Just when you though A-level exams couldn't get any tougher, the Education Minister has announced that new changes will signal harder papers and higher grades.

Minister Maria Eagle teamed up with fellow Ministers in England and Wales this week to announce the changes to A-level qualifications, which will take effect from September, 2008.

More challenging questions will be introduced to the A2 paper, and very high achievement will be recognised by the introduction of a new A* grade. The A* grade boundary will be set above that of the current grade A, but the current standards for the existing grades A-E will remain unchanged.

Speaking of the changes, the Minister said: "These reforms build on the current strengths of the A-level qualification and will improve the education provided to A-level students to better prepare them for higher education and employment. The introduction of a new A* grade at A-level will provide due recognition for the highest achievers within our schools, while maintaining the overall pass rate."

Among the key changes, A-level examinations are expected to become more demanding through the introduction of more open-ended questions, synoptic questions that cover the entire A-Level course, and a requirement for extended writing, where appropriate.

The 14-19 White Paper, published in February 2005, included an objective of introducing more 'stretch and challenge' into the A-Level qualification.

Although the White Paper, and the subsequent Education and inspections' Act applies only to England, the regulatory authorities have advised their respective Ministers that greater stretch and challenge can be incorporated into the A-level through more demanding questions, and that this can be recognised through the introduction of a new A* grade.

The Minister has accepted this advice.