Students in Northern Ireland have turned in "splendid" results this year, according to the chief executive of the Council for Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA), Ms Catherine Coxhead. "They are evidence of ability and hard work on the part of pupils and teachers. They demonstrate again the support Northern Ireland parents give their children to enable them to achieve their potential", Ms Coxhead said.
This year's results confirm that performances have improved steadily on every indicator over the past five years. The CCEA's head of examinations, Dr Aidan Hamill, said he was "absolutely satisfied" that the results reflected higher standards of achievement by students, not easier tests.
At GCSE level (normally 16year-olds), 18.5 per cent of passes were at the top grade (A), compared with 17.4 per cent last year and 14.7 per cent in 1993. This year, 3.4 per cent of results merited the A+ grade, introduced in 1994 to recognise outstanding performance.
The main indicator of success at GCSE level is the proportion of pupils gaining grade C or better. This year, 68.1 per cent of results were at this level, an improvement of more than five percentage points on 1993 and up 1.5 percentage points on last year. Almost all subject entries (97.6 per cent) earned a pass grade (A to G).
At Advanced level (mostly taken by 18-year-olds), there has been similar improvement. The proportion of top A grades has improved from 14.5 per cent four years ago to 17.6 per cent last year and 19.0 per cent this year.
The proportion of entrants gaining any pass grade (A to E) rose from 89.7 per cent last year to 90.6 per cent. More important, for those seeking the more competitive university places, are the proportions of awards at grades A to C. These have jumped year by year from 54.2 per cent in 1993 to 60.1 in 1996 and by a full 2.5 percentage points to 62.6 per cent this year.
The CCEA has arranged for A-level results to be posted to students this morning. Some students collected their results yesterday from their schools or from one of the four distribution centres set up for the purpose.
In case of queries, the CCEA is operating a telephone helpline from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily until Friday, August 22nd. The number is 01232-261225. This helpline will provide information on the procedure for issuing results and on the CCEA's service for remarking and/or clerical checks of exam papers.