This year, A-level results day saw students getting significantly lower grades than in the last academic year as a result of the after effects of the pandemic. Additionally, statistics show that a narrowing in gendered performance and subject preference have also changed from the year previous.
The proportion of candidates ‘passing’ their A-levels, receiving grades A*-E dropped from 99.5% in 2021 to 98.4%. Although it is still higher than the 2019 results where 97.6% passed in each subject, the 2022 results may be a sign that A-level grades are returning to pre-pandemic rates.
The lowered pass rate has had a knock on effect on the acceptance of university places, with clearing at The University of Sheffield closing within 1 day – the admission team at UoS confirmed.
UCAS confirmed that around 20,000 students who applied to university across the UK did not get a place. Alongside the acceptance rate dropping by 2%. This comes as the government announced a ‘reign in on grade inflation’ following the higher rates of university acceptance during the pandemic.
A student, who’s firm choice was UoS to study astrophysics, commented. They said they have had to enroll on a foundation year due to the sharp decline in A-level results, meaning their tenure at UoS would increased.
Despite the shock reported in response to the lower A-level results, the schools minister, Will Quince, expressed his concern about the inflating grades. He stated that grades needed to be pushed back to pre-pandemic levels, which has been criticized due to the impact COVID-19 is still having on education.
Although the pandemic has come to an end, the Sutton Trust education charity has expressed concerns over the rates in which COVID-19 is still affecting students, releasing data that showed 1 in 5 (or 21%) of A-level students who applied to university missed 20 or more school days in the run up to exams due to COVID disruptions.