Another record year for A-levels

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The proportion of pupils awarded A grades also rose again with more than one in four gaining the top marks.

But predictions that the number of A grades would hit 26% were just wide of the mark. The number of exams awarded A was 25.9% up from 25.3% last year.

Figures from the exam boards show traditional subjects are still firm favourites with English and maths the top choices. And pupils are once again taking greater interest in science with increased entries in all three areas - biology, chemistry and physics.

Chemistry was the favourite science - the eighth most popular choice of subjects amongst sixth-formers.

Jim Sinclair, director of the Joint Council for Qualifications, which published the results, said they were excellent and congratulated students on their achievements.

Schools minister Jim Knight also dismissed any suggestion that another set of record results showed that A-levels were being dumbed down.

Fears that languages would see a slump in popularity proved unfounded as the numbers taking French and Spanish rose. But there was a decrease in German.

Overall 97.2% of candidates taking A-levels this summer achieved A to E passes, up from 96.9% last year.

Girls continued to score better grades than boys although boys are continuing to close the gap at grade A.