A level results have fallen slightly in Wales, as students who sat their first summer exams since 2019 open their envelopes. However they are still higher than pre-pandemic with more than four in 10 results at the top A*-A grades and 17.1% of pupils awarded the highest A*.
Results posted this morning show an overall 98* pass rate at grades A* to E compared with 99.1% last year. Today’s results are still higher than when the last year exams were sat in 2019 when the overall pass rate at A* to E was 97.6%. The percentage of entries graded at A or A* this year was 40.9%. This is down significantly from the record 48.3% in 2021 during the second year of teacher assessed grades and 27% when exams were last sat in 2019. A total 17.1* got the top A* grade.
Regulator Qualifications Wales and exam board the WJEC have insisted the awards are fair as they try to rein back what was seen as grade inflation after exams were cancelled and replaced with teacher assessed results during Covid.
Read more: Follow all the latest reaction and analysis from A level results day across Wales
This year was again an exam year like no other. There were again high pupil and teacher absences due to Covid and the first summer exams were sat in 2022 for the first time since 2019. The students sitting their A levels time had not sat GCSE or AS exams after they were cancelled during Covid. This summer's exams were exams were adapted to take into account lost learning and in Wales some topics were removed.
Today’s WJEC A level results at a glance
- A*: 17.1% of pupils
- A* to A: 40.9% of pupils
- A*to E: 98% of pupils
- For 18-year-olds taking WJEC A levels, 16.5% of grades issued were grade A*, 40.4% were A*-A and 98.1% were A*-E.
Some headteachers, teachers, parents and students warned this year's exams were unfair again after ongoing disruption with Covid and classes set sent to work remotely again. Some exam years were without subject teachers for weeks and there were also complaints about questions on a maths paper. But data from exam board WJEC shows its top grades at A level maths, further maths and sciences are up on 2019, the last time exams were sat. This year 57.7% got an A grade for maths, compared to 45.2% in 2019. A total 33.1% achieved A* for maths this year, well up on the 19.6% in 2019.
A total of 35,499 exams were sat with the pass rate for males and females similar. A total of 97.6% of boys got A*to E grades compared to 98.3% of girls. Boys did slightly better at A* than girls. The number of entries for the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate was 12,289 with 79.4% of candidates achieving a pass.
Exam Regulator Qualifications Wales said "returning to pre-pandemic assessment arrangements was always going to be a big task" and reiterated that results are not comparable to previous years or other UK nations because of the different circumstances with teacher assessed grades rather than sat exams during Covid, and different approaches with exam content - but insisted they are of the same value.
The regulator and WJEC boss Ian Morgan said the results were fair and teenagers would get the outcome they deserved. Jo Richards, Director of Regulations for Qualifications Wales, said comparisons should not be made with the last two years, but with 2019 results, the last year papers were sat.
Exam bosses said this year’s results are broadly midway between the results in 2019 when exams were last held, and the results in 2021, when teachers determined learners’ grades. This approach was announced at the start of the academic year and is the same as that taken in England. Qualifications Wales said this “marks the start of the return to pre-pandemic performance standards.”
Qualifications Wales Chief Executive Philip Blaker said: “The pandemic has had a significant impact on learners across Wales, and I would like to congratulate them today as they receive their results. Learners in Wales have demonstrated what they know, understand and can do – and they should be very proud of their achievements.
"After a challenging couple of years for the education system, everyone’s effort and support for learners means that we are moving back towards pre-pandemic approaches.”
“As in any year, learner progression is a priority. With the return to exams this year, we worked closely with WJEC to agree procedures for awarding grades in AS and A levels that build upon the usual practices, while also providing a safety net for learners. We’ve also taken steps to make sure that the grading process is as consistent as possible with the same qualifications in other jurisdictions to support learners to progress to the next stage of their lives.”
“Returning to pre-pandemic assessment arrangements was always going to be a big task. We know that learners were anxious about the return to exams, but overall, the exam series has gone well, which is an incredible achievement for everyone involved. As in every year, some learners may not achieve the grades they had hoped for."
How top maths and science A level grade in 2022 and 2019 compare.
Maths grades
A* 2022 33.1%
A* 2019 19.6%
A 2022 57.7%
A 2019 45.2%
Further Maths
A* 2022 53.5%
A* 2019 33.6%
A 2022 74.8%
A 2019 60.7%
Chemistry
A* 2022 21.7%
A* 2019 11%
A 2022 51.8%
A 2019 35%
Biology
A* 2022 19.6%
A* 2019 12.1%
A 2022 45.8%
A 2019 30.4%
Physics
A* 2022 23.3%
A * 2019 12%
A 2022 47.2%
A 2019 31.9%
The NEU Cymru teaching union says adaptations for exams must continue next summer too. NEU Cymru Wales senior officer Debbie Scott said the fact that regulator Qualifications Wales knew results would sit midway between 2019 and 2021, showed the system "needs fixing".
She added: "We need a wider range of assessment methods to support young people and move away from simply finding out what they can remember on one particular day. Qualifications Wales announced last October that grades would reflect roughly a mid-point between 2019 and 2021.
"That the regulator knew in advance where the grades would sit, shows the system needs fixing. Students need to be able to show what they can do through a range of assessment methods. Adaptations to exams need to remain in place and maximum flexibility must be offered to reflect that many students have spent a long period of time outside of the classroom."
Education Minister Jeremy Miles congratulated learners as he met students picking up results at Coleg Sir Gar in Llanelli. And he agreed adaptations would be needed next year.
"We know what a challenging couple of years it’s been for students and staff," the minister said, "For everyone involved in ensuring this year’s exams could take place, today is reward for all the hard work you have put in. A record number of young people from Wales will be going to university this year and have an exciting time ahead.
"For anyone who didn’t quite get the results you wanted, or you’re unsure of your next steps, my key message is – don’t be too disappointed and don’t be too hard on yourself. There are a wide range of options open to you, including university clearing, apprenticeships, even starting your own business. Careers Wales is a great place to start for advice and your school or college will be there to support you too."
Read next:
- School closures in the pandemic 'damaging' and left children depressed
- Welsh pupils left in tears as they face hardest exam they've ever seen
- Students left 'broken, crying and deflated' by 'unfair' A level exams
- Headteachers warn exam system is 'immoral' and fear it will jeopardise children's futures
All the help available for families in Wales to pay for school and college costs
