Why did boys outperform girls at top A-level grades?
Summary
This year, boys outperformed girls in achieving the highest A-level grades in the UK, reversing a trend from the past seven years. Boys had a slightly higher percentage of top grades, especially in popular STEM subjects like maths, which have seen increased enrollment. The growing popularity of STEM subjects, which appeal more to boys, is considered a significant factor in this shift.Key Facts
- Boys received 28.4% A* or A grades, compared to 28.2% for girls.
- Boys also had more A* grades, with 9.9% compared to girls' 9.1%.
- The popularity of STEM subjects like maths is linked to boys' higher performance.
- Maths is the most popular A-level subject for the 12th consecutive year, with a significant rise in entries.
- Boys make up about 63% of maths entries, showing a gender gap in participation.
- Maths entries scoring an A* were 16.7%, compared to 9.4% for all A-levels.
- Overall, more girls took A-levels since they accounted for 54% of entries.
- The data can vary over time, and experts suggest not to over-interpret these differences.
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