Provisional entries for GCSE, AS and A level: summer 2025 exam series
Published 12 June 2025
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2025
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/provisional-entries-for-gcse-as-and-a-level-summer-2025-exam-series/provisional-entries-for-gcse-as-and-a-level-summer-2025-exam-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 ahead of the summer exam series.
For the 2025 summer exam series, figures represent the number of entries submitted by schools and colleges to exam boards by 16 April 2025.
Entries data is collected at the same time every year, at a point when it should be reasonably complete, although final entries are always expected to vary to some degree. These figures are therefore provisional. Our statistics on entries and late entries give final numbers, which are published later in the year.
Key headlines
The key headlines in provisional entries for GCSEs, AS and A levels for the summer 2025 series are:
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GCSE entries have decreased by 0.6% from 5,811,595 in summer 2024 to 5,777,020 in summer 2025
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the proportion of entries by tier was broadly similar in summer 2025 compared with summer 2024 across all tiered GCSE subjects
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A level entries have decreased by 0.4% from 825,355 in summer 2024 to 821,875 in summer 2025
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AS entries have decreased by 12.7% from 59,935 in summer 2024 to 52,295 in summer 2025
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GCSE entries
The overall entry for GCSEs has decreased by 0.6% from 5,811,595 in summer 2024 to 5,777,020 in summer 2025. This interrupts the trend of slowly but steadily increasing entries for GCSE for the past 5 years.
Table 1. GCSE entries from summer 2021 to summer 2025
| Year group | Summer 2021 | Summer 2022 | Summer 2023 | Summer 2024 | Summer 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 10 and below | 95,580 | 107,400 | 99,780 | 92,405 | 92,435 |
| Year 11 | 4,847,140 | 4,928,640 | 5,090,115 | 5,296,815 | 5,212,910 |
| Year 12 and above | 358,350 | 313,210 | 353,940 | 422,380 | 471,675 |
| All year groups | 5,301,075 | 5,349,250 | 5,543,840 | 5,811,595 | 5,777,020 |
The majority of GCSE entries are from year 11 students. Entries from year 11 students have decreased in summer 2025 compared with summer 2024 (a decrease of 1.6%). However, there was a 0.2% increase in the size of the population of those aged 16 in England, from 697,673 in 2024 (according to ONS population estimates in 2022) to 699,401 in 2025 (according to ONS population estimates in 2023).
The decrease of 0.6% for GCSE entries in summer 2025 is due to a drop in entries for both EBacc subjects and non-EBacc subjects.
Table 2. GCSE entries for EBacc and non-EBacc subjects from summer 2021 to summer 2025
| Subject types | Summer 2021 | Summer 2022 | Summer 2023 | Summer 2024 | Summer 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EBacc entries | 4,337,685 | 4,378,110 | 4,554,415 | 4,776,805 | 4,751,520 |
| Non-EBacc entries | 963,390 | 971,140 | 989,430 | 1,034,790 | 1,025,500 |
| Percent EBacc entries | 81.8% | 81.8% | 82.2% | 82.2% | 82.2% |
| Percent non-EBacc entries | 18.2% | 18.2% | 17.8% | 17.8% | 17.8% |
Change from previous year in GCSE entries for EBacc subjects
The overall entry for all EBacc subjects in summer 2025 has decreased by 0.5% from 4,776,805 in summer 2024 to 4,751,520 in summer 2025.
There have been decreases in entries for 8 out of 15 EBacc subjects with the largest percentage decrease in German (down 7.6%). The decrease in German entries is a change from an increase seen in the provisional entries report for 2024 where there was a 3.4% increase compared with 2023. English language saw the largest increase in entries this year, up by 2.3%.
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 entries include ancient history as well as ancient languages entries.
