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Aberystwyth University has a number of clearing places across more than 100 courses and is using live chat and Facebook messenger for the first time to offer places.

Daniel Davies, from Ysgol Penweddig, in Aberystwyth, is one of those choosing not to go to university next year. He hopes to gain an apprenticeship in engineering.

Speaking at John Frost School in Newport, Education Secretary Kirsty Williams congratulated pupils, teachers and staff for their hard work:

"These set of results show an encouraging increase in the number achieving the top grades, with improvement in results across maths, biology,chemistry and physics.

"We have also seen the results go up across a range of subjects and I want us to continue to build on this.

"I am committed to making sure our education system provides pupils with the skills and knowledge they need for the modern world.

"Our ongoing reform of A-levels is an important part in our national mission to raise standards and extend opportunities for all our young people."

The University of Wales Trinity St David is using Facebook, Snapchat and Twitter to offer clearance places.

You may be able to go to a different university, Ucas says.

³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ reporter Chris Dearden is with students finding out their results at Ysgol Eirias, in Colwyn Bay.

Biz Romachney (left) gained an A and two Bs and is off to Manchester to study French and Chinese.

Billy Leathwood-Hill (centre) achieved three As and is off to York to study French and German.

And Isla Middleton (right) gained an A and two Bs, meaning she is off to Liverpool to study Media and Film Studies.

³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ reporter Mari Grug is with students opening their results at Ysgol Penweddig in Aberystwyth this morning.

A mixture of As and A*s all round for Will and Ffion (top), and Rebecca and Daniel (bottom) are looking forward to their final year after picking up their AS-level results.

The university's admissions helpline is open.

A-level results for the top grades are , according to results published today.The proportion of A* and A grades is 25% - 2.7% higher than 2016. The 8.3% of A* grades is the best since 2010 when it was introduced.But the number of entries, 33,294, is the lowest for more than a decade.

Coffee-fuelled staff at Neath Port Talbot College have been at work since 5am.

Students from Ysgol Penweddig in Aberystwyth fuel up for a day of celebrations.

Image source, PA

The number of entries is down this year at 35,530.

That's 6% lower than in 2016 and 8% lower than the year before.

Qualifications Wales is to research the causes of the fall, looking into whether pupils are dropping out or choosing more vocational career paths.

Top marks for this photographer who opted against the standard jumping in the air photo at Neath Port Talbot College.

This year will see results for 14 reformed A-level courses for the first time after the content of courses was changed and refreshed in 2015.

The subjects include art and design, biology, business, chemistry, computer science, economics, English language, history, psychology, physics, sociology and Welsh language.

Unlike in England, AS levels - taken a year earlier - have continued in Wales and still contribute 40% towards the overall A-level result.

But from now on students in Wales will only be able to re-sit exams once.

Image source, Getty Images

³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ reporter Ben Wright is at Neath Port Talbot College this morning to get all the reaction there.