Assembly Education Minister Jane Davidson said the results were another excellent set of figures - with students in Wales beating those in England for a second year.

The overall pass rate, compared with figures for last year, rose by 3.9 percentage points to 98.2%, according to the Welsh Joint Education Committee (WJEC).

Schools across Wales have enjoyed a bumper year

The level of grade A awards rose by 2.6 points, with one in four pupils (25.2%) now gaining a top grade, with the A-C pass rate up to 78%.

The WJEC said that the number of entries for its A-level exams rose 15.6%, from 26,918 in 2001 to 31,104 this year - while in England, the number of entries fell more than 6%.

Not only Wales

But the WJEC's entries are not only for Wales.

Of the total, more than a third - 10,505 - were from centres outside Wales using the Welsh board's exam papers.

The pass rate for entries from specifically Welsh centres using the Welsh board was the same as its overall rate - 98.2%.

But many schools in Wales use English exam boards.

A-level results for England, Wales and Northern Ireland as a whole are published by the joint qualifications council in London.

These show that the number of A-level entries at exam centres in Wales - using whichever of the exam boards - was almost unchanged from last year, at 33,138.

The pass rate in Wales did go up - to 95.8%, still more than in England, where it was 94.1%.

But the 3.8 point year-on-year rise was lower than the 4.5 point rise in England.

The talk prompted by the overall figures is that a 100% pass rate might be achievable within a few years - but at 98.2% the WJEC is ahead of the game.

'Too much'

The excellent results have been partly overshadowed by concerns that students have been pushed too hard during the transition to the new A-level.

Children's Commissioner Peter Clarke - the spokesman for children's rights in Wales - gave a warning that students he had spoken to felt they had been "overtested".

"The stress associated with exams, as a result, is becoming counterproductive," he said.

A-level results, Wales (all exam boards)

Overall pass rate: 95.8% Exam entries: 33,138 A grade pass rate: 21.5% A-C pass rate: 70.4%

"I am not saying the new qualification is a disaster, but I am saying that we should be conscious of these feelings and listen to students about what it is like to go through this exam regime.

"We need to ensure we are not putting too much pressure on them."

Ms Davidson said Mr Clarke's comments should be taken "very seriously", but she added changes to an exam system could lead to more stress on those involved at the beginning.

Across Wales, education authorities are delighted with an excellent crop of results.

Any comments that Peter Clarke makes as an advocate of young people we have to take very seriously

Jane Davidson, Assembly Education Minister

In Cardiff, 28% of entries achieved an A grade and those with A-C grades was 79%.

In Rhondda Cynon Taff, seven out of 10 entries recorded A-C grades - up 10% on last year - with an overall pass rate of 97%.

Ms Davidson said she was delighted by the overall performance of students.

"The results under the new reformed A-level have exceeded our previous best.

"Students and teachers in Wales have responded well to these exciting new opportunities and taken advantage of the new AS qualification."

Ms Davidson added Mr Clarke's concerns about "overtesting" were partly being addressed by canvassing students on the shape of the new curriculum.

"Any comments that Peter Clarke makes as an advocate of young people we have to take very seriously," she said.

But the minister added: "The most important thing is to look at the achievements of young people. We have widened opportunities with an open curriculum.

"It is pressurised taking exams that determine your future. I certainly do believe that we have to look at ways of encouraging educational potential right throughout the system."