42% achieve top grades in A Level Music compared to 19% when exams last sat

This year’s A Level Music students have outperformed the last cohort to take exams, with 42.3 per cent achieving A*s and As this year compared to 19.4 per cent in 2019.

Students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland have received A Level, AS, BTEC and T Level results today. 

As predicted, A Level grades have dropped from last year’s peak, but are higher than the results in 2020, when algorithms caused chaos on results day. 

Statistics from the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) show that 16.9 per cent of students sitting A Level Music this year achieved A*s, while 85.2 per cent earned at least a C.

The percentage of music students achieving at least a C in 2019 was 73.3 per cent, rising to 93.1 per cent in 2021.

Students sat exams this year for the first time since 2019. Due to disruption caused by the pandemic, last year’s grades were determined by teachers, and 2020’s were worked out using a controversial algorithm.

The pattern seen in music is reflected across the board, with this year's results part of a planned 'transition period' between 2019 results and teacher assessed grades in 2021.

Although exams were taken this year, these A Level students have experienced significant disruption to their education over the last few years.

In a package of 'unprecedented support' from the government, advance information on exam content was provided for most A Levels to 'mitigate' these effects.

5,916 students took A Level Music this year, compared to 5,686 in 2021 and 5,848 in 2019. Over 10,000 students took the qualification in 2006.