Pupils fume they’ve been ‘completely screwed over’ by return to pre-Covid marking after top grades drop by 9% in a year – while universities start to run out of Clearing places as thousands miss out on their preferred choices

Students today claimed to have been ‘completely screwed over’ amid an A-level marking clampdown as the proportion of exams awarded top grades plunged.

This year’s pupils who received their A-level results today did not sit GCSE exams two years ago and were awarded teacher-assessed grades amid the pandemic. Most had not sat in a formal exam hall since they took SATs when they were 11-years-old.

Described as ‘the unluckiest’ cohort of students, this year’s exams were the first formal tests they have ever taken because of Covid-19 disruption at schools.

The youngsters, dubbed ‘Generation Covid’, spoke out after data revealed today that the proportion of A-level entries awarded top grades was down on last year but remains above pre-pandemic levels.

Heartbreaking footage showed family members and teachers comforting teens who have were left disappointed by the grades they were handed this morning.

One mother crowded around her daughter as she opened her results, encouraging her ‘A, B, C. That’s good!’ only to be told bluntly by the unimpressed pupil, ‘that’s awful’. 

Others were reduced to tears after they teared into the envelope, being consoled by their friends, as another student spoke of how his grades had dropped two below what had been predicted.  

Some 250,000 students have now received their grades in a year when ministers and the exams regulator in England aimed to return to pre-pandemic grading.

But 19,000 students were involved in a Clearing frenzy today after missing out on a university place – with some institutions running out of places within hours.

Ruby Stephens (left) discusses her A-level results with her teacher Rachel Vaughan at Sydenham High School in South East London today

A sixth-form student discusses her A-level results at an unnamed school in London today

Students at Ark Acton Academy in Acton, West London, discuss their A-level results today

Will Colman receives his A-level results at Langley School in Loddon, Norfolk, today

Kirsten Marks (right) discusses her A-level results with deputy head teacher Elyse Waites at Sydenham High School in South East London today

Isaac Whittaker speaks on the phone after opening his results at Ffynone House School in Swansea today

The lower grades have caused a flurry of students to surge towards Clearing, picking up the phone to try and squeeze onto popular courses. 

The University of Birmingham said it was ‘closed for Clearing’ by 12.30pm – while  Durham said at 12pm it had shut for all Clearing courses except primary education.

London South Bank University reported a 29 per cent rise in Clearing applications this year, while Aston University said it was ‘experiencing high levels of calls’ today. 

The University of Sheffield said it had already taken 5,655 calls within the first hour of its call centre opening from 8am, with more than 80 people staffing the phones. 

Among those who did not get their first university choice was Guy Martin, 18, who needed an A and two Bs for chemical engineering at the University of Southampton. He will now take the same degree at his insurance choice, the University of Surrey.

Mr Martin told the Daily Telegraph: ‘I didn’t really realise how much my education had been affected by Covid until I reached exam season.

‘I hadn’t actually done any real exams until my A-levels. It is a worry that the grade boundaries are going to be lower this year. I think we’ve been completely screwed over. 

‘We’re expected to do these exams under normal conditions when we haven’t had a normal education.’

One 18-year-old, who studied Biology, Chemistry and Drama, received his predicted grades of AAB – but insists if the grade boundaries remained at 2019 levels, he would have got triple As.

The student is now going to take a gap year and apply to St Andrews or Bristol University told MailOnline: ‘We have had both our GCSE years affected by Covid so we had not had any proper formal exams since we took SATs – which is seven years ago.’ 

‘For me, I forgot how to study. After two years of teacher assed grades, I didn’t know how to,’ the pupil, who asked to remain anonymous added.

‘Considering 2019 was one of the highest set of grade boundaries, it makes no sense for those in 2023, a school year who faced two years of Covid, to receive harsher grade boundaries.’ 

Another student on Twitter said: ‘I’m getting my results today and I had never sat an exam before my A-levels.

‘How is that fair compared to students in 2019 who had already sat exams and have experienced exam conditions?’ 

More than a quarter (27.2 per cent) of UK entries were awarded an A or A* grade, down by 9.2 percentage points on last year when 36.4 per cent got the top grades.

However, this was still higher than in 2019 – the last year that summer exams were taken before the pandemic – when 25.4 per cent of entries were awarded A or A*. This year’s figure was also higher than in any year on record before the pandemic.

The overall pass rate – the proportion of entries graded A* to E – has fallen to 97.3 per cent this year, which is lower than 2022 (98.4 per cent) and 2019 (97.6 per cent). This rate is now at its lowest level since 2008 when it stood at 97.2 per cent.

Meanwhile a cricketer who achieved the grades she needs to study physiotherapy said that disruption through the pandemic was hard but teachers ‘helped us get through it all quite smoothly’.

