D-Day as pupils await exam results

Hundreds of thousands of teenagers across the country will open their A-level results on Thursday amid renewed controversy over the exam standards.

Pass rates have increased for 23 years in a row and 2006 is expected to see another rise in the number of students scoring good grades.

Teachers appealed to critics to allow pupils to enjoy their day of success at the end of two years hard work without complaining about "dumbing down".

But research by a group of schools which teach the International Baccalaureate diploma instead of A-levels reignited the annual debate.

A survey of 50 UK university admissions officers found four out of 10 thought rising pass rates were because the exam system was "getting easier". And many said that A-levels failed to prepare sixth-formers well enough for the challenge of academic degree courses, the survey for ACS International Schools found.

Headteachers voiced dismay that the research had emerged as students prepared to open their results.

John Dunford, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: "It is very disappointing that anybody should be doing this on the day that the students are celebrating their very considerable achievements. The A-level remains an extremely difficult school leaving exam for the vast majority of youngsters."

Chris Keates, general secretary of teachers' union NASUWT, said students should be allowed to enjoy their success without carping from critics of the A-level system."Whatever the results, A-levels remain a testing experience for all," she said.

Last year, a Government review recommended replacing A-levels and GCSEs with a new diploma system. But ministers rejected the plan, from former chief schools inspector Sir Mike Tomlinson, and opted to keep A-levels.

Schools minister Jim Knight condemned the critics of the exam system. "Every year we get the same old tired assertions about A-level standards supposedly being lower," he said.