Students in England have received their A-level results after the 2025 summer series of exams, with the data revealing a small increase in top grades and pass rates this year.
Schools and colleges will be supporting their students as they collect their results and prepare to make the transition into further study or employment.
We have the latest news, key dates and important information that schools need to know in order to help their young people as they take their next steps.
When is A-level results day?
A-level and T-level results were released to schools on Wednesday 13 August and made available to students on Thursday 14 August. Students could collect their results online or in person from their school or college from 8am.
What do the 2025 A-level results show?
This year’s A-level results in England show that the regional divide in students getting the top grades has widened slightly.
The gap between the highest- and lowest-performing regions in achieving As and A*s has widened from 8.8 percentage points last year to 9.2 in 2025.
Out of all entries across the country, 9.4 per cent received an A*, compared with 9.3 per cent in 2024. This has risen from 8.6 per cent in 2023.
There was also an increase in the proportion of entries receiving grades A* to C, from 76 per cent in 2024 to 77.7 per cent.
More insights on A-level results 2025:
What should students do if they don’t get the A-level grades they need for university?
On A-level results day, many students will discover they have not obtained the grades they need to go on to study at their planned institution.
Schools may assist these students by advising them to contact the university from which they had accepted a firm offer and/or an insurance offer.
Read more about how to support students who have missed their grades.
When will A-level grade boundaries be revealed?
Every year, grade boundaries are set by individual exam boards in a process called “awarding”. The placing of the grade boundaries cannot be done until exams have been marked.
For more information on grade boundaries, you can read our article on the process behind setting grade boundaries.
Exam boards will share grade boundaries on results day - follow the links below for more information:
How were A levels graded this year?
In 2024, grading for A-level exams returned to normal as part of Ofqual’s plan to return to pre-pandemic grading standards.
Regarding the special grading measures that had been introduced in the wake of the pandemic to take disruption to learning into account, Ofqual said of grading in 2024: “Now we’re back to normal…we don’t need that sort of protection.”
Ofqual released a guide to A-level grading for teachers and heads in 2025 to help them answer questions from students and parents.
Read our guide to find out exactly how exam grade boundaries work.
What should students do if they want to appeal a grade?
If students believe there has been a mistake in the marking or administration process, they have the right to appeal against the grade they’ve received.
The first step in this process is to request to see the marked paper, then they can request the marking to be reviewed. A review of marking will involve the paper being re-marked by a second examiner.
There are three key dates for A-level grade appeals: the deadline to request a priority copy of the marked paper - one date for those with a university place pending and the second for those who are deciding on next steps - and then the deadline to request a review of marking.
Check these deadlines with the relevant exam board: this year, for example, AQA’s review deadlines are Thursday 21 August, Thursday 28 August and Thursday 25 September respectively.
Find out more about the appeals process here.
What if a student needs to resit an exam?
Students who are unhappy with their grades and either have been unsuccessful in their appeal or have chosen not to appeal will have the opportunity to sit an examination in the summer series 2026.
How do missed grades affect university offers?
Students who have applied to university courses through the Ucas admissions service will have usually already accepted one firm and one insurance offer.
Students who have failed to secure the grades they hoped for will need to first establish whether they will still be accepted on to their chosen course with their current grades or if moving to an alternative course at the same institution would be possible.
Sometimes the university may still be able to offer the student a place on the course. In some cases, it may be appropriate for the school to update the university with extenuating circumstances to explain the lower grade. It is also possible that they may require the student to appeal an A-level grade.
Ucas had predicted that a record number of 18-year-olds would get into their first choice of university in 2025, with some achieving their place even if they narrowly missed their required grades. It said that universities were keen to enrol UK students this year because of uncertainty around the number of international students they will have.
How does the university clearing process work?
In a situation where a student has their firm and insurance offers withdrawn owing to failure to secure the entry grades required, the school may assist the student in going through the Ucas clearing process.
This year, clearing opens on 5 July and closes on 20 October.
For questions on how clearing works, see our guide to clearing, which explains what students need to do in order to secure a place using the service.
Students who need help or advice about their exam results or next steps can call the National Careers Service helpline to chat with a careers adviser on 0800 100 900.
Will students receive their A-level certificates on results day?
Students do not receive their A-level certificates on results day. Instead, they receive a Candidate Statement of Provisional Results.
It is only once re-marks and appeals have been processed that certificates are awarded. This will happen in the autumn, often once students have already taken up their university or further education course or employment.
The certificates will either be sent out to students or the school or college may hold a presentation evening where A-level certificates and other awards are given to students.
Candidate Statements of Provisional Results are slips of paper that contain the A-level grades that have been awarded, and the individual mark per paper. Each exam board that a student has taken an exam with will provide one.
Students can use these statements as proof of qualifications in the interim period between results day and their certificates being awarded.
When are exam results released in Scotland?
Scottish exam results were released on Tuesday 5 August 2025. Students finishing college in Scotland sit Highers, which are broadly considered to be equivalent to A levels.
In 2025 the A to C pass rate for Highers was 75.9 per cent, compared with 74.9 per cent last summer. Out of all the Higher entries across all subjects this year, 30.8 per cent achieved an A grade.
Learn more about SQA results day.
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