Average score for students taking A levels and other qualifications
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- 1. Navigate toMain facts and figures section
- 2. Navigate toThings you need to know section
- 3. Navigate to By ethnicity (A level students only) section
- 4. Navigate to By ethnicity (applied general students only) section
- 5. Navigate to By ethnicity (tech level students only) section
- 6. Navigate to By ethnicity (level 2 technical certificate students only) section
- 7. Navigate toData sources section
- 8. Navigate toDownload the data section
1. Main facts and figures
- the average point score for all students taking A levels in the 2021 to 2022 academic year was 38.87 – equivalent to grade B
- students from the Chinese ethnic group had the highest average point score in every type of qualification out of all ethnic groups
Further research:
Recent research by Ofqual explored differences in students’ A level outcome measures (grade achieved, probability of attaining grade A and above, and probability of attaining grade C and above).
They compared the white British group (as the largest ethnic group) against other ethnic groups. They found that although black African students had poorer outcomes than white British students, the gap between black African students and white British students was narrower in 2022 compared with 2021.
The analysis controlled for other personal characteristics likely to influence A level outcomes, such as gender, prior attainment, and socio-economic status. Their results suggest that the differences in attainment can not be fully explained by these characteristics.
2. Things you need to know
What the data measures
The data shows the average point score and equivalent grade for students taking:
- A levels, applied generals and tech levels – these are all level 3 qualifications, which are usually taken by 16 to 18 year olds
- technical certificates – these are level 2 vocational qualifications
The number of points depends on the qualification and grade. For example, an A* at A level is worth 60 points, and a C is worth 30 points. You can see a list of all point scores.
Average point scores are rounded to 2 decimal places for 2021 to 2022 data. Scores are rounded to 4 decimal places for the 2 academic years ending in August 2021 in the data file.
How average point scores are calculated
The average point score is worked out by dividing the total point score by the size of entries.
You can see a guide to performance points, including how to calculate a qualification’s size equivalence.
The ethnic groups used in the data
The ethnic groups are based on the 18 ethnic groups used in the 2011 Census, with 3 exceptions:
- there are separate categories for Traveller of Irish Heritage, and Gypsy and Roma students
- the Chinese ethnic group has its own category and is not part of the Asian ethnic group
- there is no separate Arab ethnic group under the ‘other’ ethnic group
Ethnicity was not known for:
- 16.1% of A level students
- 6.0% of applied general students
- 5.2% of tech level students
- 10.9% of level 2 technical certificate students
This is mainly because students at independent schools do not have their ethnicity recorded in the school census.
Methodology
Read the detailed methodology document for this data.
Scores for the 2021 to 2022 academic year are not directly comparable with scores for the previous 2 years. This is because of changes to:
- how A levels and vocational technical qualifications were awarded in 2020 and 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic
- the grade boundaries, methods of assessment, and reporting of qualifications for the 2021 to 2022 academic year
You can read more about performance tables and data reported during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Some of the figures mentioned on this page are based on small numbers of pupils – this makes it difficult to make reliable generalisations.
In the data file
Download file for figures for the 3 academic years between September 2019 and July 2022.
3. By ethnicity (A level students only)
| Ethnicity | Average Point Score | Grade | Number of students |
|---|---|---|---|
| All | 38.87 | B | 284,380 |
| Asian | 37.22 | B- | 35,112 |
| Bangladeshi | 35.66 | B- | 5,935 |
| Indian | 40.08 | B | 11,158 |
| Pakistani | 34.80 | C+ | 11,289 |
| Asian other | 37.46 | B- | 6,730 |
| Black | 34.06 | C+ | 15,444 |
| Black African | 34.46 | C+ | 11,248 |
| Black Caribbean | 32.22 | C+ | 2,354 |
| Black other | 33.84 | C+ | 1,842 |
| Chinese | 43.66 | B+ | 1,576 |
| Mixed | 38.09 | B- | 13,582 |
| Mixed white and Asian | 40.11 | B | 3,781 |
| Mixed white and black African | 37.53 | B- | 1,743 |
| Mixed white and black Caribbean | 35.67 | B- | 2,569 |
| Mixed other | 37.90 | B- | 5,489 |
| White | 38.31 | B- | 167,568 |
| White British | 38.32 | B- | 152,365 |
| White Irish | 41.40 | B | 950 |
| Gypsy or Roma | 28.48 | C | 79 |
| Irish Traveller | 32.55 | C+ | 21 |
| White other | 38.00 | B- | 14,153 |
| Other | 36.74 | B- | 5,363 |
| Unknown | 43.79 | B+ | 45,735 |
Download table data for ‘By ethnicity (A level students only)’ (CSV) Source data for ‘By ethnicity (A level students only)’ (CSV)
Summary of Average score for students taking A levels and other qualifications By ethnicity (A level students only) Summary
In the 2021 to 2022 academic year, 77.5% of level 3 students took A levels.
