Provisional entries for GCSE, AS and A level: summer 2023 exam series
Published 1 June 2023
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2023
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1. Summer 2023 series
This report presents provisional figures for the number of entries for GCSEs, AS and A levels submitted by schools and colleges in England to exam boards by 20 April 2023 for qualifications which are to be awarded in summer 2023.
These figures reflect the information submitted to exam boards at that time but numbers for final entries are always expected to vary to some degree.
2. Key headlines
The key headlines in provisional entries for GCSEs, AS and A levels for the summer 2023 series are:
- GCSE entries have increased by 3.6% from 5,349,250 in summer 2022 to 5,543,840 in summer 2023
- The proportion of entries by tier in tiered GCSE subjects are broadly similar in summer 2023 compared to summer 2022
- A level entries have increased by 2.3% from 788,125 in summer 2022 to 806,410 in summer 2023
- AS entries have decreased by 2.0% from 64,080 in summer 2022 to 62,785 in summer 2023
3. GCSE entries
The overall entry for GCSEs has increased by 3.6% from 5,349,250 in summer 2022 to 5,543,840 in summer 2023. The overall entries for GCSEs have been slowly but steadily increasing for the past five years.
Table 1. GCSE entries from summer 2019 to summer 2023
| Year group | Summer 2019 | Summer 2020 | Summer 2021 | Summer 2022 | Summer 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 10 and below | 127,240 | 124,310 | 95,580 | 107,400 | 99,780 |
| Year 11 | 4,657,115 | 4,756,135 | 4,847,140 | 4,928,640 | 5,090,115 |
| Year 12 and above | 401,480 | 401,300 | 358,350 | 313,210 | 353,940 |
| All year groups | 5,185,840 | 5,281,745 | 5,301,075 | 5,349,250 | 5,543,840 |
The majority of GCSE entries are from year 11 students. Entries from year 11 students are higher than at any time in the past 5 years. This can be partly due to a 10.4% increase in the size of the population of those aged 16 over the last five years, from 613,025 in 2019 to 676,773 in 2023 according to ONS population estimates.
The increase of 3.6% for GCSE entries in summer 2023 is reflected in a rise in entries for both EBacc subjects and non-EBacc subjects.
Table 2. GCSE entries for EBacc and non-EBacc subjects from summer 2019 to summer 2023
| Subject grouping | Summer 2019 | Summer 2020 | Summer 2021 | Summer 2022 | Summer 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EBacc entries | 4,206,700 | 4,297,100 | 4,337,685 | 4,378,110 | 4,554,415 |
| Non-EBacc entries | 979,140 | 984,645 | 963,390 | 971,140 | 989,430 |
| Percent EBacc entries | 81.1% | 81.4% | 81.8% | 81.8% | 82.2% |
| Percent non-EBacc entries | 18.9% | 18.6% | 18.2% | 18.2% | 17.8% |
3.1 Change from previous year in GCSE entries for EBacc subjects
The overall entry for EBacc subjects in summer 2023 has increased by 4.0% from 4,378,110 in summer 2022 to 4,554,415 in summer 2023.
Please note that entry in combined science is double counted because combined science is the equivalent of 2 GCSE grades. Please also note that ancient languages includes classical subjects as well as ancient languages.