May Drinkell, 18, of Bungay, Suffolk, collected her grades at Langley School near Loddon in Norfolk today, achieving a B in A-level chemistry, C in maths and a distinction in BTec sport.

‘I was feeling a bit nervous, the build up’s been quite a while, I had the summer to let it marinate but I’m happy with how it went and I’m just glad it’s all over really now,’ she said.

She said her first choice is to study physiotherapy at UEA in Norwich alongside her cricket training.

Student Danielle Owusu Ansah reacts to her A-level results at City of London College today

Richard Osborne (left) and Rhys Marjoram at Langley School in Loddon, Norfolk, this morning

Student Hasena Mahmood reacts after receiving her results at City of London College today

Twins Alice and Holly Hake celebrate their A-level exam results at St Gabriel’s School in Newbury, Berkshire, this morning after achieving six As and 2 A*s between them 

Students at Brighton Girls celebrate this morning after receiving their A-level results

Scenes of jubilation at Newcastle High School for Girls this morning as students celebrate

Referring to disruption through the pandemic, she said: ‘It’s been a little bit hard but the teachers have been so good here and they’ve helped us get through it all quite smoothly.’

Meanwhile the Ucas website came under severe strain and temporarily crashed this morning.

Some students logging onto the university admission service’s website took to social media to tell of concerns that it had crashed and they could not access their results.

Ucas told MailOnline that the website may have been ‘running slow’ for a ‘small number’ of students but this was quickly resolved. 

It also said on social media that ‘high traffic volumes’ could mean it ‘takes a little longer than normal’ to load.

It comes amid a scramble for 29,000 courses and 8,000 apprenticeships in Clearing today, after the total number of students accepted on to UK degree courses fell 2.6 per cent on the same point last year, with 414,940 taking up places so far.

Ucas said 79 per cent of students secured their first choice for university, which is down from 81 per cent last year – but up from 74 per cent in 2019. 

Some 12 per cent were placed at their insurance choice – up from 11 per cent last year. 

Therefore, 91 per cent of students got into their first or insurance choice – while the remaining 9 per cent went into Clearing.

Overall, 19,010 UK 18-year-old applicants have missed the conditions of their offer – significantly up on 15,090 last year and also a rise on 17,270 in 2019, Ucas added.

 There were 29,000 courses and 8,000 apprenticeships available in Clearing today.

The Ucas website struggled to load for some pupils, which it blamed on ‘high traffic volumes’ 

The A-level results figures, published by the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ), cover A-level entries from students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

In England, exams regulator Ofqual had said this year’s A-level results would be lower than last year and they would be similar to those in 2019 as part of efforts to return to pre-pandemic grading.

It comes after Covid-19 led to an increase in top grades in 2020 and 2021, with results based on teacher assessments instead of exams.

In Wales, results are expected to be ‘broadly midway’ between those awarded in 2022 – the first year students sat exams following the pandemic – and 2019.

In Northern Ireland, results are expected to return to pre-pandemic levels next year.

Overall, the proportion of UK entries awarded the top A* grade this year has fallen by 5.7 percentage points to 8.9 per cent compared with 14.6 per cent in 2022, but it is higher than when it stood at 7.7 per cent in 2019.

Boys have pulled ahead of girls at the top grade this year after female entries were in front for the last three years, with A* grades at 9.1 per cent for the former compared with 8.8 per cent for the latter.

Girls continued to outperform boys at A* and A but the gender gap has narrowed again this year.

A total of 3,820 students in England alone scored three A*grades, according to separate figures from exams regulator Ofqual.

This is down from 8,570 last year, but up from 2,785 in 2019.

Many A-level students in Wales and Northern Ireland were given advance information about topics to expect in their exam papers this summer but students in England were not given the same support.

Ofqual said it built protection into the grading process in England this year to recognise the disruption that students have faced, which should have enabled a student to get the grade they would have received before the pandemic even if the quality of their work is a little bit weaker due to disruption.

The cohort of students who are receiving their A-level results did not sit GCSE exams and were awarded teacher-assessed grades amid the pandemic.

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said: ‘The proportion of students achieving the top A-level grades has fallen sharply this year, not as a result of underperformance, but because the grading system has been adjusted in the wake of the pandemic so that the distribution of grades in England is similar to 2019.

‘This adjustment is a return to normality after the pandemic which necessitated the use of different approaches to grading.

‘Whatever the rationale, however, it will feel like a bruising experience for many students, as well as schools and colleges which will have seen a sharp dip in top grades compared to the past three years.

‘It is important to remember that these students also suffered the disruption of the pandemic, and this will have impacted particularly on those from disadvantaged backgrounds.’

He added: ‘We would urge students who are disappointed by their grades not to panic but to talk to their teachers about the options available to them and we wish all the young people receiving their results today every success for the future.’

