A-Level results 2026 – trends in review

The most anticipated week for students has finally arrived as millions of students around the world receive their A Level and AS Levels, as well as T Level and Vocational and Technical Qualifications (VTQ) results.

Global demand for routes to higher education

One of the largest international education providers, Cambridge International, announced that entries for its AS and A Level rose by 5% this year reflecting the increasing global demand for qualifications that provide a trusted route to higher education.368,000 of its AS and A Level students from 3,492 schools across 128 countries received results on 11 August, with more than 737,000 entries in total.Recognised by more than 2500 universities worldwide, Cambridge International AS & A Levels equip learners with the academic knowledge, independent thinking and problem-solving skills needed to succeed at both university and the workplace. Acceptance of the qualification now extends beyond traditional destinations such as the UK, the US, Canada and Australia, with leading universities across a range of countries welcoming Cambridge learners, from China to the UAE.“More students are turning to our A Levels because they combine deep subject knowledge with the skills universities and employers value most. This year's continued growth shows that more students than ever recognise the power of that combination in a world shaped by AI,” said Rod Smith, group managing director for international education at Cambridge.According to the provider, 98% of Cambridge International A Level students who applied to UK universities in the 2025 cycle received at least one offer of a place. “As higher education becomes increasingly competitive, universities are looking for students with academic depth, resilience, and the ability to think independently. Our qualifications develop those qualities. Today, Cambridge learners represent around one in eight international students entering UK universities, providing compelling evidence of the enduring value and global recognition of Cambridge International A Levels,” said Kevin Ebenezer, director of university pathways and progression at Cambridge.More students were also reported to take the Cambridge International Project Qualification (IPQ) alongside their AS and A Levels. IPQ entries rose by 68% in June. The qualification develops self-directed study and research skills to highlight academic engagement and curiosity.The international education provider’s most popular A-Level and AS Level subjects this year were the English General Paper, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and English Language.   

Putting students first amid global disruption

Getting a high quality borderless online education is now a seamless experience for the most part but examination season has been especially challenging. Providers serving conflict regions with prolonged school closures have been forced to adapt to ensure continuity, quality and wellbeing for their students.The closure of schools across the Middle East caused by regional conflict meant exams could not be sat safely in certain parts, affecting almost 30,000 Cambridge International students.Schools worked closely with Cambridge to deliver a Portfolio of Evidence, an established contingency method that assesses students on a range of work marked by Cambridge examiners while universities recognised results awarded through this route, ensuring the hard work of students are not lost to circumstances beyond their control.Pearson too introduced specific contingency arrangements for affected examination centres, including alternative examination arrangements and evidence-based grading for students impacted by the Middle East crisis.Cambridge International students also saw their first exams delivered on screen across a range of subjects. Developed together with schools to ensure more choice and flexibility, the on-screen exam programme is being rolled out as an additional option for those who prefer it to paper exams widening their offering.

UK landscape and trends behind results

More than 1.1 million results have been issued across all level 3 qualifications with more than 880,000 A and AS Level results issued to students in England, with another 221,000 results for vocational and technical qualifications.Ofqual reported the national picture for this year’s results was ‘stable’. Interestingly, the amount of students receiving T Levels results, a relatively new qualification, increased by 65%. 19,665 results for T Level have been awarded – up from 11,980 last year, with a pass rate of over 90%.According to Ofqual, 18.3% of students taking the occupational specialism in the second year of their T Level course achieved a distinction. 221,095 VTQ results have also been awarded overall, with 195,190 of those for applied generals. The most widely taken subject sector areas were business, administration and law, social sciences and leisure, travel and tourism.

Maths remains top choice and economics climbs up

In England, 835,950 A Levels have been awarded to 320,505 students from 2,835 different schools and colleges in 57 different subjects and 48,835 AS Level results have been issued in 35 subjects.Maths was the top subject, studied by more students than any other, accounting for about one in 8 of A Level results released. Maths A Level has increased in size as a proportion of entries in recent years, and that trend has continued this year. Further maths A Level also saw strong growth this year.The next most commonly-taken A Level subjects were psychology and biology, similar to 2025. These were followed by chemistry and economics to complete this year’s top five subjects. Economics was a new entry into the top five subject entries, compared to its tenth place in 2025, overtaking sociology.According to the Joint Council for Qualifications, the top 10 A-Level subjects last year, in order, were Maths, Psychology, Biology, Chemistry, Business Studies, Physics, History, Sociology, Art & Design and Economics. 

Top grades rise for students this year

There was a small rise in the proportion of students achieving A* or A at A Level overall from 28.2% in 2025 to 28.3% this year. According to Ofqual this has been largely driven by a small increase in those grades in maths (from 41.6% in 2025 to 42.1% this year).Ofqual data also shows that about two-thirds of A Level students took three subjects. 7,245 18-year-olds achieved an A* grade in every subject they took, 25 of those students took five or more A Levels.In addition, UCAS reported that 228,990 UK 18-year-olds have been accepted at their first firm choice of university or college, this was up 1% from 226,580 last year while 31,770 have been placed at their insurance choice, from 26,330, up by 21%. T Levels and VTQs featured prominently this year and that trend could grow with Prime Minister Andy Burnham expressing a need to ‘value the hard hat as much as the graduation cap’ and his call for vocational and technical routes to have the same standing as academic qualifications.

UK regional divide grows

While the results picture was noted to be one of stability the regional gap has clearly widened. According to Ofqual data, the gap between the highest and lowest performing regions in achieving As and A*s grew to 9.6%, up from 9.2% last year.Ofqual data shows the regions with the highest percentage of A Level results at A or A* were London and the South East.The North East and East Midlands jointly received the lowest proportion of top grades at 23.1% in contrast to London which achieved the highest proportion of A and A* grades at 32.7%, up from 32.1% in 2025.While overall A* and A grades rose nationally this year, there were only two regions – London and the South East – above the national average of 28.3%.

International students The number of students gaining a place in a UK university undergraduate rose by 2% while applicants accepted from China rose from 12,380 to 13,870 according to UCAS data.

Did you know? Cambridge International AS & A Levels can be used to gain places at leading universities worldwide including the UK, Ireland, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, Singapore, Egypt, Jordan, South Africa, the Netherlands, Germany and Spain. Over 2670 universities in 99 countries now formally recognise Cambridge qualifications, including all UK universities and over 1070 in the US.

You can find more coverage on A-Level and AS results, GCSE, IGSCEs, 3 Level qualifications exam results and international education trends on our website and social channels. Don’t miss our exam results coverage next week.

---

Congratulations to everyone receiving their exam results — and to the schools, teachers and families who have supported them along the way.

If your school has results to celebrate, Relocate Global would love to hear from you.See the results from our Featured Schools.

---

---

Find out more about the Think Global People and Think Women community and events.

---

Subscribe to Relocate Extra, our monthly newsletter, to get all the latest international assignments and global mobility news.Relocate’s new Global Mobility Toolkit provides free information, practical advice and support for HR, global mobility managers and global teams operating overseas.

---

©2026 Re:locate magazine, published by Profile Locations, Spray Hill, Hastings Road, Lamberhurst, Kent TN3 8JB. All rights reserved. This publication (or any part thereof) may not be reproduced in any form without the prior written permission of Profile Locations. Profile Locations accepts no liability for the accuracy of the contents or any opinions expressed herein.