Table 3. Percentage change in EBacc entries in summer 2023 compared to summer 2022
| Subject grouping | Entries in Summer 2022 | Entries in Summer 2023 | Percentage change in entries |
|---|---|---|---|
| Combined science | 854,450 | 881,925 | 3.2% |
| Mathematics | 749,390 | 786,815 | 5.0% |
| English language | 719,790 | 754,910 | 4.9% |
| English literature | 582,680 | 601,945 | 3.3% |
| History | 278,750 | 298,155 | 7.0% |
| Geography | 279,205 | 283,020 | 1.4% |
| Biology | 174,605 | 180,125 | 3.2% |
| Chemistry | 167,190 | 173,530 | 3.8% |
| Physics | 166,550 | 172,725 | 3.7% |
| French | 126,185 | 126,560 | 0.3% |
| Spanish | 116,355 | 121,670 | 4.6% |
| Computing | 79,135 | 88,530 | 11.9% |
| Other modern languages | 36,310 | 39,270 | 8.1% |
| German | 36,000 | 33,945 | -5.7% |
| Ancient languages | 11,510 | 11,290 | -1.9% |
| Total | 4,378,110 | 4,554,415 | 4.0% |
There have been increases in entries for most EBacc subjects with the largest percentage increase in computing (11.9%). The increase in computing entries is larger than seen in 2022 where there was a 2.4% increase compared to 2021. There were decreases in entries for two subjects, German and ancient languages.
3.2 Entries in EBacc subjects over time and by year group
The growth in the population of those aged 16 in recent years’ ONS population estimates is likely to explain the entries in Ebacc subjects. In the uptake of individual subjects, however, there are other factors at play, such as individual preferences and other existing trends.
Entries for combined science, English literature, geography and Spanish have increased each year for the past 5 years. German is the only subject where entries have decreased over the past 5 years.
Table 4. Entries in EBacc subjects from summer 2019 to summer 2023
| Subject | Summer 2019 | Summer 2020 | Summer 2021 | Summer 2022 | Summer 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 742,245 | 757,235 | 758,755 | 749,390 | 786,815 |
| English language | 729,315 | 746,705 | 729,605 | 719,790 | 754,910 |
| English literature | 551,205 | 561,315 | 572,765 | 582,680 | 601,945 |
| Combined science | 786,830 | 820,270 | 840,955 | 854,450 | 881,925 |
| Biology | 167,525 | 166,635 | 171,835 | 174,605 | 180,125 |
| Chemistry | 160,980 | 159,760 | 165,710 | 167,190 | 173,530 |
| Physics | 159,555 | 158,395 | 164,330 | 166,550 | 172,725 |
| Computing | 78,080 | 76,180 | 77,245 | 79,135 | 88,530 |
| Geography | 253,125 | 256,805 | 268,180 | 279,205 | 283,020 |
| History | 264,680 | 275,910 | 278,880 | 278,750 | 298,155 |
| French | 125,700 | 125,770 | 125,655 | 126,185 | 126,560 |
| German | 42,175 | 41,320 | 37,035 | 36,000 | 33,945 |
| Spanish | 101,080 | 105,840 | 109,655 | 116,355 | 121,670 |
| Other modern languages | 32,035 | 32,755 | 25,225 | 36,310 | 39,270 |
| Ancient languages | 12,170 | 12,215 | 11,860 | 11,510 | 11,290 |
There are some slight changes to entry by year group in 2023 compared to previous years. In all subjects most entries are from candidates in year 11, but the proportion of entries from candidates in year 10 and below (“early entries”) in other modern languages is consistently higher than is observed in other subjects. Percentage of entries for mathematics, English language, and English literature have increased for year 12 and above in summer 2023 when compared to summer 2022. These figures are, however, in line with those shown in previous years.
