AS exam boards are accused of 'fixing' A-level grades, what lies in store for youngsters who still have to take the ultimate academic test for teenagers?

Schools claim many students who had expected good grades this year have inexplicably failed, and in some cases they have missed out on university places.

This has been the first year of the new A-level -- a combination of AS-levels taken a year ago in the lower sixth and new A2 exams taken this summer.

The AS-level is supposed to be easier than A-level standard but still counts for half the marks of the full A-level.

However, a third of candidates failed the Maths AS-level, while nearly everyone passed psychology.

Critics claim the Government insisted on a too-swift introduction of curriculum and exam reforms.

For instance, teachers said that in some subjects they had to start the syllabus without textbooks or specimen papers from the exam boards.

Meanwhile, the students at the centre of it all are the first generation who have been tested nationally at seven, 11, 14 and 17 -- before even taking their final A-levels.