Students celebrate their results at William Hulme’s Grammar School in Manchester today

Eve Glitz, 18, celebrates with parents David and Jane at St Gabriel’s School in Newbury today

Student Rayaan Mahamoud celebrates her A-Level results at City of London College today

Lili Connell (second left) opens her A-level results with her parents at Brighton Girls today

Habib Matlib, Umair Abdullah and John Bose at Ffynone House School in Swansea today

John Bose smiles after receiving his A-level results at Ffynone House School in Swansea today

Student Silicate Ibrahim reacts after receiving her results at City of London College today

Students at Plantsbrook School in Sutton Coldfield open their A-level results this morning

Alicia Duffus looks at her A-level results at Plantsbrook School in Sutton Coldfield today

Julia and Vijayakemaran at Ark Acton Academy in Acton, West London, with their results today

Students at Plantsbrook School in Sutton Coldfield look at their A-level results today

Students react after receiving their A-Level results at City of London College this morning

Mary Watts (left) and Tallulah Huggins receive their A-level results at Brighton Girls today

Students at Plantsbrook School in Sutton Coldfield look at their A-level results this morning

Students at Plantsbrook School in Sutton Coldfield open their A-level results this morning 

Students react after receiving their A-Level results at City of London College this morning

Students at Plantsbrook School in Sutton Coldfield open their A-level results this morning 

Meanwhile Ucas said the number of students accepted on to UK degree courses has fallen this year.

A total of 414,940 applicants – of all ages and domiciles – have gained a place at university or college – down 2.6 per cent on the same point last year, according to its data.

For 18-year-olds in the UK, 230,600 applicants have been accepted – down 3.1 per cent on last year.

Ucas said 79 per cent of 18-year-old applicants from the UK have gained a place at their first choice university or college, which is down from 81 per cent last year but up from 74 per cent in 2019 – the year before the pandemic.

Nearly one in ten (9 per cent) have not been placed at their first or insurance choice and are now in clearing, Ucas said, compared to 7 per cent last year and 12 per cent in 2019.

The number of 18-year-olds from the most disadvantaged backgrounds in the UK to gain places on courses is 25,760 this year, compared to 26,440 last year.

The number of 18-year-olds from the most advantaged backgrounds in the UK to be accepted is 76,780, compared to 79,650 in 2022.

The admissions service said this means that for every disadvantaged student, 2.30 advantaged students progress compared to 2.29 last year.

Overall, 51,210 international students (all ages, all domiciles) have been accepted – down 2.3 per cent on last year. The top three countries with placed applicants are China, India and Hong Kong.

Ucas chief executive Clare Marchant said A-level results have been a ‘very positive picture’ and praised a cohort of students who are sitting external exams for the first time. 

She told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that there has been a slight drop in the number of students getting a place at their first choice university.

Ms Marchant said that 79 per cent of students had got their first choice at university meaning that they can ‘just go out and celebrate’.

She said: ‘Yes, a slight drop from last year, which is what we expected as we return to the normal grading but again significantly up from the 74 per cent back in 2019 and that is what we expected.’

When asked about what advice she had for students who didn’t get their first choice should do she added: ‘Just think about your next step. We have got 29,000 courses in clearing as I sit here today and around 8,000 apprenticeships on UCAS.

‘There is plenty of choice. The really key thing if you’re students or a parent, or guardian, is to just take a little bit of time. If you haven’t already done the research to think through what’s right for you.’

Ms Marchant also said in a statement: ‘Firstly, I want to say a huge congratulations to the hundreds of thousands of students up and down the country who are celebrating their results and next steps today.

‘I am delighted to see more than 200,000 UK 18-year-olds have secured their first choice, which is testament to their hard work and commitment to progress to higher education in a year that has seen many complex factors at play, such as geopolitics, the economy and job market, and cost of living.

‘However, today’s data shows that challenges in widening participation to the most disadvantaged students still persist. This demonstrates that we all need to continue the efforts to ensure the most disadvantaged individuals in society are able to benefit from life-changing opportunities in higher education and training, particularly as the 18-year-old population grows.’

She added: ‘For anyone who may not have got the results they were hoping for, or for those applicants who want to change their mind, there is plenty of choice in clearing with nearly 29,000 courses and 8,000 apprenticeships currently available.

‘We also have a team of advisers hard at work to provide students with expert information, advice and guidance on the phones, social media, and on ucas.com.’

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan insisted the way A-levels have been graded in England was fair despite exam regulators in Wales and Northern Ireland stating that they do not expect to return to pre-pandemic grading standards until 2024.

Ms Keegan told BBC Breakfast: ‘At some point you have to sit exams in life, they usually come to all of us.

