By Colette Hume BBC Wales education correspondent

Adam Grindley and Emma Bayona-Martinez awaiting their results

Eighteen-year-olds Adam Grindley and Emma Bayona-Martinez, from Builth Wells, mid Wales, have been classmates for most of their lives.

Thirteen years after starting school together, they were both hoping for the grades they needed to go to university.

Adam found out he got 3 As and a B, and passed the Welsh Bac, while Emma got two Bs and a C, as well as the Bac.

Adam needed a B in physics to study astrophysics at Cardiff University, and was delighted with his results, which made him the top-performing pupil at Builth Wells High.

Emma had needed an two A grades, a B and a pass in the Welsh Bac to study law.

Her grades were not quite what she wanted, so she is looking at her insurance offer.

First students

The pair were among the first students in Wales to take the new pilot qualification, the Welsh Baccalaureate, which was launched two years ago.

Students across Wales are celebrating or examining their options

The idea behind the Bac is to give teenagers a broader post-16 education.

Adam and Emma took the advanced diploma which includes A levels.

The intermediate version offers students the chance to take GCSEs or vocational qualifications alongside the Bac.

As well as their A levels, Adam and Emma have also studied a core of other subjects - everything from maths to languages.

They also had to undertake work experience and voluntary placements in the community and be part of a school enterprise project.

There's a huge variation of subjects and I did enjoy doing it - especially the work experience Emma Bayona-Martinez on the Welsh Bac

A pass in the Bac is worth an A grade, or 120 Ucas points.

Adam said: "The Baccalaureate has given us credit for things we do already, but that have never been formally recognised before."

By playing his clarinet for elderly people at a local home and working on a school stage production he was able to get credits towards his Bac - It is classed as community participation.

And Emma's part-time job in a local nursery and voluntary work with Builth Wells Young Farmers all contributed towards the Baccalaureate.

"It's been a good option," she said.

"There's a huge variation of subjects and I did enjoy doing it - especially the work experience."

There is also a strong academic side to the Welsh Bac - students have to pass six key skills including languages, communication and working with numbers.

"I didn't take Maths A level," said Adam.

"So the working with numbers key skill was like a maths GCSE revision for me."

'Looking forward'

Both Adam and Emma said they were nervous about getting their results, but were looking forward to student life.

Emma said: "I know I'll miss my friends and my family, but I also know I'll be able to come back whenever I want to. I'm really looking forward to it."

Adam, whose brother is working as an English teacher in Japan, said: "I don't think my mum and dad are too happy about me going away.

"I'm really looking forward to student life, living on my own. I'm a bit worried about the course, I hear it's quite hard, but I think it'll be fine."