A level results day - live: Grade boundaries for AQA, OCR and Edexcel revealed

A level results day - live: Grade boundaries for AQA, OCR and Edexcel revealed UCAS figures show a record number of 18-year-old have been accepted on to degree courses this year, rising by 3% compared to last A-level results day Students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are receiving their A-Level, BTec and T-level today. Most schools and colleges are now open for students to pick up their physical results slips, however students will have already be able to view their university application status via the UCAS portal prior to this. The total number of 18-year-olds accepted on to degree courses has risen by 3% on the same point last year, with a record high of 262,820 taking up places so far, initial UCAS figures show. Last year, the proportion of students getting top A-level results reached a record high, with schools likely facing pressure to continue to produce these outcomes. In 2025 28.3% of all grades across England, Wales and Northern Ireland came in at A* or A. Below is how to find the grade boundaries for AQA, OCR and Edexcel: - AQA 2026 grade boundaries: These are now available on the AQA website here. - OCR (Oxford, Cambridge and RSA) 2026 grade boundaries: AS, A-level, Cambridge Technicals, Core Maths, Extended Project and FSMQ grade boundaries are now available on the OCR website here. - Pearson Edexcel 2026 grade boundaries: AS, A-level and BTEC National grade boundaries are now available on the Pearson website here. Key Events A total of 446,690 applicants of all ages and domiciles have been accepted this year - another record high. The number of UK 18-year-olds gaining a place from the most disadvantaged backgrounds in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is up across the nations – 37,300 students have been accepted from IMD Quintile 1 (4 per cent higher than 2025) while 1,450 students have been accepted from WIMD Quintile 1 (15 per cent increase) and 1,090 from NIMDM Quintile 1 (3 per cent increase). Overall, 48,900 UK mature applicants (aged 21+) have been accepted, a decline on 50,880 last year, UCAS said. The number of international students who have applied via UCAS and been accepted has risen by 2 per cent – from 52,640 last year to 53,740 this year. At the same time results were published this morning, exam boards also revealed the grade boundaries, showing students how many marks were needed for each grade. This means they can find out how close they came to achieving the next grade up, indicating whether they should ask for a remark. Below is how to find the grade boundaries for AQA, OCR and Edexcel. - AQA 2026 grade boundaries: These are now available on the AQA website here. - OCR (Oxford, Cambridge and RSA) 2026 grade boundaries: AS, A-level, Cambridge Technicals, Core Maths, Extended Project and FSMQ grade boundaries are now available on the OCR website here. - Pearson Edexcel 2026 grade boundaries: AS, A-level and BTEC National grade boundaries are now available on the Pearson website here. The record number of 18-year-olds accepted today - 262,820 - is 3 per cent higher than last year's 255,130. UCAS stated: "This growth is being driven by a rising number of UK 18-year-olds in the population with the entry rate for this age group (the percentage of the population entering higher education) flat at 31.6 per cent (32.0 per cent last year)." A total of 228,990 UK 18-year-olds have been accepted at their first university or college choice (their firm choice). This is up from 226,580 last year, with 31,770 placed at their insurance choice today. This is an increase of 21 per cent from last year's 26,330. UCAS said: "This means that 79 per cent of 18-year-olds from England, Wales and Northern Ireland who were holding an offer and received their decision this morning have been placed on their first (UCAS’ firm) choice of university or college – compared to 82 per cent last year. "Another 13 per cent are placed at their insurance choice compared to 11 per cent last year." As we passed 8am, most results have now been released. The total number of UK 18-year-olds accepted on to degree courses has risen by 3 per cent on the same point last year, with a record high of 262,820 taking up places so far, initial Ucas figures show. Last year, 28.3 per cent of UK A-level entries were awarded an A or A* grade – the highest proportion outside the pandemic-affected years of 2020-22. The Covid-19 pandemic led to an increase in top A-level grades in 2020 and 2021, with results based on teacher assessments instead of exams. In 2019 – the last year that summer exams were taken before the Covid-19 pandemic – 25.4 per cent of UK A-level entries were awarded top grades. Education leaders have warned that a "growing pressure" on student finances and cost-of-living concerns will be a prominent influence behind the choices students make through clearing, amid a rise in students considering living at home and working alongside their studies. Education Secretary Lucy Powell said: "For those off to university, we’re increasing maintenance loans and reintroducing maintenance grants to ensure no one is held back by their background. "Whether you’re going into an apprenticeship or job, are off to one of our world-class universities, or are still working out your next steps, there are brilliant options and exciting opportunities ahead." It is estimated that nearly 22,700 courses have vacancies and will be available via UCAS clearing. This includes 3,400 at Russel Group universities. The Education Secretary said she is focused on a “revolution” in technical and vocational pathways ahead of results day. In a statement Lucy Powell said: “My priority is making sure every young person has the skills, knowledge, and confidence to thrive in the jobs of the future. “That’s why we’re giving technical education the respect it deserves by rolling out new V Levels to go alongside A Levels, introducing brilliant routes into the careers of the future from age 14, and fully funding apprenticeship training for under-25s.” Christy Cormac, assistant director of student recruitment and lifecycle events at the University of Bristol said that preparation is key. "Get as organised as you can, try not to panic, and prepare to be positively surprised," he says. Being prepped with a contingency plan will help if results do not go as expected. Cormac added: "Many universities might publish a list of courses that might be in clearing the day before. "So do your research, perhaps have a short list of four or five universities that you might be keen or encouraged to apply for if the results don't go as expected." The Department for Education estimates that around 58,000 18-year-olds in England will get no results today because they have dropped out of education and training. However, some of these will already be working. Undergraduate tuition fees in England and Wales are rising for a second year running. Students that start in September will have to pay £9,790 a year. At 8am today the UCAS hub will also update, presenting students with their offers. They will appear as follows: - Unconditional/placed: The place is theirs → green light. - Conditional/pending: The university hasn't decided yet. No movement by mid-morning → ring them. Remember, if you’ve met your conditions they will accept you. - Unsuccessful – placed at insurance: missed firm uni → met their insurance offer. - Unplaced – Clearing available: A Clearing number appears → student calls universities to request a ‘verbal offer’. Students will need to accept the offer they have been given. This then locks in their place at the institution of choice. It is believed another record number of students are expected to find out they have secured a place at their first choice of university today. Last results day the proportion of students getting top A-level results sat at a record high, with 28.3% of all grades across England, Wales and Northern Ireland marked at A* or A. Universities have been in the spotlight recently, as Andy Burnham has placed more emphasis on technical education. Vivienne Stern, chief executive of Universities UK, said she felt "people talking [university] down" may "put off" potential students from the least-advantaged backgrounds. Stern urged pupils to "make the right decision for you", adding: "Don't let politicians make your decision for you." Most schools and colleges will be open from 8am for students to collect their results in person. UCAS are also expected to update application status' at this time. However, some university places may not be confirmed until mid morning. Hundreds of thousands of students will receive their results today, whether that be for A-Levels or BTecs. Every summer around 40% of 18-year-olds in England receive A-levels. BTec National, Cambridge Technical, Cambridge Advanced National and T-level results will also be released today for around 250,000 exams. Welcome to our live coverage of results day. We will be bringing you the latest news from across England, Wales and Northern Ireland as students collect their A-Level results.