Students in Northern Ireland have once again gained more top grades at A-Level than their counterparts in England and Wales and lead the way in the new AS-Levels, figures today showed.
The north's exam body said it was "delighted" with the results which a spokesman attributed to the hard work of pupils and teachers and the growing competition for jobs.
The percentage of A-Level students who gained a grade A was 24.6 per cent, up 1.5 per cent on last year, and ahead of Wales, on 19.9 per cent and England with 18.3 per cent.
Northern Ireland also led the way in the numbers of entries getting A to E passes, at 92.1 per cent up 1.1 per cent on 2000.
That was just ahead of Wales, where 92 per cent of entries passed, and England with 89.6 per cent.
Northern Ireland was also just ahead in terms of the percentage of girls who got A-grades, with 3.1 per cent more female students than males being awarded the top mark.
That compared with 3 per cent for Wales and 0.6 per cent for England.
The AS-Level results showed Northern Ireland was way out in front with 28 per cent of students gaining a grade A compared with 16.8 per cent in England and 16.5 per cent in Wales.
At grades A to E Northern Ireland students were ahead again with 92.5 per cent, Wales 87.1 per cent and England 86.4 per cent.
Northern Ireland's Minister for Education, Mr Martin McGuinness, and employment and learning minister Dr Sean Farren congratulated students and teachers on their achievement.
Mr McGuinness said: "The results are a credit to the efforts of not only the pupils themselves but also the dedication of the teachers and lecturers in our schools and colleges."
PA