Drop in number getting three top-grade A-levels

The proportion of teenagers scoring three or more A grades in their A-levels dropped slightly this year, while the numbers achieving at least two passes also fell, official figures showed today.

One in eight (12.4%) 16-18-year-olds was awarded at least three A* or A grades in this summer's exams, down marginally from 12.7% last year.

In total, 93.6% of candidates attained two or more A-level passes - this is down from 95.1%, the year before, figures published by the Department for Education show.