Table 5. Percentage of candidates by year group in EBacc subjects from summer 2019 to summer 2023
| Subject | Year group | Summer 2019 | Summer 2020 | Summer 2021 | Summer 2022 | Summer 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ancient languages | Year 10 and below | 10.0% | 9.1% | 9.0% | 8.3% | 8.7% |
| Ancient languages | Year 11 | 88.1% | 89.3% | 89.4% | 89.7% | 89.6% |
| Ancient languages | Year 12 and above | 1.9% | 1.6% | 1.6% | 2.0% | 1.7% |
| Biology | Year 10 and below | 0.6% | 0.8% | 0.7% | 0.9% | 0.7% |
| Biology | Year 11 | 96.1% | 96.0% | 96.5% | 96.3% | 96.6% |
| Biology | Year 12 and above | 3.3% | 3.1% | 2.8% | 2.8% | 2.7% |
| Chemistry | Year 10 and below | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.7% | 0.6% | 0.5% |
| Chemistry | Year 11 | 98.0% | 97.9% | 98.1% | 98% | 97.8% |
| Chemistry | Year 12 and above | 1.4% | 1.5% | 1.3% | 1.4% | 1.6% |
| Combined science | Year 10 and below | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| Combined science | Year 11 | 98.6% | 98.7% | 98.7% | 98.9% | 98.8% |
| Combined science | Year 12 and above | 1.4% | 1.3% | 1.1% | 1.0% | 1.1% |
| Computing | Year 10 and below | 2% | 1.9% | 1.5% | 1.7% | 1.3% |
| Computing | Year 11 | 97.1% | 97.2% | 97.6% | 97.4% | 97.6% |
| Computing | Year 12 and above | 0.9% | 0.9% | 0.9% | 0.9% | 1.2% |
| English language | Year 10 and below | 1.2% | 1.0% | 0.7% | 0.8% | 0.6% |
| English language | Year 11 | 75.6% | 76.0% | 79.6% | 82.5% | 81.4% |
| English language | Year 12 and above | 23.2% | 23.0% | 19.7% | 16.6% | 18.0% |
| English literature | Year 10 and below | 5.4% | 4.4% | 3.7% | 2.9% | 2.2% |
| English literature | Year 11 | 93.9% | 94.9% | 95.7% | 96.5% | 97.1% |
| English literature | Year 12 and above | 0.8% | 0.7% | 0.7% | 0.6% | 0.7% |
| French | Year 10 and below | 2.2% | 2% | 1.7% | 2.1% | 1.8% |
| French | Year 11 | 97.2% | 97.4% | 97.8% | 97.4% | 97.7% |
| French | Year 12 and above | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.5% |
| Geography | Year 10 and below | 0.8% | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.5% | 0.4% |
| Geography | Year 11 | 98.4% | 98.6% | 98.7% | 98.9% | 98.9% |
| Geography | Year 12 and above | 0.8% | 0.7% | 0.7% | 0.6% | 0.8% |
| German | Year 10 and below | 2.0% | 2.2% | 1.5% | 2.2% | 2.4% |
| German | Year 11 | 97.4% | 97.2% | 98.1% | 97.3% | 97.2% |
| German | Year 12 and above | 0.6% | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.5% |
| History | Year 10 and below | 0.9% | 0.7% | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.5% |
| History | Year 11 | 98.4% | 98.6% | 98.9% | 99.0% | 99.0% |
| History | Year 12 and above | 0.7% | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.5% | 0.6% |
| Mathematics | Year 10 and below | 0.5% | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.3% |
| Mathematics | Year 11 | 74.4% | 75.2% | 76.7% | 79.1% | 77.6% |
| Mathematics | Year 12 and above | 25.1% | 24.5% | 23.0% | 20.6% | 22.1% |
| Other modern languages | Year 10 and below | 32.6% | 34.9% | 23.8% | 31.5% | 35.8% |
| Other modern languages | Year 11 | 62.8% | 60.5% | 71.6% | 63.7% | 59.6% |
| Other modern languages | Year 12 and above | 4.6% | 4.6% | 4.6% | 4.8% | 4.6% |
| Physics | Year 10 and below | 0.5% | 0.4% | 0.5% | 0.4% | 0.5% |
| Physics | Year 11 | 98.3% | 98.3% | 98.5% | 98.5% | 98.2% |
| Physics | Year 12 and above | 1.2% | 1.2% | 1.0% | 1.1% | 1.4% |
| Spanish | Year 10 and below | 3.2% | 3.2% | 2.0% | 2.9% | 2.8% |
| Spanish | Year 11 | 96.0% | 96.0% | 97.4% | 96.5% | 96.6% |
| Spanish | Year 12 and above | 0.8% | 0.8% | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.6% |
3.3 Change from previous year in GCSE entries for non-EBacc subjects
The overall entry for non-EBacc subjects has increased by 1.9% from 971,140 in summer 2022 to 989,430 in summer 2023. This mirrors the increase in the number of 16 year olds in the population between the 2 years.
