Are A-levels getting easier?

I know I have discussed this before but I found an interesting BBC magazine piece that I think bears wider coverage. BBC's John Hand took an A-level in Italian and concludes

"I outperformed my 1989 D grade for English Language Studies, based on a couple of hours of Italian study each week.

If I had the full six hours of classroom time each week, maybe I too would be in possession of an A grade. "

Two hours of study a week and he got a C at A-level, does that not seem a little "dumbed down"?

Somehow I think John Hand feels conflicted by this finding as he is keen to pint out first that:

"as a journalist, I am well versed in the art of gaining short-term knowledge of a subject."

and second that to fit in with "the narrative" on exam results:

"having seen the range of skills needed to gain top marks, it is important to value the efforts of those 18-year-olds who have done well today."