Students in the UK are poised for a record-breaking A-level results day, with projections indicating the highest number of top grades and university acceptances to date. Experts anticipate that more than one in four A-level entries will achieve at least an A grade, a figure expected to surpass previous years, excluding the inflated results during the COVID-19 pandemic when teacher assessments replaced exams.
This anticipated surge in high grades is predicted to drive a further increase in university degree acceptances. In 2025, a record 439,180 students were accepted onto degree courses, marking a 3% rise from the previous year. The number of students entering Clearing, the process for students to find alternative university places, is also expected to reach a new high. Jo Saxton, chief executive of Ucas, stated that her organization anticipates record numbers of both Clearing applications and acceptances this summer.
The university admissions landscape is described as a 'buyer's market' for domestic students, largely due to a decline in international student revenue attributed to changes in visa regulations. Analysis reveals that over 22,800 courses are still seeking applicants, including 3,530 at 18 of the 24 Russell Group universities. Prestigious courses in subjects like Engineering at Warwick, Maths at Exeter, and Economics at York are among those still available through Ucas.
Historical data from Ucas indicates that many courses have historically accepted students with grades below the official entry requirements. However, Birmingham University has announced its intention to implement a minimum entry requirement of three Bs, or equivalent, moving forward to maintain academic standards.
Last year, 28.3% of A-level entries achieved an A or A* grade, up from 27.8% in 2024 and 25.4% in 2019. The proportion of A* grades alone rose to 9.4% from 9.3% in 2024 and 7.7% in 2019. While the predicted rise in top grades for the current year is less than half a percentage point, this still represents several thousand additional entries.
Professor Alan Smithers of Buckingham University suggested that the increase in top grades, outside of the pandemic period, could signal a new upward trend, attributing it to shifts in the entry mix rather than grade inflation. He pointed to the growing popularity of mathematics, a subject that tends to yield more top grades than arts and humanities, as a key driver for this trend.
Ahead of results day, the new Education Secretary, Lucy Powell, highlighted government support for students, announcing increased maintenance loans and the reintroduction of maintenance grants to ensure financial background does not impede access to higher education. She emphasized the range of opportunities available, including apprenticeships, jobs, and university placements.