Table 6. Percentage change in non-EBacc entries in summer 2023 compared to summer 2022
| Subject grouping | Entries in Summer 2022 | Entries in Summer 2023 | Percentage change in entries |
|---|---|---|---|
| Religious studies | 243,875 | 245,385 | 0.6% |
| Art and design subjects | 194,040 | 187,710 | -3.3% |
| Business studies | 100,990 | 114,525 | 13.4% |
| Design and technology | 78,405 | 79,025 | 0.8% |
| Physical education | 71,215 | 74,550 | 4.7% |
| Food preparation and nutrition | 51,940 | 53,380 | 2.8% |
| Drama | 53,790 | 49,825 | -7.4% |
| Social science subjects | 42,385 | 49,270 | 16.3% |
| Media / film / TV studies | 31,635 | 32,905 | 4.0% |
| Music | 34,130 | 30,115 | -11.8% |
| Statistics | 22,615 | 26,785 | 18.4% |
| Citizenship studies | 22,850 | 22,410 | -1.9% |
| Economics | 6,805 | 7,205 | 5.9% |
| Performing / expressive arts | 8,245 | 6,890 | -16.4% |
| Classical subjects | 3,595 | 4,480 | 24.7% |
| Engineering | 2,305 | 2,490 | 8.1% |
| Other sciences | 2,320 | 2,465 | 6.4% |
| Total | 971,140 | 989,430 | 1.9% |
Most non-EBacc subjects had an increase in entries. The largest percentage increases were in business studies, social science subjects, statistics and classical subjects. There was a decrease in entries in art and design subjects, drama, music, citizenship studies and performing/expressive arts.
3.4 Entries for tiered GCSEs
In some subjects, there are 2 tiers of entry: foundation and higher. Entry by tier has remained broadly similar in most tiered subjects in summer 2023 compared to summer 2022.
Table 7. Percentage of entries for higher tier from summer 2019 to summer 2023
| Subject | Summer 2019 | Summer 2020 | Summer 2021 | Summer 2022 | Summer 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biology | 84% | 85% | 88% | 86% | 85% |
| Chemistry | 85% | 87% | 89% | 86% | 86% |
| Combined science | 37% | 38% | 41% | 40% | 40% |
| French | 52% | 52% | 56% | 53% | 52% |
| German | 62% | 60% | 64% | 62% | 61% |
| Mathematics | 41% | 41% | 43% | 43% | 43% |
| Physics | 86% | 87% | 90% | 88% | 87% |
| Spanish | 55% | 53% | 57% | 53% | 53% |
| Statistics | 60% | 56% | 61% | 58% | 53% |
4. AS and A level entries
The overall entries for A level have increased by 2.3% from 788,125 in summer 2022 to 806,410 in summer 2023. This is likely to be partially explained by a 1.5% increase in the size of the population of those aged 18, which increased from 628,023 in 2022 to 637,756 in 2023 according to ONS population estimates.
The overall entries for AS have decreased by 2% from 64,080 in summer 2022 to 62,785 in summer 2023. AS level entries have significantly decreased in previous years following the decoupling of AS and A levels.
Table 8. AS and A level entries from summer 2019 to summer 2023
| Qualification | Summer 2019 | Summer 2020 | Summer 2021 | Summer 2022 | Summer 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AS | 117,595 | 86,970 | 58,300 | 64,080 | 62,785 |
| A level | 745,585 | 731,855 | 756,230 | 788,125 | 806,410 |
| Total | 863,180 | 818,825 | 814,525 | 852,200 | 869,195 |
4.1 A level entries
Most A level subjects have increased in entry size in summer 2023 compared to summer 2022. Classical subjects (20%) and computing (14.5%) showed the biggest overall percentage increase in summer 2023 compared to summer 2022. The 3 subjects with the largest percentage decrease are; German, Spanish, and French which decreased by more than 10% in summer 2023 when compared to summer 2022.
