Students wait for A-level results

First-hand view of A-level wait

Thousands of students across Wales are waiting for A-level results in a year which saw an increased number taking the exam.

Performance has improved every year for the last two decades, with another bumper crop of passes expected when the results are published at 0930 BST.

According to the Welsh exam board, the WJEC, there were a total of 36,836 A-level subject entries this year.

Officials say there was also a rise in the numbers taking science and maths.

AS-level results also showed male candidates were starting to close the gap on their female counterparts, said the WJEC.

Students taking the five-year-old Welsh baccalaureate will also receive results later.

The WJEC examining body's chief executive Gareth Pierce extended his congratulations to students for what he called "their excellent performance at A level and AS".

He said: "Students can be justifiably proud of their achievements in all subjects and their teachers and lecturers are also to be congratulated for the success of their learning programmes."

CLEARING NUMBERS/WEBSITES Aberystwyth0800 121 4080 Bangor0800 085 1818 (Eng) 0800 3285763 (Welsh) Cardiff Uni 029 2087 6000 Trinity Coll, Carmarthen01267 676767 Uni of Glam0800 612 9129 Glyndwr Uni, Wrexham01978 293439 Lampeter01570 424600 Newport01633 435000 Swansea Uni 01792 295097 Swansea Metropolitan0800 731 0884 Uwic 029 2041 6044 National exams results helpline 0808 100 8000

Sonal Lodhi and Caitlin Weeks, head boy and head girl of Cyfarthfa High School, were among the students nervously awaiting the morning's ordeal.

Sonal, who is studying Biology, Chemistry, Maths and Physics and hopes to do medicine at university, said: "I'm really anxious about results day - even though I know that I worked really hard for my exams I'm still nervous.

"I'm planning on opening my results with my friends because that way there doesn't seem to be as much pressure."

Caitlin, an English, History and Business Studies student who wants to study law, added: "It's been a lot of hard work but hopefully it'll all be worth it - the wait for the results is by far the worst thing.

"I'm trying not to think about it to be honest, sometimes I think I'm better off not knowing."

Universities and colleges across the country are on standby for calls from students who have either not gained or surpassed the grades they were expecting and want to search for a university place via the Clearing system.

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