humber 24.6% (2023: 23.0%; 2019: 23.2%)
• West Midlands 24.8% (2023: 22.9%; 2019: 22.0%)
• East Midlands 22.5% (2023: 22.3%; 2019: 21.0%)
• Eastern England 27.5% (2023: 26.6%; 2019: 25.6%)
• South-west England 26.9% (2023: 26.3%; 2019: 25.8%)
• South-east England 30.8% (2023: 30.3%; 2019: 28.3%)
• London 31.3% (2023: 30.0%; 2019: 26.9%)

• England 27.6% (2023: 26.5%; 2019: 25.2%)
• Wales 29.9% (2023: 34.0%; 2019: 26.5%)
• Northern Ireland 30.3% (2023: 37.5%; 2019: 29.4%)

• All 27.8% (2023: 27.2%; 2019: 25.4%)

Here’s more on those breaking figures which show the proportion of top A-level grades awarded to students has increased compared to last year amid fears it could fall to pre-pandemic levels.

Despite an increase in the awarding of A* and A grades this year, the overall pass rate – the proportion of entries graded A* to E – has fallen to 97.2% this year, which is lower than last year (97.3%) and the pre-pandemic year of 2019 (97.6%).

The figures, published by the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ), cover A-level entries from students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

In England, exams regulator Ofqual had said it expected this year’s A-level results to be “broadly similar” to last year, when grades were restored to pre-pandemic levels.

In Wales and Northern Ireland, exam regulators said they aimed to return to pre-pandemic grading this summer – a year later than in England.

It comes after the Covid-19 pandemic led to an increase in top grades in 2020 and 2021, with results based on teacher assessments instead of exams.

We can now bring you the national picture following figures from the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ), covering A-level results in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

It shows the proportion of A-level entries awarded top grades is up on last year and remains above pre-pandemic levels.

Hundreds of thousands of students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland received their exam results on Thursday in a year when grading was expected to be restored to 2019 levels in all three nations.

More than a quarter (27.8%) of UK entries were awarded an A or A* grade, up by 0.6 percentage points on last year when 27.2% achieved the top grades.

This was also higher than in 2019 – the last year that summer exams were taken before the pandemic – when 25.4% of entries were awarded A or A* grades.

Overall, the proportion of UK entries awarded the top A* grade this year has risen by 0.4 percentage points to 9.3%, compared with 8.9% in 2023, and it is higher than when it stood at 7.7% in 2019.

Excluding 2020-2022, the years of the pandemic, this is the highest proportion of A* grades awarded since they were first handed out in 2010.

Scenes like this will be taking place up and down the country today…

Carys Bonell and Ava Doherty literally jumped for joy as they celebrate their results at Harris Westminster Sixth Form in London this morning.

We will endeavour to bring you the best stories and pictures from students across the country as well as what the results mean nationally throughout the day.

Sir Keir Starmer has congratuled all students receiving their A-level, T-level and BTEC results today and told them ‘nothing should hold you back’ going forward.

The Prime Minister posted the following tweet on his X account:

Jeremy Clarkson has posted his now obligatory A-level tweet as tens of thousands of students anxiously await their results this morning.

The presenter and Clarkson’s Farm star’s annual results day message has become a traditional tenet for worried teenagers as they find out what grades they have achieved throughout the morning.

Taking to X, formerly Twitter, on Thursday Clarkson wrote: ‘Don’t worry if your A level results aren’t what you were hoping for. I got a C and two Us, and here I am, 46 years later, with my own pub. It opens next weekend if you fancy dropping in.’

The presenter typically takes to social media to reassure students who didn’t get the results they were hoping for that there are still plenty of opportunities they can take advantage of.

Many students across England, Wales and Northern Ireland will have had nervous nights before picking up their results first thing this morning.

So I expect many will relate to Kitty, a student at Burnley College, who spoke to the BBC about what she went through before receiving her letter.

Asked how she felt after she got her results, Kitty told the BBC it was like a ‘weight lifted’, adding, ‘I’ve been waiting all summer to see how I did’.

She also said she was up ‘every half hour’ last night before heading into the college in Lancashire.

We can now show you pictures from across the country as students open their A-level results.

The following pictures were taken from Parrs Wood High School in Didsbury, Greater Manchester and King Edward VII High School for Girls, an independent school in Edgbaston, Birmingham.

A-level students applying for courses at universities will have more availability than in recent years following a reported drop in demand from mature and international students.

The Daily Telegraph is reporting almost 27,000 courses were available through clearing on Wednesday, with the figure expected to rise today as leading universities save space for high-achieving pupils.

That includes 3,500 courses at 17 of the 24 Russell Group universities – a 61 per cent jump compared to last year.

While we won’t have details of the national picture until 9.30am, Bridget Phillipson has told the BBC that A-level results are expected to be ‘broadly in line with last year’.

In 2023, the number of top grades awarded to students with 27.2% of learners achieving A* and A grades, compared to 36.4% in 2022.

The drop came after A-level grade boundaries were made more lenient during and shortly after the pandemic, to balance out the disruption to education caused by Covid.

Education experts have urged parents and guardians to be mindful of their actions and reactions today as their children open their A-level results.

While some families will spend the day celebrating, others may not be so buoyant.

