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A-Level Grades Reach New Heights, Sparking Inflation Fears
8 Aug
Summary
- A-level top grades likely to exceed pre-COVID levels
- Experts warn of potential grade inflation creeping back
- Gender gap continues, with girls outperforming boys
According to the latest reports, the proportion of A-level entries scoring top grades this summer is likely to be higher than pre-COVID years. Professor Alan Smithers, an education expert from the University of Buckingham, has raised concerns that grade inflation "may be creeping back in again".
Last year, over a quarter (27.8%) of UK A-level entries were awarded an A or A* grade, up from 27.2% in 2023. This was the highest proportion of top grades outside the pandemic-affected years of 2020-22. In 2019, the last year before COVID-19, only 25.4% of entries received A or A* grades.
Professor Smithers believes this year's results "are likely to be close to what they were in 2024", suggesting the grade pattern could become the "new normal". He added that the proportion of UK A-level entries awarded A or A* grades - between 27% and 28% - could be the "new norm" for results.
The expert also noted that the gender gap in A-level performance is likely to continue, with girls outperforming boys at the top grades. Last year, the proportion of girls' A-level entries awarded A or higher was 28.0%, compared to 27.6% for boys. However, boys performed slightly better at the A* level, with 9.5% of their entries receiving the top grade, compared to 9.1% for girls.
