Despite the introduction of tougher exams in England, 2017 saw British sixth formers achieving some of the best A-level results seen for several years.

So A-level graduates of 2017, you smashed it! This year saw the proportion of students awarded the top A* and A grades rose for the for the first time with the national performance of boys improving dramatically. The share of overall papers gaining A or higher passed the 26% mark, up by half a percent since 2016.

This years A-levels amongst toughest ever

Despite these impressive results, changes brought in to this year exams have seen a dampened performance in the 13 subjects affected by the change, including English, Science and History effected by them.

These changes, which led to claims that this year’s A-levels would be amongst the toughest ever axed out modular AS-levels that had been examined after the first year of the course. This meant less coursework and a stronger reliance on final exam marks.

This new content has been regarded by some teachers as tougher in several subjects such as chemistry and physics.

Grades drop amongst 13 reformed subjects

The changes in in exam structure meant pupils now had less guidance in how they were performing, Geoff Barton, the general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, told The Guardian.

“It’s the fact that you haven’t got a staging post at the end of year 12 or – as you had a few years ago – modules at the end of each term,” Barton said.

This led to the proportion of candidates gaining A* and A grades dropping to 24.3% amongst the 13 reformed subjects, falling from 2016’s results.

The 13 reformed subjects are: art and design, biology, business, chemistry, computer science, economics, English language, English language and literature, English literature, history, physics, psychology and sociology.