Tutorial provider Explore Learning has put together a guide for adults on how to support their children:

• Don’t immediately focus on grades

The role guardians play in helping their children deal with results day anxiety is very important. Asking about specific grades right away can increase anxiety, which can make young people feel lonely and afraid. Instead, allow your teen to share their results in their own time. When they do open their results, focus first on their emotional state and well-being rather than the grades themselves. This approach shows that you value them as a person, not just for their academic achievements.

• Avoid comparison of results with siblings or friends

Comparing results reinforces unhealthy competition and can damage self-esteem. Each student’s journey is unique, and comparing results ignores individual circumstances, strengths, and challenges. Instead, encourage your teen to reflect on their own progress and personal growth throughout their studies.

• Don’t rush to problem-solve

If results aren’t what was hoped for, resist the urge to start planning next steps immediately. Give your teen time to process their emotions. They may need space to come to terms with disappointment before they’re ready to consider alternatives. When they are ready, approach the conversation as a collaborative effort rather than taking charge.

It may not come as a surprise that the key ingredient in supporting your child on results day is having a positive mindset. Try to focus on their efforts and potential for future growth. Remember that your teen is likely already feeling disappointed if they didn’t achieve the results they wanted. Your role is to provide support and encouragement, helping them to see this as a learning experience rather than a failure.

Most young people will experience a disappointing grade or exam result. However, it’s still important to celebrate their efforts and the hard work they have put into their exams. Remember, a lower score on an exam doesn’t have to mean that they’ve failed. At the end of the day, what truly matters is how much they were able to learn from the entire journey. Strike a balance between acknowledging the importance of the results and reminding them that these grades don’t define their worth or limit their future opportunities. Finally, discuss how these results fit into their broader life goals and aspirations.

Katherine Pavling, Head of GCSE at Explore Learning, says:

With all the pressure children feel in the run-up to GCSE exams, it can feel like the end of the world if your child doesn’t get the results they hoped for. We often see students achieve good grades but still feel disappointed because a friend did better. Parents and caregivers play a crucial role in combating this unhealthy mindset, as there is a huge pressure on teens to match or outperform their peers.

We can bring you our first video of the day as students in Derby react to opening their A-level results.

Good Morning Britain spoke to one teenage girl, Nayab Waheed, who secured three A* grades and a B, while her friend Noah achieved three As as he was accepted into Nottingham University.

The total number of students accepted on to UK degree courses has risen by 3% on the same point last year, with 425,680 taking up places so far, initial Ucas figures show.

It shows some 82% of students have successfully got into their first choice university.

A-level results have now been released to students across the UK.

We wil bring you the latest news and reaction when we can.

While we hope many students achieve the results they want and secure places at their preferred universities, thousands will ultimately have to go through Clearing.

Clearing is the process that matches applicants to university places that are yet to be filled.

It’s available to anyone who has made a UCAS Undergraduate application and doesn’t hold any offers.

Here’s MailOnline’s guide on how to conquer it should you need to today:

Thousands of students across England, Wales and Northern Ireland will open their A-level results this morning as well as T-levels and BTEC qualifications.

Some will receive results via email while others will collect their letters from schools, giving them a chance to share their experience with classmates and teachers.

The grades will be released from 8am which is also when Ucas. the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, will publish figures on numbers accepted into universities.

From 9.30am we will be able to bring you the national picture on how well the class of 2024 has done with results broken down by country and region.

In the meantime, we should have plenty of reaction from students on their results on this important day in their lives.

by Eleanor Harding, Education Editor for The Daily Mail

Hundreds of degree courses at top universities are being offered to high-paying international students instead of British applicants, the Daily Mail can reveal.

Analysis shows that pupils collecting their A-level results today will have far fewer options than those applying from abroad when it comes to choosing alternative courses through the Clearing process.

Of the 24 top institutions in the Russell Group, 17 have places available through Clearing – and 11 are offering more courses to those from abroad than to those living here.

Overseas students pay much higher fees. Today, more than 250,000 students will find out if they made their predicted grades and secured their course of choice.

It is expected tens of thousands will enter Clearing to find a new course, and admissions chiefs have said there will be ‘every kind of course under the sun’ available, including medicine.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has congratulated students receiving their A-level results and insisted there are ‘lots of options’ for those who fall short today.

Ms Phillipson is currently touring the broadcast studios on the morning round giving interviews to the BBC, Sky News and Times Radio.

Speaking to Sky News, she said:

To our young people receiving their results, there are lots of great options out there in terms of what you can go on to do next.

For those young people who get what they need and move on to their destination of choice, that’s brilliant.

For those who perhaps fall slightly short, there are lots of options out there. There are lots of people that can be there to provide advice and support, whether that’s the school or college, UCAS through clearing, or the National Career Service.

So I want to wish them all the very best, but to reassure them that there are plenty of opportunities that are there.

Hello and welcome to MailOnline’s live coverage of A-level results day.

Today is the day thousands of nervous teenagers across England, Wales and Northern Ireland will learn their exam grades with many of them hoping to go to their chosen universities.

It’s a day that often sees a wide range of emotions as some experience the unbridled joy of achieving the results they need while lingering uncertainty will be felt by some.

Stick with our coverage for the latest news, pictures and reaction from throughout the day.