In Wales, the rise in the number of students taking sciences and maths was even more marked - and pass rates in biology, chemistry, maths and physics all jumped by between 6 and 8 per cent, well above the national average.
The overall pass rate rose by 2.7 per cent to 90.7 per cent, attributed by the Welsh Joint Education Committee to the greater popularity of modular courses. A grades also bucked the national trend, rising 1.5 points in Wales to 16. 8 per cent.
