A-Level Prospects 2026: Swing to the Quantitative

There were two surprises in last years’ A-level results: top grades edged up despite the statistical controls to stabilize them; and boys took a rare lead for A grades overall.

What was driving these changes? The prime candidate is shifts in subject entries. If high awarding subjects grow and low-scoring ones fall, then overall there will be an increase.

This is just what occurred. There was strong growth in quantitative subjects, such as further maths, maths and economics, while interest in the arts, humanities and social sciences waned. The former are among the highest awarders of top grades, while the latter by comparison are niggardly.

The growth of quantitative subjects also appears to be behind changes in the sex difference. Boys are much more likely to take them, and they do better in them. Boys lead at A*, therefore, has increased, and they have even overtaken girls for A*/A grades, but not A grades alone.

Given that the provisional entries for 2026 show that the trend towards the quantitative is continuing, we forecast that grades will creep up again and that boys’ lead at A* will lengthen. But the 2026 figures also show some recovery in psychology, biology and history which are more attractive to girls, and could tilt the A*/A balance their way.

Download: A-Level Prospects 2026: Swing to the Quantitative

Published by: Alan Smithers, Centre for Education and Employment Research, The University of Buckingham, August 2026