Table 3. Percentage change in EBacc entries in summer 2025 compared to summer 2024
| Subject grouping | Entries in summer 2024 | Entries in summer 2025 | Percentage change in entries |
|---|---|---|---|
| Combined science | 926,750 | 934,500 | 0.8% |
| Mathematics | 842,575 | 856,430 | 1.6% |
| English language | 807,725 | 825,940 | 2.3% |
| English literature | 623,590 | 614,800 | -1.4% |
| History | 312,410 | 293,835 | -5.9% |
| Geography | 287,600 | 291,880 | 1.5% |
| Biology | 183,360 | 171,690 | -6.4% |
| Chemistry | 174,745 | 163,100 | -6.7% |
| Physics | 174,735 | 162,865 | -6.8% |
| Spanish | 129,935 | 131,985 | 1.6% |
| French | 130,650 | 128,155 | -1.9% |
| Computing | 93,980 | 89,610 | -4.7% |
| Other modern languages | 42,460 | 42,945 | 1.1% |
| German | 35,110 | 32,430 | -7.6% |
| Ancient languages | 11,175 | 11,360 | 1.6% |
| Total | 4,776,805 | 4,751,520 | -0.5% |
Entries in EBacc subjects over time and by year group
Like with GCSE entries overall, this decrease in entries for some EBacc subjects interrupts previous trends of continuing increases over the past 5 years.
Entries for combined science, Geography, Spanish and other modern languages have continued to increase this year as in recent years.
Table 4. Entries in EBacc subjects from summer 2021 to summer 2025
| Subject | Summer 2021 | Summer 2022 | Summer 2023 | Summer 2024 | Summer 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 758,755 | 749,390 | 786,815 | 842,575 | 856,430 |
| English language | 729,605 | 719,790 | 754,910 | 807,725 | 825,940 |
| English literature | 572,765 | 582,680 | 601,945 | 623,590 | 614,800 |
| Combined science | 840,955 | 854,450 | 881,925 | 926,750 | 934,500 |
| Biology | 171,835 | 174,605 | 180,125 | 183,360 | 171,690 |
| Chemistry | 165,710 | 167,190 | 173,530 | 174,745 | 163,100 |
| Physics | 164,330 | 166,550 | 172,725 | 174,735 | 162,865 |
| Computing | 77,245 | 79,135 | 88,530 | 93,980 | 89,610 |
| Geography | 268,180 | 279,205 | 283,020 | 287,600 | 291,880 |
| History | 278,880 | 278,750 | 298,155 | 312,410 | 293,835 |
| French | 125,655 | 126,185 | 126,560 | 130,650 | 128,155 |
| German | 37,035 | 36,000 | 33,945 | 35,110 | 32,430 |
| Spanish | 109,655 | 116,355 | 121,670 | 129,935 | 131,985 |
| Other modern languages | 25,225 | 36,310 | 39,270 | 42,460 | 42,945 |
| Ancient languages | 11,860 | 11,510 | 11,290 | 11,175 | 11,360 |
There are some slight changes to entries by year group in 2025 compared with 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 in other subjects. The percentage of entries for mathematics and English language from students in year 12 and above has increased in summer 2025 when compared with summer 2024.
Table 5. Percentage of candidates by year group in EBacc subjects from summer 2021 to summer 2025
| Subject | Year group | Summer 2021 | Summer 2022 | Summer 2023 | Summer 2024 | Summer 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ancient languages | Year 10 and below | 9.0% | 8.3% | 8.7% | 7.9% | 7.8% |
| Ancient languages | Year 11 | 89.4% | 89.7% | 89.6% | 89.9% | 89.8% |
| Ancient languages | Year 12 and above | 1.6% | 2.0% | 1.7% | 2.2% | 2.4% |
| Biology | Year 10 and below | 0.7% | 0.9% | 0.7% | 0.6% | 0.5% |
| Biology | Year 11 | 96.5% | 96.3% | 96.6% | 96.5% | 96.4% |
| Biology | Year 12 and above | 2.8% | 2.8% | 2.7% | 2.9% | 3.1% |
| Chemistry | Year 10 and below | 0.7% | 0.6% | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.4% |
| Chemistry | Year 11 | 98.1% | 98.0% | 97.8% | 97.8% | 97.7% |
| Chemistry | Year 12 and above | 1.3% | 1.4% | 1.6% | 1.8% | 1.9% |
| Combined science | Year 10 and below | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| Combined science | Year 11 | 98.7% | 98.9% | 98.8% | 98.7% | 98.6% |
| Combined science | Year 12 and above | 1.1% | 1.0% | 1.1% | 1.3% | 1.4% |
| Computing | Year 10 and below | 1.5% | 1.7% | 1.3% | 0.9% | 1.0% |
| Computing | Year 11 | 97.6% | 97.4% | 97.6% | 97.8% | 97.4% |
