One in 10 Northern Ireland students achieved the top grade at A-level today.
Northern Ireland children outperformed counterparts in England and Wales, with girls doing slightly better than boys. But the high proportion of students passing dipped by a fraction.
There was strong uptake of science, technology, engineering and mathematics subjects.
Around 12,000 students were expected to receive results today, with many checking their grades online.
Director of qualifications at the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) Anne Marie Duffy said performance was outstanding.
“That is a tribute to the teaching force expertise and also to the attitudes towards teaching and learning, and the excellence of teaching and learning, and the fact that there is a lot more information available in the system to drive performance upwards and investment to do so,” she said.
This was the first year of the A* grade and it accounted for 9.3 per cent of grades awarded.
Other highlights included:
At the top A*/A-grades, there was an increase of 1.2 per cent compared to the previous year;
The overall pass rate remains high, with 98.1 per cent achieving grades A*-E. This compares to a rate of 98.4 per cent last year;
A-level entry levels remained consistent with previous years, with 31,741 grades awarded this year, an increase of 1.2 per cent since last year. This is in line with a 0.8 per cent increase across Northern Ireland, England and Wales;
A total of 35.7 per cent achieved grades A*-A, compared to 34.5 per cent last year. When
English and Welsh performance are added to Northern Ireland, the percentage achieving the top grades fell to 27 per cent;
The most popular subjects were biology and mathematics, each responsible for around 10 per cent of entries;
8.8 per cent of boys were awarded A* grades compared to 9.7 per cent of girls;
40 per cent of candidates accessed their results online.
Education Minister Caitriona Ruane and Employment and Learning Minister Sir Reg Empey congratulated students.
“Your results reflect the hard work you have put into your studies over your school years,” they said.
“They also highlight the dedication, help and support of teachers and parents who go above and beyond to encourage young people to achieve their full potential.”
PA