‘Clearly when it was their GCSEs, it was right in the middle of the pandemic, they all got teacher-assessed grades. This is now the time we’ve chosen, and we think it is the right time – it is two years after the pandemic – that we return to the normal grading system.’

Told it was not fair to compare the results from this year’s cohort of school leavers who had not sat exams before to those in 2019, Ms Keegan said: ‘Well it is fair because what we have made sure is that there were some additional things put into position.

‘So they did get some additional aide-memoires for certain subjects and there are some additional things that have been put into place with grade boundaries, so they are not identical.

‘But the idea is that we get an identical result… so there are very sophisticated new systems and they do know what they are doing, and we have very senior examiners making sure they calibrate that (to) 2019.’

The Education Secretary added that this year’s A-levels cohort had ‘a lot to deal with’ and had shown ‘incredible resilience’ as she congratulated them on their grades.

Ms Keegan also said the latest Ucas figures showed the UK Government was ‘right to put the grading system back to normal’.

She told BBC Radio 4: ‘We’ve just had the Ucas figures out… which is that 79 per cent of those students receiving their results today got their first choice of university. And that is up from 74 per cent in 2019.

‘And the great news is that 16,500 students on free school meals gained a place at university, which is a 60 per cent increase from 2019 and 14 per cent up from last year.

‘So in terms of destinations, this cohort has done incredibly well and most of them – 79 per cent – have actually got their first choice of university.

‘So hopefully that will lead everybody to understand that we were right to put the grading system back to normal. The university admissions officers know how to deal with these differences, they know how to deal with the difference from previous cohorts and they also know how to deal with differences between the English system and the Welsh, Northern Irish and Scottish.’

She also said the pupils receiving A-level grades today were unlikely to be asked for the results by employers in 10 years’ time. 

Speaking to Sky News, the Education Secretary said: ‘Somebody asked me, ‘What will people ask you in 10 years’ time?’

‘They won’t ask you anything about your A-level grades in 10 years’ time.

‘They will ask you about other things you have done since then: what you have done in the work place, what you did at university?

‘And then, after a period of time, they don’t even ask you what you did at university.

‘It is really all about what you do and what you can demonstrate and the skills that you learn in the workplace.’

The Education Secretary also told Sky News that A-level pupils will ‘still get the same access to university’ as those in previous years.

Gillian Keegan said: ‘The whole grading system will be back to normal and so the universities will calibrate to that.

‘And in fact they already have done so in their offers to some degree – they have already taken that into account.

‘So we have worked with the universities so they understand it, with the admissions officers. And also with businesses, so they understand it.

‘Everybody knows that these are different conditions to the teacher-assessed grades and even last year, which was part way between the two systems, more similar to what they have done in Northern Ireland and Wales.’

Speaking to GB News, Ms Keegan said A-level grades would return ‘back to normal’ with pre-pandemic grading expected to lead to lower grades than last year.

She said: ‘First of all, the grading system will not impact the university places.

‘It is very normal that the predicted grades that people get… I think only one in five actually get their predicted grades or above, so this is a very normal part of the system.

‘So the actual university places and access to university is still exactly the same as it was. If they had got a B and gone to university in 2019, they will get a B and go to university in 2023.

‘All we have done is, and this is really important because our exams, both GCSEs and A-levels, are highly regarded across the world and we want to make sure they keep that value.

‘Obviously we needed to go back from teacher-assessed grades and we did that last year but now we are going back to the normal grading system, and that will make sure that these hold their value and that they do have true value.’

On TalkTV, Ms Keegan said international student places at UK universities had ‘remained steady’ following reports that British students could face more competition for higher education places this year due to a growth in 18-year-olds in the population and international demand.

The Education Secretary said that reports that university clearing were going to prioritise international students because they pay more were ‘misleading’.

When the report was put to her, Ms Keegan said: ‘No, well 70 per cent of the international students that come to the country to study are actually studying postgraduate. So that is the first fact.

‘The second is that, of the undergraduates, 85 per cent of them are home students and 15 per cent international. And that has remained steady, up or down a percentage or two over the years, but it has remained quite steady.

‘What was looked at in clearing was a snapshot that was very misleading because the international students get their A-level equivalent results earlier, so there was more clearing put in for international students.

‘All of those courses have now been loaded up, 29,000 of them, for home students as the A-level results are now (available).’

Margaret Farragher, chief executive of the JCQ, said: ‘This year’s results recognise the fantastic achievements of students across the country. They have worked incredibly hard throughout the pandemic period to achieve these well-earned grades.

‘The 2023 results show that students are well equipped to continue their studies or move into apprenticeships or employment. ‘

Pupils in Scotland received their results last week and the Scottish Qualifications Authority figures showed that the Higher pass rate was down from last year but it remained above 2019 levels.