Research and analysis

The National Reference Test in 2025

The results digest for the National Reference Test in 2025, provided by the National Foundation for Educational Research, and the annual statement.

• From: Ofqual
• Published: 21 August 2025

Applies to England

Documents

National Reference Test Results Digest 2025 (accessible)

Ref: ISBN 978-1-916567-34-4, Ofqual/25/7246/1

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National Reference Test results digest 2025

Ref: ISBN 978-1-916567-34-4, Ofqual/25/7246/1

PDF, 361 KB, 25 pages

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National Reference Test annual statement 2025

Ref: Ofqual/25/7246/2

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Details

The results digest for the National Reference Test (NRT) in 2025, provided by the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER), and the annual statement.

Since its introduction in 2017, NFER has been contracted by Ofqual to develop, deliver and analyse the results of the NRT in English and maths.

The NRT is administered annually and shows if student performance in English and maths at GCSE level has changed from year-to-year. This year, more than 13,000 Year 11 students from over 350 schools took part in the NRT. The 2025 NRT testing took place in the spring term, between 21 February and 10 March.

Published 21 August 2025