GCSE results down from last year but above pre-pandemic levels
Students across the UK are getting their GCSE results today
Last updated 25th Aug 2022
The number of GCSE top grades is down from last year but results are still higher than pre-pandemic levels.
Students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland are receiving their GCSE results today after sitting the first exams since before the pandemic.
Last year GCSEs were cancelled for the second year in a row due to Covid-19 and pupils given results determined by their teachers, which led to the proportion of GCSE entries awarded top grades surging to an all-time high.
Similar to the pattern with A-level results, published last week, it had been expected that grades would drop below last year, but remain above those from 2019 as students returned to sitting exams for the first time in three years.
GCSE pass rate falls from 2021
Figures published by the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) – covering GCSE entries from students predominantly in England, Wales and Northern Ireland – showed top grades of 7/A have fallen from 28.9% in 2021 to 26.3% this year, a drop of 2.6 percentage points.
But this remains higher than the equivalent figure for 2019 of 20.8%.
The proportion of entries receiving a 4/C – considered a pass – dropped from 77.1% in 2021 to 73.2% this year, a fall of 3.9 percentage points, but higher than 67.3% in 2019.
Girls continued their lead over boys this year, with 30.0% of entries achieving a 7/A, compared with 22.6% for males.
"Pupils should be incredibly proud"
Education Secretary, James Cleverly congratulated those getting their results today:
“Congratulations to everyone getting their results today. Pupils should be incredibly proud of their achievements, especially given the unprecedented disruption they have faced over the last couple of during the last two years.
"I also want to thank our brilliant teaching profession – and of course parents and carers – for all they have done to ensure young people can progress onto the next stage of their lives.
“So whether that's one of our pioneering T Levels, A levels, or an apprenticeship, pupils should know they have the best possible range of options available to them once they finish their GCSEs."
A 'welcome step back towards normality'
Kath Thomas, interim chief executive officer of JCQ, congratulated students getting their results “after lots of hard work and all the challenges of the pandemic”.
She said: “We’re pleased that exams are back, as they’re the fairest way to assess students and give everyone the chance to show what they know.
“This is the first time in three years that results have been based on formal exams and coursework, so it’s a welcome step back towards normality.
“These results will help them progress to the next stage of their education and make some important decisions about their future.
“As planned – and as with last week’s A-level results, these results are higher than the last set of summer exams in 2019, but lower than last year’s teacher-assessed grades.”
Grades were predicted to fall
Ahead of todays results, education experts had predicted top GCSE grades would fall this year with more pupils failing and a slight narrowing of the girls' lead over boys.
As with A-levels, extra help was provided for GCSE students with the return to exams, including more generous grading, advance information on topics, formulae and equation sheets for GCSE maths, physics and combined science exams.