A-level students fight for university places

A-level pass rates reached a record high Thursday while thousands of students battled for university places amid a squeeze on higher education funding.

Of the 69,302 A-level exam entries this summer, 8.1 percent were awarded the top new A* grade, introduced this year, according to figures published by the Joint Council for Qualifications.

A grades were awarded to 27 percent of exam entries -- up from 26.7 percent last year.

To obtain A* students have to score an A overall, with at least 90 percent in each of their papers in their final exams.

Overall, the pass rate rose for the 28th year in a row, with 97.6 percent of entries awarded an E grade or above.

But with more than 300,000 students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland picking up results today, many will be struggling to secure a university place.

A record 660,000 people had applied to university by June this year -- 12 percent up on last year -- and with only 482,000 places awarded in 2009, many are likely to be turned away.

Universities minister David Willetts told BBC Radio 4's Today programme this morning that 380,000 people now have a definite place at university and that clearing places were available.

But he admitted that some candidates might not get into the university of their choice -- even with three A grades.

Last year some 3,500 people with three A grades did not go on to university.

Willets described the figures as "shocking" but said the top universities were "very competitive indeed".

Some of the UK's leading institutions said they were already full a week before results were published, after a cap was placed on universities, which now face a fine if they over-recruit.

Many universities had also warned that they will have fewer places in clearing -- a system which finds available university places for students who did not make the grades for their first choices.

Carl Gilleard, chief executive of the Association of Graduate Recruiters, said the clearing process would be "more stressful than ever".

source: Good Morning UK