| Computing | Year 12 and above | 0.9% | 0.9% | 1.2% | 1.2% | 1.5% |
| English language | Year 10 and below | 0.7% | 0.8% | 0.6% | 0.4% | 0.4% |
| English language | Year 11 | 79.6% | 82.5% | 81.4% | 79.1% | 76.4% |
| English language | Year 12 and above | 19.7% | 16.6% | 18.0% | 20.5% | 23.3% |
| English literature | Year 10 and below | 3.7% | 2.9% | 2.2% | 1.6% | 1.5% |
| English literature | Year 11 | 95.7% | 96.5% | 97.1% | 97.6% | 97.6% |
| English literature | Year 12 and above | 0.7% | 0.6% | 0.7% | 0.8% | 0.8% |
| French | Year 10 and below | 1.7% | 2.1% | 1.8% | 1.7% | 1.8% |
| French | Year 11 | 97.8% | 97.4% | 97.7% | 97.8% | 97.7% |
| French | Year 12 and above | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.5% |
| Geography | Year 10 and below | 0.6% | 0.5% | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.4% |
| Geography | Year 11 | 98.7% | 98.9% | 98.9% | 98.8% | 98.7% |
| Geography | Year 12 and above | 0.7% | 0.6% | 0.8% | 0.9% | 0.9% |
| German | Year 10 and below | 1.5% | 2.2% | 2.4% | 2.3% | 2.7% |
| German | Year 11 | 98.1% | 97.3% | 97.2% | 97.1% | 96.7% |
| German | Year 12 and above | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.6% | 0.6% |
| History | Year 10 and below | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.4% | 0.4% |
| History | Year 11 | 98.9% | 99.0% | 99.0% | 99.0% | 98.9% |
| History | Year 12 and above | 0.6% | 0.5% | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.7% |
| Mathematics | Year 10 and below | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.3% |
| Mathematics | Year 11 | 76.7% | 79.1% | 77.6% | 75.3% | 73.4% |
| Mathematics | Year 12 and above | 23.0% | 20.6% | 22.1% | 24.4% | 26.4% |
| Other modern languages | Year 10 and below | 23.8% | 31.5% | 35.8% | 37.2% | 38.7% |
| Other modern languages | Year 11 | 71.6% | 63.7% | 59.6% | 58.6% | 57.5% |
| Other modern languages | Year 12 and above | 4.6% | 4.8% | 4.6% | 4.2% | 3.8% |
| Physics | Year 10 and below | 0.5% | 0.4% | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.4% |
| Physics | Year 11 | 98.5% | 98.5% | 98.2% | 98.0% | 98.0% |
| Physics | Year 12 and above | 1.0% | 1.1% | 1.4% | 1.5% | 1.6% |
| Spanish | Year 10 and below | 2.0% | 2.9% | 2.8% | 2.6% | 2.4% |
| Spanish | Year 11 | 97.4% | 96.5% | 96.6% | 96.8% | 97.1% |
| Spanish | Year 12 and above | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.6% |
Change from previous year in GCSE entries for non-EBacc subjects
The overall entry for non-EBacc subjects has decreased by 0.9% from 1,034,790 in summer 2024 to 1,025,500 in summer 2025.
Most non-EBacc subjects had a decrease in entries. The largest percentage decrease was in engineering (down by 21.3%). There was an increase in entries in statistics (up by 9.2%) and performing / expressive arts (up by 7.5%).
Table 6. Percentage change in non-EBacc entries in summer 2025 compared to summer 2024
| Subject grouping | Entries in summer 2024 | Entries in summer 2025 | Percentage change in entries |
|---|---|---|---|
| Religious studies | 248,115 | 242,310 | -2.3% |
| Art and design subjects | 197,500 | 194,190 | -1.7% |
| Business studies | 127,310 | 130,065 | 2.2% |
| Physical education | 77,905 | 79,285 | 1.8% |
| Design and technology | 80,580 | 77,770 | -3.5% |
| Food preparation and nutrition | 56,265 | 55,035 | -2.2% |
| Social science subjects | 52,355 | 50,025 | -4.4% |
| Drama | 49,410 | 48,650 | -1.5% |
| Statistics | 32,210 | 35,175 | 9.2% |
| Music | 32,615 | 34,555 | 5.9% |
| Media / film / TV studies | 33,910 | 32,555 | -4.0% |
| Citizenship studies | 21,535 | 21,500 | -0.2% |
| Economics | 7,760 | 7,290 | -6.1% |
| Performing / expressive arts | 6,675 | 7,175 | 7.5% |
| Classical subjects | 5,005 | 5,085 | 1.6% |
| Other sciences | 2,730 | 2,540 | -6.8% |
| Engineering | 2,925 | 2,300 | -21.3% |
| Total | 1,034,790 | 1,025,500 | -0.9% |
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 2025 compared with summer 2024.
