Girls are still out-performing boys at A-level. Many more girls than boys are taking the exam and more are getting better grades than boys except for A* in traditional subjects.

In all subjects taken, 64 thousand (16%) more girls than boys took the exam and some 51 thousand (25%) more girls than boys were awarded the top grades A*+A+B.

The differences were less marked with traditional subjects. Some 10 thousand (5%) more girls than boys took these and 8.5 thousand (8%) more girls than boys were awarded the top grades of A*+A+B, although boys did slightly better in A* grade.

The persisting under-achievement of boys at A-level is reflected in the disparity in numbers of girls and boys going on to university education. Young women now outnumber young men at university in England and Wales by about 6 to 4.

Males in the workforce being in future likely to be generally less qualified than females is an equality issue which receives little media attention. This trend is already established, although its effect on socio-economic patterns seems largely ignored.

All subjects 2011

	Boys	Girls	Difference	% difference
			(more girls than boys)		[2010]
Totals taking	401,676	465,641	63,965	15.9	[16.9]
Grades
A*	32,938	38,183	5,245	15.9	[22.9
A	72,302	90,800	18,498	25.6	[25.9]
B	97.205	124,326	27,121	27.9	[29.8]
A* + A + B	202,445	253,309	50,864	25.1	[27.3]

Traditional subjects 2011

(Maths, English, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, French, History, Geography)

	Boys	Girls	Difference	% difference
			(more girls than boys)		[2010]
Totals taking	200,565	210,712	10,147	5.1	[4.0]
Grades
A*	21,288	20,125	-1,163	-5.8	[-7.6]
A	43,120	46,026	2,906	6.7	[5.8]
B	48,583	55,382	6,799	14.0	[13.5]
A* + A + B	112,991	121,533	8,542	7.6	[6.6]