Lesson
A-level Results Show Regional Divide
Read this news story in English at three levels, easy, standard, and advanced (B1–C1) — with vocabulary and a comprehension quiz.
A-level results reveal a growing gap in top grades between London and other regions, particularly north-east England and the East Midlands.
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Standard — Natural English
64 words · ~1 min readEasy version (A2–B1)
This year, students in London got more top A-level grades than students in other regions. In London, 32.7% of students received A or A*. In the north-east and East Midlands, only 23.1% got top grades. The gap is now 9.6 percentage points.Standard version (B1–B2)
The latest A-level results show a significant divide in top grades between London and other regions. In London, 32.7% of A-level entries received A or A*, while only 23.1% did in both north-east England and the East Midlands. This 9.6 percentage point gap is the largest since 2010. The north-east saw a slight increase in top grades, but the East Midlands experienced a decrease.Advanced version (C1–C2)
Recent A-level results have highlighted a widening regional divide in the achievement of top grades, particularly between London and other areas such as north-east England and the East Midlands. This year, 32.7% of A-level entries in London were awarded A or A*, marking an increase from 32.1% in 2025. In stark contrast, both the north-east and the East Midlands reported only 23.1% of entries receiving top grades, representing a significant 9.6 percentage point gap, the largest recorded since the grading system was established in 2010. While the north-east saw a slight rise from 22.9% to 23.1%, the East Midlands experienced a decline from 23.8% to 23.1%, exacerbating the regional disparity.Lesson audio
Standard level
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Test your understanding
01What percentage of A-level entries in London received A or A*?
02What is the percentage of top grades in the north-east and East Midlands?
03How much did the gap between London and the other regions increase?
04Which region had the highest percentage of A-level entries receiving A*?
Discussion
What factors do you think contribute to the regional divide in A-level results?
Vocabulary
divide word
a difference or gap between two groups
“There is a divide in grades between London and other regions.”
grades word
marks given to students based on their performance
“Students aim to achieve high grades in their exams.”
proportion word
a part or share of a whole
“The proportion of students getting top grades is increasing.”
regional word
related to a specific area or region
“The regional differences in grades are concerning.”
entries word
submissions or applications for something, like exams
“The number of entries for A-levels has increased this year.”