One in 12 A-level exams was awarded an A* grade today as sixth-formers scored another recordbreaking year of results.

A total of 69,302 exam entries (8.1 per cent) were awarded the new top grade, according to figures published by the Joint Council for Qualifications. This exceeded predictions that around seven per cent would get an A*.

More than one in four entries (27 per cent) were awarded an A grade - up from 26.7 per cent last year.

Overall, the pass rate rose for the 28th year in a row, with 97.6 per cent of entries awarded at least an E, a rise from 97.5 per cent in 2009.

But while sixth-formers across the country are celebrating this morning, many could still face a struggle to win a university place.

By the end of June more than 660,000 people had applied to start full-time undergraduate university courses. It has been predicted that between 170,000 and 200,000, including sixth-formers and older learners, could miss out this autumn as universities face multimillion-pound cuts and pressure on places.

More than 300,000 students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are receiving results today, the first year that sweeping changes to A-levels have come into effect.

As well as the new A* grade, students sat four modules instead of six, and answered "stretch and challenge" questioned designed to allow them to fully demonstrate their knowledge.

To win an A* a student has to score an A overall, plus at least 90 per cent in each of their papers in the second year of their course.

The figures show that girls got more A* grades overall than boys (8.3 per cent compared with 7.9 per cent), but boys got more A* grades in science and maths-based subjects.

Science has seen a resurgence this year with biology entries up 4.3 per cent, chemistry up 3.7 per cent and physics up by 5.2 per cent. The numbers taking maths continued to rise with an extra 4,526 entries, and an extra 1,209 for further maths.

But modern foreign language entries continue to fall, with the numbers entering for French down 3.4 per cent and German down 3.8 per cent. Going against the trend is Spanish, which has seen a four per cent increase.

The results show that traditional subjects are firm favourites with students, with English, maths, biology, psychology and history the most popular choices this year.

Jim Sinclair, director of the Joint Council for Qualifications, said: "This is a day for celebration. The results reflect the hard work and dedication of students and their teachers, supported by students' parents.

"The successful introduction of the new A* grade and the increased entries for science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects are good news."