Overall A Level results and entries remained stable in summer 2017 during a period of significant reform.

‘Facilitating subjects’ – A Level subjects said by some to be more frequently required than others for entry to degree courses - continued to represent over half of A Level entries.

759,000 entries were made across all A Level subjects with A* achievements up from 8.1% in 2016 to 8.3% in 2017.

A* success rates for the 13 reformed A Level subjects in England (397,000 entries) fell from 7.7% to 7.2%.

Maths continued to be the most popular subject at A Level (95,244 entries).  Computing saw the biggest percentage rise by 33% (to 8,299) followed by Political Studies (up 12% to 17,523) and Business Studies (up 6% to 30,023).   General Studies, ICT, Performing Arts and Music were amongst the top 10 decreasing subjects.

The decline in AS entries gathered pace with entries down 39% this summer.  The Extended Project Qualification saw an increase in entries by 12% (to 40,013).

As of midnight before results day, 416,310 applicants had been accepted into Higher Education through UCAS – a decrease of 2% compared with the same date last year.  However, the entry rate for English 18 year olds at this time was at an all-time high of 27.5%.

Ofqual has published more detailed results information on A Levels.  Statistics covering the whole of the UK by subject, grade and age are available on the JCQ website.