The overall pass rate for A-levels has dropped in the Isle of Man.
But the A-level results in the island’s five secondary schools show a record proportion of passes at higher grades.
The overall pass rate, at 96.3 per cent, was lower than in some recent years but the A*-B pass rate was the highest on record as was the percentage of passes at grade A and above.
In 2011, the overall pass rate was 98 per cent.
The number of UCAS points per entry was also at a record level.
In the five secondary schools, nearly 370 Year 13 (upper sixth-form) students were entered for more than 1,260 A-levels and more than 230 AS-levels in more than 40 subjects.
The breadth of subjects available (more than 40 separate titles) was in line with the record numbers of recent years. Subjects entered ranged from critical thinking and classical civilisations to chemistry and further maths.
A record 41.4 per cent of entries achieved passes at higher grades A*-B, up on last year’s figure of 38.8 per cent. Passes at A* and A grades were also at a record high.
Using the UCAS tariff system (140 points for grade A*, 120 points for A, 100 for B, 80 for C, 60 for D, 40 for E) the average points score per entry, at 82 points, was the highest on record.
The average points score per student, at 310 was equivalent to higher than three grade Bs.
The Department of Education and Children also said that the results for the Isle of Man were not directly comparable with the results that would be published in the UK this week. The initial UK results relate to all entrants and include mature students and students in colleges and independent schools whereas the Isle of Man data relate solely to 18-year-olds in the five secondary schools.
{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/education/manx-students-to-collect-a-level-results-today-1-4835150|Students collect results}
{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/education/a-level-results-among-the-best-ever-1-3693503|Last year’s results}
There will be six pages of results and A-level stories in Monday’s Isle of Man Examiner.