The data shows that:
- the average point score for all A level students was 38.87 (equivalent to grade B) –this includes students whose ethnicity was not known
- students from the Chinese ethnic group had the highest average point score out of all ethnic groups (43.66 – equivalent to grade B+)
- students from the Gypsy and Roma ethnic group had the lowest average point score (28.48 – equivalent to grade C) – this is based on 79 students and is less reliable as a result
- students from the black Caribbean ethnic group had the second lowest average point score (32.22 – equivalent to grade C+)
- the score for white British students (38.32) was below the national average – the scores for students from the Indian (40.08), mixed white and Asian (40.11), and white Irish (41.30) ethnic groups were above the national average
- the ethnicity was not known for 16.1% of A level students – this group had an average point score of 43.79, equivalent to grade B+
4. By ethnicity (applied general students only)
| Ethnicity | Average Point Score | Grade | Number of students |
|---|---|---|---|
| All | 31.98 | Dist- | 119,853 |
| Asian | 31.91 | Dist- | 16,848 |
| Bangladeshi | 31.95 | Dist- | 3,231 |
| Indian | 33.23 | Dist- | 3,608 |
| Pakistani | 31.38 | Dist- | 7,740 |
| Asian other | 31.64 | Dist- | 2,269 |
| Black | 28.95 | Merit+ | 10,312 |
| Black African | 29.12 | Merit+ | 6,968 |
| Black Caribbean | 28.33 | Merit+ | 2,073 |
| Black other | 29.08 | Merit+ | 1,271 |
| Chinese | 33.77 | Dist | 284 |
| Mixed | 30.72 | Dist- | 5,848 |
| Mixed white and Asian | 31.99 | Dist- | 1,192 |
| Mixed white and black African | 29.81 | Merit+ | 831 |
| Mixed white and black Caribbean | 30.60 | Dist- | 1,512 |
| Mixed other | 30.50 | Dist- | 2,313 |
| White | 32.51 | Dist- | 76,658 |
| White British | 32.70 | Dist- | 69,794 |
| White Irish | 32.12 | Dist- | 260 |
| Gypsy or Roma | 27.61 | Merit+ | 91 |
| Irish Traveller | 30.00 | Dist- | 16 |
| White other | 30.76 | Dist- | 6,497 |
| Other | 30.58 | Dist- | 2,689 |
| Unknown | 33.08 | Dist- | 7,214 |
Download table data for ‘By ethnicity (applied general students only)’ (CSV) Source data for ‘By ethnicity (applied general students only)’ (CSV)
Summary of Average score for students taking A levels and other qualifications By ethnicity (applied general students only) Summary
In the 2021 to 2022 academic year, 32.7% of level 3 students took applied general qualifications.
The data shows that:
- the average point score for all students taking applied general qualifications was 31.98 (equivalent to ‘distinction minus’) – this includes students whose ethnicity was not known
- students from the Chinese ethnic group had the highest average point score out of all ethnic groups (33.77 – equivalent to ‘distinction’)
- students from the Gypsy and Roma ethnic group had the lowest average point score (27.61 – equivalent to grade ‘merit plus’) – this is based on 91 students and is less reliable as a result
- the average point score of white British students was above the national average (32.70 – equivalent to ‘distinction minus’)
5. By ethnicity (tech level students only)
| Ethnicity | Average Point Score | Grade | Number of students |
|---|---|---|---|
| All | 30.56 | Dist- | 28,535 |
| Asian | 30.62 | Dist- | 2,677 |
| Bangladeshi | 30.63 | Dist- | 415 |
| Indian | 32.46 | Dist- | 604 |
| Pakistani | 29.35 | Merit+ | 1,290 |
| Asian other | 32.10 | Dist- | 368 |
| Black | 28.22 | Merit+ | 1,523 |
| Black African | 28.39 | Merit+ | 979 |
| Black Caribbean | 27.25 | Merit+ | 373 |
| Black other | 29.33 | Merit+ | 171 |
| Chinese | 34.85 | Dist | 49 |
| Mixed | 30.20 | Dist- | 1,117 |
| Mixed white and Asian | 30.43 | Dist- | 239 |
| Mixed white and black African | 29.19 | Merit+ | 143 |
| Mixed white and black Caribbean | 29.58 | Merit+ | 308 |
| Mixed other | 30.88 | Dist- | 427 |
| White | 30.67 | Dist- | 21,266 |
| White British | 30.71 | Dist- | 19,923 |
| White Irish | 32.28 | Dist- | 63 |
| Gypsy or Roma | 23.92 | Merit | 26 |
| Irish Traveller | 23.89 | Merit | 2 |
| White other | 30.02 | Dist- | 1,252 |
| Other | 30.64 | Dist- | 410 |
| Unknown | 31.31 | Dist- | 1,493 |
Download table data for ‘By ethnicity (tech level students only)’ (CSV) Source data for ‘By ethnicity (tech level students only)’ (CSV)
Summary of Average score for students taking A levels and other qualifications By ethnicity (tech level students only) Summary
In the 2021 to 2022 academic year, 7.8% of level 3 students took tech level qualifications.