Table 7. Percentage of entries for higher tier from summer 2021 to summer 2025
| Subject | Summer 2021 | Summer 2022 | Summer 2023 | Summer 2024 | Summer 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biology | 88% | 86% | 85% | 84% | 84% |
| Chemistry | 89% | 86% | 86% | 85% | 86% |
| Combined science | 41% | 40% | 40% | 37% | 38% |
| French | 56% | 53% | 52% | 48% | 49% |
| German | 64% | 62% | 61% | 57% | 59% |
| Mathematics | 43% | 43% | 43% | 41% | 40% |
| Physics | 90% | 88% | 87% | 85% | 86% |
| Spanish | 57% | 53% | 53% | 49% | 49% |
| Statistics | 61% | 58% | 53% | 48% | 46% |
AS and A level entries
The overall entries for AS have decreased by 12.7% from 59,935 in summer 2024 to 52,295 in summer 2025. AS level entries have significantly decreased in previous years following the decoupling of AS and A levels.
The overall entries for A level have decreased by 0.4% from 825,355 in summer 2024 to 821,875 in summer 2025 despite a 3.8% increase in the size of the population of those aged 18, which increased from 655,635 in 2024 (according to ONS population estimates in 2022 to 680,553 in 2025 (according to ONS population estimates in 2023).
Table 8. AS and A level entries from summer 2021 to summer 2025
| Qualification | Summer 2021 | Summer 2022 | Summer 2023 | Summer 2024 | Summer 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AS | 58,300 | 64,080 | 62,785 | 59,935 | 52,295 |
| A level | 756,230 | 788,125 | 806,410 | 825,355 | 821,875 |
| Total | 814,525 | 852,200 | 869,195 | 885,290 | 874,170 |
A level entries by subject
More than half of A level subjects decreased in entry size in summer 2025 compared with summer 2024. French showed the biggest overall percentage decrease (down by 8.3%) in summer 2025 compared with summer 2024. The subject with the largest percentage increase in summer 2025 when compared with summer 2024 is further mathematics (up by 7.5%).
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 2025 compared with summer 2024
| Subject grouping | Entries in summer 2024 | Entries in summer 2025 | Percentage change in entries |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 101,230 | 105,755 | 4.5% |
| Psychology | 76,125 | 73,565 | -3.4% |
| Biology | 69,040 | 66,100 | -4.3% |
| Chemistry | 58,845 | 59,850 | 1.7% |
| Sociology | 42,570 | 42,035 | -1.3% |
| Physics | 40,315 | 42,025 | 4.2% |
| Business studies | 41,260 | 41,940 | 1.6% |
| Economics | 39,660 | 41,880 | 5.6% |
| History | 43,405 | 40,940 | -5.7% |
| Art and design subjects | 40,965 | 40,400 | -1.4% |
| English literature | 36,650 | 34,920 | -4.7% |
| Geography | 33,505 | 31,395 | -6.3% |
| Media / film / TV studies | 21,245 | 21,435 | 0.9% |
| Political studies | 20,420 | 20,835 | 2.0% |
| Computing | 19,475 | 19,010 | -2.4% |
| Further mathematics | 17,420 | 18,730 | 7.5% |
| Law | 14,385 | 14,420 | 0.3% |
| Religious studies | 14,680 | 14,395 | -2.0% |
| English | 13,010 | 12,460 | -4.2% |
| Physical education | 11,810 | 11,815 | 0.0% |
| Other subjects | 10,680 | 10,770 | 0.8% |
| Design and technology | 8,985 | 9,095 | 1.3% |
| Spanish | 7,720 | 7,830 | 1.4% |
| Drama | 7,895 | 7,410 | -6.2% |
| English language and literature | 7,085 | 6,605 | -6.8% |
| Other modern languages | 6,280 | 6,555 | 4.4% |
| French | 7,035 | 6,450 | -8.3% |
| Classical subjects | 6,380 | 6,260 | -1.9% |
| Music | 5,005 | 4,875 | -2.6% |
| German | 2,280 | 2,125 | -6.8% |
| Total | 825,355 | 821,875 | -0.4% |
Change in A level entries by subject over time
Entries in business studies have increased each year from summer 2021 to summer 2025. Entries in other high entry subjects have had slight fluctuations each year.
