Despite a sharp fall in A* and A grades, the majority of students secured their first-choice university spots.

The 2022 A-Level results have seen a significant decrease in the proportion of top grades, with 36.4% of entries awarded an A or A*, compared to 44.8% in 2021, though still higher than in 2019, when it was 25.4%. This decline comes as grade inflation from the pandemic years is addressed.

Northern Irish students outperformed their peers in England and Wales, with 44% achieving A* and A grades. Meanwhile, the popularity of maths continued, while psychology and business studies saw a notable rise in student participation.

Despite the drop in grades, education officials reported that 180,000 students secured places at their first-choice universities, marking an improvement compared to pre-pandemic years.