This year's A Level results show more students than ever achieving top marks.

The annual row over the exam's standards begins as figures show an increase in the pass rate from 94.3 to 95.4 per cent.

The number of A grades awarded also rose by 0.9 per cent to just over a fifth of candidates.

"Today is an important day for many pupils and they should be proud of their efforts. Their achievements are a tribute to their hard work and that of their teachers," said schools minister David Miliband.

"Our responsibility is to ensure that every pupil gets grades which reflect the standard of their work."

But Ruth Lea of the Institute of Directors said: "We continue to believe that yet another 'record-breaking year' for A Level pass rates is symptomatic of endemic and rampant grade inflation.

"Once again we must ask ourselves what do we want from A Levels since it is clear that they are becoming increasingly meaningless. They no longer seem to be testing students."