ANXIOUS students across Dorset and the New Forest will receive their long-awaited GCSE results today.

Thousands of teenagers are expected to collect their envelopes from school, while others will access their results online.

And almost seven in 10 GCSEs could be awarded at least a C grade this year, amid increases in students taking alternative international courses and fewer being entered for exams early, it has been suggested.

Last year, just over two thirds, 68.8 per cent of entries scored at least a C grade, up 0.7 percentage points on 2013.

Rises in schools opting for international GCSEs, particularly in key subjects like English, could have an impact on this year's grades, according to Professor Alan Smithers of Buckingham University.

Prof Smithers, director of Buckingham's Centre for Education and Employment Research, predicted: "Exams regulator Ofqual sets great store by maintaining standards from year to year, so it's likely that the overall pattern of results will be similar to last year. But because of the movement and changes in the cohort they are likely to be a bit up on last year.

"I would expect the percentage to be closer to 69% this year."

Exam reforms introduced in England under the coalition government, such as the decision that only a candidate's first attempt at a qualification will count in school league tables, will also continue to play a part, he said, as it has led to fewer pupils being entered for exams before the end of Year 11, when students usually sit their GCSEs.

Brian Lightman, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) said an increase in overall A*-C grades is a possibility, and this could be to do with schools entering pupils later or changes in exam entry patterns.

For coverage of GCSE results day, log onto bournemouthecho.co.uk for live updates throughout the day.

Photographers and reporters will be at schools throughout the morning with all our pictures uploaded to our online gallery.

And a special 16-page supplement will appear in Saturday's paper with a round-up of pictures from schools across Bournemouth, Poole, Christchurch and the New Forest.