GCSE results 2023: GCSE passes fall to pre-Covid levels as England sees biggest drop
GCSE passes in England, Wales and Northern Ireland have fallen for a second year running – with 628.2% of all grades marked at grades 4/C and above.
It means the results are close to where they were in 2019 – the last year that exams were sat before the Covid-19 pandemic – when it was 67.3%.
There were huge grade spikes in 2020 and 2021 – during the pandemic – when exams were cancelled and results were based on teachers’ assessments.
England’s fall in passes is due to the country’s plan to get back to normal grades. Ministers say it will add “weight and credibility” with employers.
Grades in Wales and Northern Ireland haven’t dropped as dramatically and are now between 2019 and 2022 levels.
- GCSE passes in England, Wales and Northern Ireland have fallen for a second year running – with 68.2% of all grades marked at grades 4/C.
- That’s more or less back to where it was in 2019 – the last year exams were sat before Covid – when it was 67.3%.
- It’s a substantial fall from recent years – it was 73.2% in 2022 and 77.1% in 2021