Please note that according to the JCQ subject classifications, English includes English language, English literature, and English language and literature specifications. Also note that modern foreign languages contain 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 2021 to summer 2025
| Subject | Summer 2021 | Summer 2022 | Summer 2023 | Summer 2024 | Summer 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Art and design subjects | 39,370 | 42,100 | 40,930 | 40,965 | 40,400 |
| Biology | 63,765 | 66,220 | 68,870 | 69,040 | 66,100 |
| Business studies | 35,285 | 38,980 | 41,265 | 41,260 | 41,940 |
| Chemistry | 55,485 | 54,865 | 57,620 | 58,845 | 59,850 |
| English | 57,515 | 53,965 | 53,960 | 56,745 | 53,985 |
| Further mathematics | 14,850 | 14,520 | 14,535 | 17,420 | 18,730 |
| History | 41,585 | 42,885 | 44,545 | 43,405 | 40,940 |
| Mathematics | 90,290 | 89,605 | 90,845 | 101,230 | 105,755 |
| Modern foreign languages | 18,715 | 18,750 | 16,265 | 17,035 | 16,400 |
| Physics | 37,560 | 36,770 | 35,815 | 40,315 | 42,025 |
| Psychology | 68,315 | 76,265 | 78,015 | 76,125 | 73,565 |
| Sociology | 39,825 | 43,590 | 45,730 | 42,570 | 42,035 |
AS entries by subject
AS entries in most subjects decreased in summer 2025 compared with summer 2024, although entries increased in further mathematics (up by 5.3%) and economics (up by 0.1%). The biggest percentage increase from summer 2024 to summer 2025 is in further mathematics with a 5.3% increase in entries. The biggest decrease in entries from summer 2024 to summer 2025 can be seen in sociology (down by 23.2%).
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 2025 compared with summer 2024
| Subject grouping | Entries in summer 2024 | Entries in summer 2025 | Percentage change in entries |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other subjects | 15,940 | 13,435 | -15.7% |
| Mathematics | 8,520 | 7,320 | -14.1% |
| Further mathematics | 5,100 | 5,370 | 5.3% |
| Psychology | 5,330 | 4,530 | -15.0% |
| Biology | 5,050 | 4,305 | -14.8% |
| Chemistry | 4,575 | 4,015 | -12.2% |
| Sociology | 4,365 | 3,350 | -23.2% |
| Physics | 3,410 | 3,015 | -11.6% |
| Business studies | 2,955 | 2,460 | -16.8% |
| Economics | 2,390 | 2,395 | 0.1% |
| Art and design subjects | 2,300 | 2,100 | -8.7% |
| Total | 59,935 | 52,295 | -12.7% |
Entries by centre type
In previous releases of this report, we have included figures on the number entries broken down by centre type. We have taken the decision this year not to publish these figures as we are unable to validate the categorisation of entries into centre types carried out by the awarding organisations for this data, and therefore would have limited assurance of the accuracy of these figures. We are currently working on securing a more reliable data source and hope to resume the publication of centre type breakdowns in subsequent releases of this report.
Contextual 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 ahead of the summer exam series.
Schools and colleges enter students with exam boards to take these qualifications in the summer. The figures for entries can normally change up to the day of the exams. We collect provisional data at around the same time every year, at a point when it should be reasonably complete. The figures presented here relating to summer 2025 are the provisional figures as received by exam boards by 16 April 2025. 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 that may have an impact upon the entries in summer 2025, 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.
Note that we publish final figures on entries later in the year. Please see our statistics on entries and late entries .
Head of Profession: Ben Cuff