Education minister David Miliband has said the government intends to reform A Levels to help universities and employers distinguish between A grade candidates.

Ahead of tomorrow's results, Miliband dismissed as a "pantomime" those who repeatedly say improved pass rates are evidence of lower standards.

But he conceded that the upper pass rates required modification.

He said universities "need a means to select the highest achievers" but dismissed Tory calls for a limit to the number of A grades awarded.

In a separate move, however, the British Chambers of Commerce has warned that the government's target of getting 50 per cent of young people into higher education by 2010 could damage competitiveness.