Please note that entries in “other subjects” is the combination of subjects with fewer than 2,000 entries as well as those grouped as “all other subjects” by the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) for the purposes of results reporting.
Table 9. Percentage change in A level entries in summer 2023 compared to summer 2022
| Subject grouping | Entries in Summer 2022 | Entries in Summer 2023 | Percentage change in entries |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 89,605 | 90,845 | 1.4% |
| Psychology | 76,265 | 78,015 | 2.3% |
| Biology | 66,220 | 68,870 | 4.0% |
| Chemistry | 54,865 | 57,620 | 5.0% |
| Sociology | 43,590 | 45,730 | 4.9% |
| History | 42,885 | 44,545 | 3.9% |
| Business studies | 38,980 | 41,265 | 5.9% |
| Art and design subjects | 42,100 | 40,930 | -2.8% |
| Economics | 35,760 | 38,325 | 7.2% |
| Physics | 36,770 | 35,815 | -2.6% |
| Geography | 34,245 | 34,870 | 1.8% |
| English literature | 32,910 | 34,000 | 3.3% |
| Media / film / TV studies | 20,050 | 21,530 | 7.4% |
| Political studies | 19,145 | 20,630 | 7.8% |
| Computing | 15,210 | 17,420 | 14.5% |
| Religious studies | 15,520 | 14,900 | -4.0% |
| Further mathematics | 14,520 | 14,535 | 0.1% |
| Law | 13,995 | 14,170 | 1.3% |
| English | 14,260 | 13,200 | -7.4% |
| Physical education | 12,000 | 12,035 | 0.3% |
| Other subjects | 9,400 | 10,130 | 7.7% |
| Design and technology | 9,725 | 9,000 | -7.5% |
| Drama | 8,985 | 8,385 | -6.7% |
| Spanish | 8,640 | 7,545 | -12.7% |
| English language and literature | 6,795 | 6,755 | -0.6% |
| French | 7,440 | 6,510 | -12.5% |
| Classical subjects | 4,875 | 5,855 | 20.0% |
| Other modern languages | 5,385 | 5,825 | 8.1% |
| Music | 5,305 | 4,945 | -6.8% |
| German | 2,675 | 2,210 | -17.2% |
| Total | 788,125 | 806,410 | 2.3% |
4.2 Change in A level entries over time
Entries in business studies, psychology, and sociology have increased each year from summer 2019 to summer 2023. Entries remain relatively stable in other high entry subjects.
Please note that according to the JCQ subject classifications, English includes English language, English literature and, English language and literature specifications. Also note, modern foreign languages contains French, German, and Spanish as they have been grouped together to allow any trends in entries to be shown.
Table 10. Entries in selected A level subjects from summer 2019 to summer 2023
| Subject | Summer 2019 | Summer 2020 | Summer 2021 | Summer 2022 | Summer 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Art and design subjects | 39,635 | 39,145 | 39,370 | 42,100 | 40,930 |
| Biology | 64,460 | 61,130 | 63,765 | 66,220 | 68,870 |
| Business studies | 30,820 | 33,260 | 35,285 | 38,980 | 41,265 |
| Chemistry | 55,615 | 53,435 | 55,485 | 54,865 | 57,620 |
| English | 58,870 | 60,275 | 57,515 | 53,965 | 53,960 |
| Further mathematics | 13,920 | 14,475 | 14,850 | 14,520 | 14,535 |
| History | 47,455 | 41,120 | 41,585 | 42,885 | 44,545 |
| Mathematics | 86,185 | 89,730 | 90,290 | 89,605 | 90,845 |
| Modern foreign languages | 18,585 | 18,645 | 18,715 | 18,750 | 16,265 |
| Physics | 36,420 | 35,740 | 37,560 | 36,770 | 35,815 |
| Psychology | 62,685 | 63,490 | 68,315 | 76,265 | 78,015 |
| Sociology | 36,295 | 36,965 | 39,825 | 43,590 | 45,730 |
4.3 AS entries
AS entries in most subjects have decreased in summer 2023 compared to summer 2022. There is an increase in AS entries compared to summer 2022 in further mathematics, physics, art and design subjects and English literature. The biggest percentage increase from summer 2022 to summer 2023 is in further mathematics with a 24.7% increase in entries.
