14 August 2026
Top A level grades rise again in Northern Ireland
More than 26,000 students in Northern Ireland received their A level, AS level and BTEC results on Thursday 13 August 2026. Provisional figures from the CCEA show 30.7% of A level entries were awarded grade A or above, up from 30.3% in 2025, while 8.8% achieved the top A star grade. Overall, 98.9% of entries were graded A star to E, from a total of 33,824 A level entries.
Science, technology, engineering and mathematics subjects continue to make up a significant share of learning here, accounting for 38.2% of all A level entries. CCEA Chief Executive Gerry Campbell congratulated students on their achievements and encouraged them to feel confident about their next steps, whether into further education, higher education, training, employment or other opportunities.
The results land against a shifting pattern of post 18 choices. UCAS figures indicate that the proportion of 18-year-olds in Northern Ireland applying to university has eased from 52.8% in 2022 to 49.1% in 2026, while Higher Level Apprenticeships, which combine paid work with study, have grown in popularity. Clearing remains an important route for students who do not secure their first choice, and universities here have places available across a wide range of courses.
For careers practitioners, results season is a reminder of how varied the pathways now are. Strong STEM participation, a broader apprenticeship offer and a gradual softening in university application rates all point to young people weighing a wider set of options than a decade ago. Professional guidance has a clear role in helping students interpret their results calmly and match them to the route that fits them best, from confirmed offers and clearing to apprenticeships, further education and employment.
Read the latest results news from the CCEA.
Science, technology, engineering and mathematics subjects continue to make up a significant share of learning here, accounting for 38.2% of all A level entries. CCEA Chief Executive Gerry Campbell congratulated students on their achievements and encouraged them to feel confident about their next steps, whether into further education, higher education, training, employment or other opportunities.
The results land against a shifting pattern of post 18 choices. UCAS figures indicate that the proportion of 18-year-olds in Northern Ireland applying to university has eased from 52.8% in 2022 to 49.1% in 2026, while Higher Level Apprenticeships, which combine paid work with study, have grown in popularity. Clearing remains an important route for students who do not secure their first choice, and universities here have places available across a wide range of courses.
For careers practitioners, results season is a reminder of how varied the pathways now are. Strong STEM participation, a broader apprenticeship offer and a gradual softening in university application rates all point to young people weighing a wider set of options than a decade ago. Professional guidance has a clear role in helping students interpret their results calmly and match them to the route that fits them best, from confirmed offers and clearing to apprenticeships, further education and employment.
Read the latest results news from the CCEA.
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17 August 2026
