Top A-Level Results Continued Rise

What's happened

UK A-level entries have reached a record high with top grades rising again. Maths remains the most popular subject, while the share of A/A* grades has increased. Boys lead in top grades, with economics and other quantitative subjects gaining traction as students weigh future job prospects.

What's behind the headline?

Insightful analysis

• Maths remains a dominant driver of overall results, with 13th consecutive year at the top and a broad impact on cohort figures.
• Economics climbs into the top five as students seek subjects linked to job prospects and earnings potential.
• The gender split shows boys achieving a higher share of top grades, a shift seen again after 2021-22 pandemic fluctuations.
• Regional disparities persist, with London reporting higher top-grade shares than some other regions.
• The bigger picture points to students responding to economic signals and cost-of-living pressures by prioritising subjects with clearer career pathways.

Forecast

• Provisional data suggests top grades will remain strong as maths and quantitative subjects maintain popularity, potentially widening the gender gap in the very top grades.

How we got here

The results day data comes from UCAS and Ofqual analyses of the 2026 cohort. Population growth, continued maths popularity and evolving subject choices shape outcomes. Reports show regional variations within the UK, with London leading in top grades.

Our analysis

Independent and The Mirror report on 2026 A-Level results, noting growth in top grades and maths’ lasting popularity. The Independent also highlights regional differences and Ofqual commentary on maths impact.

Go deeper

• Will maths and economics continue to dominate A-level choices next year?
• How will regional differences affect university admissions in 2027?
• When might other subjects rise in top-grade shares?

More on these topics

• economics - Field of study

  Economics is the social science that studies the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. Economics focuses on the behaviour and interactions of economic agents and how economies work.

• Mathematics - Field of study

  Mathematics includes the study of such topics as quantity, structure, space, and change. It has no generally accepted definition.

• Wales - UK constituent country

  Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by the Irish Sea to the north and west, England to the east, the Bristol Channel to the south, and the Celtic Sea to the south-west. As of 2021, it had a population of 3.2 million.

• Northern Ireland - Country of the United Kingdom

  Northern Ireland is variously described as a country, province or region which is part of the United Kingdom. Located in the northeast of the island of Ireland, Northern Ireland shares a border to the south and west with the Republic of Ireland.

• United Kingdom - Country in Europe

  The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom or Britain, is a sovereign country located off the north­western coast of the European mainland.

• England - Country of the United Kingdom

  England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest of England and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. England is separated from continental Europe by

• Ofqual - Government department

  The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation is a non-ministerial government department that regulates qualifications, exams and tests in England and, until May 2016, vocational qualifications in Northern Ireland.

• Universities and Colleges Admissions Service

  The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service is a UK-based organisation whose main role is to operate the application process for British universities.