The number of exams awarded an A grade or higher has fallen for the first time in more than 20 years, while boys have finally overtaken the girls in the number of A*s being achieved, official figures revealed on Thursday.

In total, 26.6% of the exams were given an A or A*, down from 27% in 2011 - a record drop of 0.4%.

It is believed to be the biggest fall in the history of A-levels. The last time it dropped was between 1990 and 1991 when it decreased to 11.9% from 12%.

The pass rate at A grade also stalled in 1996 and 1997, when 15.7% of exams were awarded at least an A.

Thursday's figures, published by the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ), also show that fewer A-level exams achieved an A* this year.

Around one in 12 (7.9%) exams were given the top grade, which is awarded for the third time this summer, down from 8.2% in 2011.

Boys overtook girls at A* grade for the first time, with 8% of boys' entries attaining the top mark, compared to 7.9% of girls'.

Thursday's figures also show that the overall A* to E pass rate has risen for the 30th year in a row.

Some 98% of exams achieved at least an E, compared to 97.8% last year.

Around 335,000 students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are receiving their A-level results today.

But while many will be celebrating, others still face a scramble to secure a university place.

Initial figures from UCAS show almost a 7% drop in the numbers of students who have already had their places confirmed.

Michael Turner, director of the JCQ, which represents exam boards, said: "Today is about celebrating the successes of our young people and recognising the hard work that has gone in to achieving these results.

"They, and their teachers, can be proud of their achievements.

"The STEM subjects continue to rise, with mathematics, biology, chemistry and physics all in the top 10 most popular subjects.

"Over the next few years, it will be interesting to see if, with the existence of the English Baccalaureate, the continued decline in students taking a foreign language is reversed."

Ed Dorrell, features and comment editor at the Times Educational Supplement, told the Huffington Post UK the change was "insignificant".

"Ofqual has changed the rules slightly in the way they have changed the marking in a bid to try and reduce grade inflation. The actual drop itself is actually pretty insignificant. All we're looking at today is a small change in the system.

But, he adds, the system will always be attacked by critics.

"When the number of A and A* grades go up, the system is attacked by people who say the exams are getting easier. When the number goes down, teachers and pupils are criticised for not trying hard enough or aren't as bright as they used to be. It's very difficult to do well in."

"The A-level is still a world currency and the envy of many. It is a huge success. We really need to stop having a go at it."

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  • Hazel Bergin celebrates her 600 points in leaving certificate exams at Loretto College in Dublin. Radical changes in the way Leaving Certificate maths and Irish are being taught has reaped rewards for students, exam results reveal. Photo credit: Niall Carson/PA

  • Eli Ingle, 19, from Sheffield who has been taught at home since he was 13 and says his exam successes show it is possible to be educated at home right up to A-level. Hundreds of families across the UK every year choose to take their children out of school and teach them at home. But but very few continue this past GCSEs into the traditional sixth-form stage. Eli, from Sheffield, already has two A*s - in business studies and sociology - and is hoping for similar high standards when he gets his psychology result later today. He said he thought about going back to college for A-levels but he and his family had enjoyed his home education so much he wanted to carry on. Photo: Dave Higgens/PA

  • Nicole McGrath celebrates her leaving certificate results at Loretto College in Dublin this morning. Radical changes in the way Leaving Certificate maths and Irish are being taught has reaped rewards for students, exam results reveal. Photo credit: Niall Carson/PA

  • Joe O'Sullivan from Kenmare Co Kerry celebrates with his 9 A1s in his Leaving Cert results in the Stillorgan Park Hotel, Dublin. Radical changes in the way Leaving Certificate maths and Irish are being taught has reaped rewards for students, exam results reveal. Photo credit: Julien Behal/PA

  • L-R Niambh Boyle and Nicole McGrath celebrate their leaving certificate results at Loretto College in Dublin this morning. Radical changes in the way Leaving Certificate maths and Irish are being taught has reaped rewards for students, exam results reveal. Photo credit: Niall Carson/PA

  • Cliodhna Ryan celebrates her leaving certificate results at Loretto College in Dublin this morning. Radical changes in the way Leaving Certificate maths and Irish are being taught has reaped rewards for students, exam results reveal. Photo credit: Niall Carson/PA

  • Nicole McGrath and her mother Audrey celebrate her leaving certificate results at Loretto College in Dublin. Radical changes in the way Leaving Certificate maths and Irish are being taught has reaped rewards for students, exam results reveal. Photo credit: Niall Carson/PA

  • Students Kathryn McCanaan and her best friend and fellow student Rob Johns celebrate both gaining university places after receiving their A-Level results at Hillsborough College, Sheffield. Photo credit: Anna Gowthorpe/PA

  • (From left to right) Rachel Peacock, 18, Katie Winter 17 and Hannah Jovey, 18, hold their A-level results outside Newcastle Church High School, after they achieved six A*s and three As between them. Katie, Hannah and Rachel all succeeded in getting the grades they needed and will be heading off to their first-choice universities in September. Photo credit: Tom White/PA

  • (From right to left) Rebecca Bland, 18, Liz Hierons, 18, Sophie Thompson, 18, Emily Wilson, 18, and Hannah Knox, 18, all hold their A-level results at Central Newcastle High School, after Emily Wilson's grades set her up to become a helicopter pilot with the RAF. Emily, who achieved an A* in biology and an A in chemistry and physics, has been accepted to study biology at the University of Edinburgh and will then head to Sandhurst for her military training. Photo credit: Tom White/PA

  • Emily Wilson holds her A-level results at Central Newcastle High School, after her grades set her up to become a helicopter pilot with the RAF . Emily, who achieved an A* in biology and an A in chemistry and physics, has been accepted to study biology at the University of Edinburgh and will then head to Sandhurst for her military training. Photo credit: Tom White/PA

  • Students queue for their A-level results at the Capital FM Arena, Nottingham, as official figures showed that the proportion of A-levels scoring at least an A grade has fallen for the first time in more than 20 years. In total, 26.6\% of the exams were given an A or A*, down from 27\% in 2011 - a record drop of 0.4\%. Photo credit: Rui Vieira/PA

  • Charlotte McGuiness (left) and Georgia Herron, who both achieved three As, pupils from Chelmsford county high school for girls in Chelmsford, Essex, who were both Olympic Volunteers during the London 2012 Olympic Games. Photo credit: Sean Dempsey/PA

  • Students from the left; Theodore Zobas, Rob Johns, Garth Williams, Callum Cockbill and Sam Crossland celebrate after receiving their A-Level results at Hillsborough College, Sheffield. Photo credit: Anna Gowthorpe/PA

  • Students react after receiving their A-level results at the Capital FM Arena, Nottingham. Photo credit: Rui Vieira/PA

  • Jack Perkins, from Newark, reacts after receiving his A-level results at the Capital FM Arena, Nottingham. Photo credit: Rui Vieira/PA