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Uni warning as A-Level results in Rise in top grade A-level exams
(about 2 hours later)
Thousands of teenagers across Wales will receive their A-level results later. The pass rate for A-levels in Wales is unchanged compared with last year but more students landed an A grade.
The 2009 pass rate for all subjects at schools and colleges from grades A-E is 97.6%, the same figure for 2008.
But with record numbers of students applying for university places, admissions tutors are warning that many could be left disappointed.But with record numbers of students applying for university places, admissions tutors are warning that many could be left disappointed.
The credit crunch has led to a significant increase in the number of young people applying for university places. The credit crunch has led to a significant rise in the number of young people applying for university places.
The national results will be released at 0930 BST. The proportion of A grades rose by almost a percentage point from 24.1%, as students took 1,597 more exams this year - a rise of 4.3%.
Girls accounted for 55% of the exams taken and again outperformed boys, with 25.3% landing an A grade.
However, the difference between boys and girls achieving an A grade decreased from 4% in 2008 to 1% this year.
APPLICATIONS % INCREASE Bangor University - 10%Cardiff University - 6%Swansea University - 8%Aberystwyth University - 14%University of Wales, Lampeter - 2.6%Trinity College Carmarthen - 17.5%University of Glamorgan - 19%University of Wales Institute, Cardiff (UWIC) - 3.4%College of Ystrad Mynach - 100%Glyndwr University - 47.1%Source: BBC Radio Cymru A-level student's hopes and fearsAPPLICATIONS % INCREASE Bangor University - 10%Cardiff University - 6%Swansea University - 8%Aberystwyth University - 14%University of Wales, Lampeter - 2.6%Trinity College Carmarthen - 17.5%University of Glamorgan - 19%University of Wales Institute, Cardiff (UWIC) - 3.4%College of Ystrad Mynach - 100%Glyndwr University - 47.1%Source: BBC Radio Cymru A-level student's hopes and fears
The number of students taking the Welsh baccalaureate rose by more than 1,500, taking the number of exams entered across Wales to 38,433.
Education Minister Jane Hutt said the results across A-levels, AS-levels and the Welsh baccalaureate were a "cause for celebration".
She said: "Whatever their future plans young people collecting their results today deserve to take time to celebrate their successes.
"Their achievements, and the skills and knowledge they have gained will be invaluable to them in the future as they continue their lifelong learning journey through education or training in university, college or the work place.
The most popular A and AS level subjects were English, Mathematics and Biology, all of which attracted over 2,500 entries at A level and over 3,000 entries at AS.
CLEARING CONTACTS Aberystwyth 0800 121 4080 Bangor Uni 0800 085 1818 Cardiff Uni 029 20 876 000 Glyndwr, Wrexham 01978 293439 Lampeter 01570 424600 Swansea Uni 0800 0949071 or 01792 295097 Swansea Met : 0800 731 0884 Trinity Carmarthen 01267 676767 University of Glamorgan 0800 612 9129 Uwic, Cardiff 029 20 416044
A growth in the number of entries at A-level and AS-level was seen for all the sciences and for mathematics and further mathematics compared with last year, with increases ranging from 2% for biology to 14% for physics.
Entries for modern foreign languages were more variable, as was also the case in England.
At A-level there was a decrease of 8% in the number of entries for French and 3% for German, although Spanish saw an increase of 17%. At AS there were reduced entries in each of these languages.
Across all subjects, those where students performed exceptionally well included chemistry (up two percentage points to 34% gaining grade A), French (up three percentage points to 34% at grade A), German (up one percentage points to 34% at grade A) and economics (up 6 percentage points to 33% at grade A).
In mathematics 44% landed an grade A while in further mathematics 56% gaining A grades.
But with record numbers of students applying for university places, admissions tutors are warning of a competition for places.
The UK government has announced an extra 10,000 places on some courses but with an additional 40,000 applications to universities across the UK this year the system has never been under greater pressure.The UK government has announced an extra 10,000 places on some courses but with an additional 40,000 applications to universities across the UK this year the system has never been under greater pressure.
Research by BBC Radio Cymru found applications for the next academic year were up in 10 different colleges and universities in Wales.Research by BBC Radio Cymru found applications for the next academic year were up in 10 different colleges and universities in Wales.
Specialist, local Careers Wales advisers will be available to give interviews and tips regarding young people's next steps following exam results.Specialist, local Careers Wales advisers will be available to give interviews and tips regarding young people's next steps following exam results.
Dr Hywel Davies, director of admissions and recruitment at Aberystwyth University, admitted some students would be disappointed.
"There has been an unprecedented growth in the number of students across the UK, there does seem to be - initial indications that the number of places in clearing will be down some 50% on last year," he said.
CLEARING CONTACTS Aberystwyth 0800 121 4080 Bangor Uni 0800 085 1818 Cardiff Uni 029 20 876 000 Glyndwr, Wrexham 01978 293439 Lampeter 01570 424600 Swansea Uni 0800 0949071 or 01792 295097 Swansea Met : 0800 731 0884 Trinity Carmarthen 01267 676767 University of Glamorgan 0800 612 9129 Uwic, Cardiff 029 20 416044
"So inevitably some students will be disappointed.
"From the individuals' point of view there are plenty of opportunities to re-skill and re-sit, to do courses on a part-time basis.
"There are many ways people can gain entry, but there's no doubt about it - this year, with the growth there has been in applications and although there has been an increase at the margins in terms of supply, I don't think that increase in supply will meet the demand in certain subjects areas."
He urged students to be flexible if they could and take advice from schools and the careers service.
"Who knows that the situation may be like next year. Take the gap year and see what happens next year. I do sympathise with those students who will be disappointed," he said.