article: More than 20,000 pupils passed ten or more GCSEs with either an A or an A* grade between 2009 and 2013, Department for Education statistics reveal . The number of teenagers getting straight As at GCSE has soared by a third in just five years, new figures show. More than 20,000 children passed ten or more with either an A or an A* grade, Department for Education statistics reveal. But critics say increasing numbers of high-fliers mean not enough has been done to stop qualifications becoming too easy. The latest figures show that one in 30 pupils who sat the exams ended up with at least ten A grades. In 2009, the number of students who managed to get straight As was 15,791. This rose to 16,983 in 2010, 18,468 in 2011 and 18,829 in 2012. In 2013, the latest year for which figures are available, 20,307 received As across the board. The figures suggest Britain’s most able students are increasingly getting top marks in all subjects. GCSE grades are used by universities to decide who to admit to courses, along with personal statements and references. However, as a greater proportion of pupils is classified as excellent, it is harder for top universities such as Oxford and Cambridge to identify truly exceptional youngsters. And while British results appear to be improving for some pupils, the country is slipping behind other nations when measured using international tests. Results published just over a year ago showed British teenagers dropped out of the top 20 rankings in maths, science and reading for the first time. Tests on more than half a million pupils worldwide found those in Vietnam, Shanghai and Poland had a much better command of core subjects. Children in the Chinese city of Shanghai were three years ahead of their British counterparts by 15. Overall, the UK came 26th out of 65 countries and economic regions in the report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Christopher McGovern, chairman of the Campaign for Real Education, said: ‘Sadly, grade inflation has devalued GCSEs to such an extent that any pass below a B has become little more than a certificate of incompetence. Critics say increasing numbers of high-fliers mean not enough has been done to stop qualifications becoming too easy. GCSE grades are used by universities to decide who to admit to courses (file picture) ‘International comparisons of educational attainment, very serious concerns expressed by employers and the fact that many universities now have to put on remedial catch-up courses for new undergraduates, all point to a disastrous dumbing down of standards.’ The Coalition tried to halt grade inflation by making qualifications more rigorous, but many reforms are still being implemented. A Conservative Party spokesman said: ‘Importantly, while overall results are up, the attainment gap between disadvantaged pupils and peers is closing.’ Meanwhile, it emerged yesterday that teenagers applying to university had their details wrongly passed to advertisers, the data protection watchdog ruled yesterday. The university admissions service UCAS broke the law by signing youngsters up to receive adverts about mobile phones, energy drinks and other products. The practice earned UCAS more than £12million in a year, but, the Information Commissioner’s Office found it broke marketing rules and told it to change its procedures.
highlights: More than 20,000 passed ten or more GCSEs with A or A* in last five years .
  One in 30 children who sat the exams ended up with at least ten A grades .
  Figures suggest UK's most able pupils are increasingly getting top marks .
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