A-Levels: good news for many

A-Level Passes Up Again

The figures show that the pass rate rose by 1.3 percent to 87.1 percent. This is a continuation of the trend which has seen similar increases for 16 years. If the pass rate continued to rise in this way, it would reach 100 percent within ten years. There has, though, been no increase in top level passes.

Universities may impose their own entrance tests

The results are in line with national targets of 60 per cent of 21-year-olds holding at least two A-levels or the vocational equivalents by the end of the century.

Another aspect highlighted is an increase in candidates taking science subjects, particularly biology and chemistry -- reversing a trend of a few years ago. But lecturers are still concerned that not enough students are going on to take maths and engineering at university.

The results have been welcomed by the Government, examiners and teachers, who said that they were a credit to the achievement of thousands of young people.

But business reports declining standards of literacy and numeracy among young people entering the workforce. Traditionalists in the education establishment regard inexorably rising pass rates as robbing exam results of credibility. Universities may well, it is thought, be tempted to devise their own entrance tests if they lose faith in the existing system.

Last year a government study showed that standards had remained broadly the same over 20 years, even if today's exams tested a different range of knowledge.

Education minister Baroness Blackstone said this year's crop of results reflected real success. And she said that rigorous safeguards were already in place to guarantee standards. "We should not assume that if results improve, standards must be at risk," she said.

Blackstone: Results reflect real success

"We need to see more young people succeeding if our country is to improve in the 21st century. Young people will not thank us for calling their achievements into question when there is no justification for doing so. They know that success is real. We should applaud it, not undermine it," she added.

The minister's comments were supported by Kathleen Tunstall, convenor of the Joint Forum for the GCSE and GCE. She said: "Candidates can be proud of their success in a tough and rigorous examination. The results are a clear reflection of their attainment."

The Opposition gave a cautious welcome to the results. David Willetts said students and teachers could be proud of their achievement in getting the good grades. But he added: "Through no fault of their own, their success in getting more A-level passes will put extra pressure on the university admissions system. So the last thing they now need is the chaos and confusion that the Government has created over tuition fees and university admissions over the past few weeks."

And Roger Young of the Institute of Management said: "Inflation in A-level qualifications has risen steadily in the UK for some years now. Employers are increasingly concerned about the value of Britain's gold standard."

Ruth Lea:

"Some young people are unable to spell"

Ruth Lea, director of policy at the Institute of Directors, said the rising pass rate made Government re-assurances "laughable". "We continue to be sceptical about standards," she said.

The concerns of business and industry have been echoed from within academia. Professor Alan Smithers, of the Centre for Education and Employment Research at Brunel University, said there was no question that A-levels had changed. "They used to select an elite few who went to university. Now they measure achievement for a much wider range of candidates. There is nothing wrong with that. But some of the top universities may have to put in a test of their own in the future to identify the talented people they are trying to attract," he said.

Why the Pass Rate Rose

• Better teaching and learning
• More candidates from higher social classes, who tend to do better
• Better coaching so that candidates know about the expectations of examiners
• Changes in the balance of subjects that students studied - including more breadth and less depth

Government climbdown over 'gap year' students

Related sites

• Department of Education
• UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service)