'A record for top grades but does more mean better?'

It has been a year of records. More students than ever have applied to university, more have got the grades they need, and more have been accepted at the first asking.

But the number of new places has only been about a fifth of the rise in applicants. So there will be fewer places available through clearing.

Students obtaining much better grades than predicted may still be able to trade up. But more likely, it will come down to a difficult choice between staying with a less preferred option or re-applying.

From next year, A-levels are to be made harder, with tougher questions and fewer units, and a new A* grade. This is because the number of applicants with straight As has almost doubled in the past decade. But those re-applying may be worried that this will make their present grades worth less. They fear an A will become the new B. But it will take time for the A* to win acceptance. Only a few universities like Cambridge will be including it in their offers next year.

The growth in A-levels has been in subjects such as psychology, media and sports studies and there has been a shift away from traditional courses such as modern languages, physics and geography. It is suggested these newer subjects are softer. But the highest percentages of A grades are awarded in traditional subjects.

More students are taking more A-levels and getting more A grades, but, 'Does more mean better?'.

Alan Smithers is Professor and Director of the Centre for Education and Employment Research at the University of Buckingham.