Please note that entries in ‘other subjects’ is the combination of subjects with fewer than 2,000 entries as well as those grouped as ‘all other subjects’ by JCQ.
Table 11. Percentage change in AS entries in summer 2023 compared to summer 2022
| Subject grouping | Entries in Summer 2022 | Entries in Summer 2023 | Percentage change in entries |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other subjects | 13,270 | 12,425 | -6.4% |
| Mathematics | 8,865 | 8,485 | -4.3% |
| Psychology | 6,735 | 6,295 | -6.6% |
| Biology | 5,835 | 5,535 | -5.1% |
| Chemistry | 4,900 | 4,795 | -2.1% |
| Sociology | 5,105 | 4,785 | -6.3% |
| Further mathematics | 3,730 | 4,655 | 24.7% |
| Physics | 3,215 | 3,435 | 6.8% |
| Business studies | 3,170 | 3,105 | -2.1% |
| Economics | 2,620 | 2,595 | -0.9% |
| History | 2,670 | 2,435 | -8.8% |
| Art and design subjects | 2,000 | 2,155 | 7.6% |
| English literature | 1,960 | 2,095 | 6.9% |
| Total | 64,080 | 62,785 | -2.0% |
5. Entries by centre type
For GCSEs, AS and A levels, the majority of entries are from secondary non-selective, maintained centres. Entries from Sixth form and FE centres are much higher, as expected, at AS and A level.
Table 12. Number of entries by centre type for GCSEs, AS and A levels
| Centre Type | Number of entries at GCSE | Percentage of total entries at GCSE | Number of entries at AS | Percentage of total entries at AS | Number of entries at A level | Percentage of total entries at A level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Secondary non-selective, maintained | 4,740,330 | 86% | 32,245 | 51% | 459,920 | 57% |
| Sixth Form and FE | 264,550 | 5% | 23,745 | 38% | 180,375 | 22% |
| Independent | 289,115 | 5% | 3,990 | 6% | 107,835 | 13% |
| Selective | 124,270 | 2% | 1,215 | 2% | 36,545 | 5% |
| Other | 125,580 | 2% | 1,595 | 3% | 21,730 | 3% |
6. Background information
In this report, Ofqual presents data on the number of provisional entries for GCSEs, AS and A levels in England received by exam boards for the summer 2023 series.
Schools and colleges enter students with exam boards to take qualifications in the summer. The figures for entries can normally change up to the day of the exams. We collect provisional data at the same time every year, at a point when it should be reasonably complete. The figures presented here are the provisional figures as received by exam boards by 20 April 2023, final entry numbers are always expected to vary slightly from these.
In this report, all figures for the number of entries are rounded to the nearest 5.
Background information accompanying this report includes factors which may have an impact upon the entries in summer 2023, as well as information on data collected for this release and definitions of important terms used in the report.
Data tables published along with this report give provisional entry data (rounded to the nearest 5) for different subjects broken down by year group for GCSEs, AS and A levels.
7. User feedback
We welcome your feedback on publications. Should you have any comments on this statistical release and how to improve it to meet your needs please contact us at data.analytics@ofqual.gov.uk.
Head of profession: Nadir Zanini