Techies of tomorrow get their exam grades

Maths and science accounted for 24 per cent of all the A-Levels sat this year, with more pupils signing up for such subjects.

The number of students taking maths A-Level was up 7.3 per cent on last year's figures with 4,111 entries, while further maths figures increased by 8.3 per cent to 602 entries.

There was a very slight increase of 0.3 per cent in science subjects at A-Level - including biology, chemistry and physics - and 2.3 per cent at AS-Level, compared to 2006's figures. An increase in students taking science and maths A-Levels could be a good sign for the tech industry, which has complained about a lack of qualified young workers coming into the market.

The number of modern language A-Level entries also increased by 0.3 per cent, according to figures from the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

Schools minister Jim Knight said it is encouraging to see the number of students taking maths, modern languages and science subjects on the rise and - in the case of maths - that there has been a 14 per cent rise in uptake since 2004.

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Knight added the government recognises the crucial importance of maths and science subjects to the UK economy and wants to accelerate this trend over the coming years.

The exam system will see a revamp over the next school year - with the introduction of a new A* grade and diplomas that will combine theoretical and applied learning in subjects including English, IT and maths.

The overall pass rate was up by 0.3 per cent for both A- and AS-Levels, with 96.9 per cent of A-Level and 87.8 per cent of AS-Level candidates gaining an A to E grade this year.

The proportion of A-Levels at grades A to C also increased from 71.3 per cent in 2006 to 72.8 per cent in 2007.

More than a quarter (25.3 per cent) of A-Level entries achieved the top A grade, up again from last year's proportion of 24.1 per cent.

A total of 805,657 A-Level and 1.11 million AS-Level entries were sat this year, with some pupils able to get their results online.