The data shows that:
- the average point score for all students taking tech level qualifications was 30.56 (equivalent to ‘distinction minus’) – this includes students whose ethnicity was not known
- students from the Chinese ethnic group had the highest average point score out of all ethnic groups (34.85 – equivalent to ‘distinction’)
- students from the Traveller of Irish heritage ethnic group (23.89 – equivalent to ‘merit’) and the Gypsy and Roma ethnic group (23.92 – equivalent to a ‘merit’) had the lowest average point scores – this is based on 2 and 26 students respectively and is less reliable as a result
- the average point score of white British students was similar to the national average (30.71 – equivalent to ‘distinction minus’)
6. By ethnicity (level 2 technical certificate students only)
| Ethnicity | Value | Grade | Number of students |
|---|---|---|---|
| All | 5.88 | L2Merit | 1,404 |
| Asian | 5.64 | L2Merit- | 115 |
| Bangladeshi | 5.26 | L2Pass+ | 15 |
| Indian | 6.26 | L2Merit+ | 24 |
| Pakistani | 5.44 | L2Pass+ | 59 |
| Asian other | 5.81 | L2Merit- | 17 |
| Black | 5.01 | L2Pass | 38 |
| Black African | 4.39 | L1Dist+ | 14 |
| Black Caribbean | 5.43 | L2Pass+ | 16 |
| Black other | 5.31 | L2Pass+ | 8 |
| Chinese | 7.00 | L2Dist | 1 |
| Mixed | 5.70 | L2Merit- | 49 |
| Mixed white and Asian | 5.81 | L2Merit- | 13 |
| Mixed white and black African | 4.72 | L2Pass- | 9 |
| Mixed white and black Caribbean | 5.61 | L2Merit- | 15 |
| Mixed other | 6.47 | L2Merit+ | 12 |
| White | 5.93 | L2Merit | 1,035 |
| White British | 5.93 | L2Merit | 976 |
| White Irish | 5.25 | L2Pass+ | 4 |
| Gypsy or Roma | 6.00 | L2Merit | 1 |
| Irish Traveller | 6.00 | L2Merit | 1 |
| White other | 6.01 | L2Merit | 53 |
| Other | 6.31 | L2Merit+ | 13 |
| Unknown | 5.91 | L2Merit | 153 |
Download table data for ‘By ethnicity (level 2 technical certificate students only)’ (CSV) Source data for ‘By ethnicity (level 2 technical certificate students only)’ (CSV)
Summary of Average score for students taking A levels and other qualifications By ethnicity (level 2 technical certificate students only) Summary
Technical certificates are level 2 qualifications – they are not included in the total counts of students taking level 3 qualifications. In the 2021 to 2022 academic year, 1,404 students took approved level 2 technical certificates.
The data shows that:
- the average point score for all students taking level 2 technical certificates was 5.88 (equivalent to ‘level 2 merit’) – this includes students whose ethnicity was not known
- students from the black African ethnic group had the lowest average point score (4.39 – equivalent to ‘level 1 distinction plus’)
- the average point score of white British students was similar to the national average (5.93 – equivalent to ‘level 2 merit’)
7. Data sources
Source
A level and other 16 to 18 results: 2022 (revised)
Type of data
Administrative data
Type of statistic
National Statistics
Publisher
Department for Education
Note on corrections or updates
Data can be provisional, revised or final. Data for 2021 to 2022 is revised. Data for the 2 academic years ending in August 2021 is final.
Publication frequency
Yearly
Purpose of data source
The main purpose of this data is to measure the performance of schools and colleges and their students. This is to monitor and improve standards and inform parental and student choice.
8. Download the data
This file contains the following: measure, ethnicity, ethnicity_type, time, time_type, geography, geography_type, geography_code, age, value_1, value_1_type, value_2, value_2_type, number_of_students and version