More than one in four UK A-level entries were awarded the top A-grade this year, results show.
More than one in four UK A-level entries were awarded the top A grade this year, results show.
Figures from the exam boards showed 25.3% of entries were graded A, up from 24.1% last year.
Figures from the exam boards showed 25.3% of entries were graded A, up from 24.1% last year.
The national pass rate rose for the 25th year in a row, with 96.9% of exams being marked A to E, up from 96.6% last year.
The improvement in A grades in independent and grammar schools over the past five years has been double that in state comprehensives.
Girls continue to out-perform boys in every major subject except for modern foreign languages and further maths.
The national pass rate rose for the 25th year in a row, with 96.9% graded A to E, up from 96.6% last year.
Statistics published by the Joint Council for Qualifications relate to more than 800,000 A-level entries and more than 1.1 million AS-levels - the first half of an A-level and also a qualification in its own right.
Girls continued to outperform boys in every major subject except for modern foreign languages and further maths.
About 310,000 candidates in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are getting their individual results, some 50,000 of them online.
Statistics published by the Joint Council for Qualifications relate to more than 800,000 A-level entries and more than 1.1 million AS-levels.
About 310,000 candidates have been getting their individual results, mostly in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, some 50,000 of them online.
The council revealed that independent schools are increasing their share of the top grades.
Looked at over the five years since the Curriculum 2000 changes to the form of A-levels were made, the proportion of entries from independent and selective schools awarded an A has increased by about six percentage points.
This was double the rate of improvement in the majority of state schools.
The difference was revealed by the director general of the biggest board, AQA, Mike Cresswell, is response to suggestions that the exams must be getting easier.
"If that were the case you would expect to see students from all sorts of schools and colleges and backgrounds showing the same average increase in outcomes," he said.
"They sit the same exams, we mark them the same, our examiners don't even know which school or college they are from."
He said the improvements were down to improved teaching and learning. He was not going to speculate on why there were such differences between different centres.
"But those differences would not exist if the exams were getting easier."
The head of the Association of School and College Leaders, John Dunford - with members in both sectors - attributed the difference to better resourcing in private schools in response to increased competition.
He challenged the prime minister to fulfil his pledge to raise state school funding to independent levels.
Dr Cresswell added: "Whatever the usual grumpy old people want to say about how it was much harder in their day we want to say the students have done very well, they are a success story and we should be proud of them."
And he reminded people that less than a tenth of candidates achieved three A grades, representing just 3% of 18-year-olds.
Subject variations
The top two subjects in terms of popularity were English and maths, with maths continuing its upward trend. Entries in maths were up 7.3% this year while those in further maths rose 8.3%.
The top two subjects in terms of popularity were English and maths, with maths continuing its upward trend. Entries in maths were up 7.3% this year while those in further maths rose 8.3%.
There was also a small rise in the numbers of people taking chemistry and physics but a slight fall in biology.
There was also a small rise in the numbers of people taking chemistry and physics but a slight fall in biology.
Entries in modern foreign languages were largely stable. There was an increase in entries for German and Spanish but a decrease in those for French.
Entries in modern foreign languages were largely stable. There was an increase in entries for German and Spanish but a decrease in those for French.
'Positive signs'
There were marked differences between subjects in the grades awarded: with 43.7% of maths A-levels given an A grade compared with 14% of those in media studies.
Jim Sinclair, director of the joint council paid tribute to the hard work of students.
"What that tells you is that there are differences in how good those candidates are at those subjects," Dr Cresswell said - no-one would suggest that maths was somehow easier.
"The improvement of the results at A-level reflects how well students have done this year," he said.
The biggest percentage increase in entries, from a small base, was in critical thinking.
"Candidates who have worked hard are getting the results they deserve.
The chief executive of the OCR exam board, Greg Watson, said it provided the sorts of skills in weighing information and evaluating arguments that were sought by both universities and employers.
"There are many positive signs and improvements and some of the highlights are the continued upward entry trend in mathematics, the physical sciences also seeing an improvement and modern foreign languages remaining stable."
Review
The steady improvement in results inevitably revives the debate about the standard of A-levels and whether they test the brightest pupils.
Higher pass rates mean more young people are achieving advanced qualifications that will help them fulfil their ambitions, this is something we should all celebrate Jim Knight, Schools Minister
Higher pass rates mean more young people are achieving advanced qualifications that will help them fulfil their ambitions, this is something we should all celebrate Jim Knight, Schools Minister
The Liberal Democrats are calling for an independent review but this has been ruled out by the government.
The Liberal Democrats are calling for an independent review of A-levels but this has been ruled out by the government.
Schools Minister Jim Knight said one had been carried out three years ago and it was a "real shame" the annual debate about standards undermined pupils' performances.
Schools Minister Jim Knight said one had been carried out three years ago and it was a "real shame" the annual debate about standards undermined pupils' performances.
He said: "I warmly congratulate students and teachers on these excellent results.
He said: "I warmly congratulate students and teachers on these excellent results.
"Sustained progress in A-level results over the last decade is down to high quality teaching and strong investment in our schools.
"Sustained progress in A-level results over the last decade is down to high quality teaching and strong investment in our schools."
"Higher pass rates mean more young people are achieving advanced qualifications that will help them fulfil their ambitions, and this is something we should all celebrate."
He also said it was encouraging that the numbers of students taking maths, modern languages and science subjects were on the rise. The subjects were crucial to the UK economy.
Professor Alan Smithers, from the University of Buckingham, said: "I think the A-grades hitting 25% is a matter of concern because it does not distinguish sufficiently well at the top end."
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