A-level passes hit new record, but pupils give vote of no confidence by sitting tougher exam

Thousands of youngsters have given a vote of no confidence in A-levels by opting to sit a tougher exam to convince universities they should be offered a place.

A 28 per cent rise in the numbers taking new "world-class tests" means schools and pupils believe A-levels can no longer sort out the brightest candidates for universities' most popular courses, such as law and medicine. Last night, leaders of the country's top private schools said the trend meant A-levels would "wither on the vine".

It comes in the wake of another big rise in the number of A grade passes yesterday, with an all-time record of 22.8 per cent of scripts being awarded the top grade.

Figures from the exam boards show almost half the 22,000 youngsters obtaining three grade A passes are now opting to sit Advanced Extension Award papers alongside A-levels, called "world-class tests".

The figures are likely to mushroom again next year when the exam qualifies for the first time for points from Ucas, the universities and colleges admissions system, for entry to higher education. Geoff Lucas, secretary of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference, which represents the top independent boys' schools, predicted the move towards tougher tests meant A-levels would "wither on the vine", adding: "Some of our schools feel there is not enough challenge in the existing A-level. In that sense, this sort of extra test is necessary." But many headteachers dislike the "world-class tests" because they are not available in every subject so they discriminate against some candidates.

Mr Lucas predicted more universities would ape Oxford and Cambridge and bring in their own tests.

The rise in take-up of the "world-class tests" - up to 9,305 this year from 7,246 in 2004 - coincides with the class of 2005 setting a new record for the pass rate. Of the 265,000 candidates sitting the exam, 22.8 per cent obtained grade A passes - a rise of 0.4 per cent on 2004. The overall pass rate went up from 96 per cent to 96.2 per cent.

Boys also narrowed the gap in performance with their overall results going up by 0.5 per cent compared with 0.2 per cent for girls. The girls' pass rate actually dipped in three subjects, physics, German and history, for the first time. But overall, girls were still 1.6 per cent ahead of boys with a 97 per cent pass rate.

There was a rise of 2.2 per cent in the number of entries for A-level, with 41 per cent of the age cohort now taking the exam compared with just one in 30 when they were introduced in 1951.

Ellie Johnson Searle, chief executive of the Joint Council for General Qualifications, which represents exam boards, said the "world-class tests" were "a fantastic opportunity" for universities to differentiate between candidates with top grade passes. "It seems we have the answer to the problem," she added.

Next year, ministers are to launch a pilot of Advanced Extension Award test-style questions in every subject. This would mean an optional extra half-hour paper in every subject.

Steve Sinnott, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said the results showed the Government had been "short-sighted" in rejecting the recommendation of the inquiry by the former chief schools inspector Sir Mike Tomlinson for an overarching diploma covering academic and vocational qualifications to replace the A-level.