GCSE grades have risen for the second consecutive year, with 22% of all entries awarded a top grade (7/A or above), a slight increase from 21.9% in the previous year. This figure remains higher than pre-pandemic levels of 20.8% in 2019. However, the pass rates for English and mathematics have fallen to their lowest in a decade, with 60% passing English language and 57.3% passing mathematics.
The Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ), which represents GCSE exam boards, released the figures showing that 67.3% of entries achieved a grade 4/C or above, a marginal decrease from 67.4% last year. This is the first time the overall 'standard pass' rate has returned to pre-pandemic levels. The overall rate for grades 1/G or above stands at 97.9%, unchanged from last year and lower than 98.3% in 2019, marking the lowest figure in two decades.
Gender Gap Narrows in Top Grades
The long-standing lead held by girls over boys for top grades has narrowed. In this year's results, 24.4% of female entries achieved a grade 7/A or above, compared to 19.6% for male entries, a gap of 4.8 percentage points. This is the narrowest lead for girls since at least 2000. Similarly, the gap at the standard pass level (grade 4/C) has also narrowed, with girls achieving a 5.8 percentage point lead over boys.
Regional Disparities and Subject Entries
Across England, London recorded the highest proportion of top grades at 28.6%, while the North East had the lowest at 17.7%. The gap between these regions has widened to 10.9 percentage points. In Northern Ireland, 31.7% of entries achieved 7/A or higher, and 83.6% achieved 4/C or higher, both figures exceeding those in England and Wales.
The science double award remains the subject with the most entries, followed by mathematics and then English language. Business studies saw the largest percentage increase in entries among subjects with over 100,000 entries, while statistics showed the largest increase among subjects with fewer than 100,000 entries.
Focus on Resits and Future Qualifications
Education Secretary Lucy Powell has pledged to address the issue of GCSE resits, which she described as a 'pernicious' system leading to repeated failure for many students. Approximately 200,000 teenagers in England are estimated to fail both English and mathematics GCSEs repeatedly. Plans are underway to introduce alternative 'basic skills' qualifications for those over 16 who do not achieve the standard pass mark, with a view to steering students who score 2 or below towards new 'Level 1' qualifications.
Many pupils receiving results this year were in Year 5 when schools closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, meaning their secondary education was largely unaffected by the peak disruption. However, the decline in English and maths pass rates, which has occurred for the second year, is speculated to be linked to older students resitting these subjects after previous failures.
Experts have noted that the gender gap in educational achievement begins early and persists through all levels of schooling. Concerns have been raised that a significant portion of boys' GCSE entries consistently fall below the standard pass level, potentially hindering their access to further education and employment. Discussions are ongoing regarding potential inherent differences contributing to these persistent disparities.