What were the 2023 GCSE results?

Here School Entrance Tests, selective education and assessment design specialist, explore the 2023 GCSE subjects results to inform those students choosing, for example, 2024 Maths GCSE as an option.

2023 GCSE results by GCSE subject

Summary 2023 results including the 2023 GCSE pass mark

GCSE English 2023 results

• 16% of students attained a grade 7/A or higher, marking a decline from 20.2% in 2022 and an increase from 13.9% in 2019.
• The percentage of students achieving at least a 4/C rose modestly post-pandemic to 64.2%, up from 61.8% in 2019.
• English Literature saw 20.6% of examinees scoring a 7/A or above, with a pass rate of 73.9%.
• A decrease from 2022’s 23.8% (grade 7/A or above) and 77.5% (pass rate).
• Paralleling 2019 figures of 20.2% (grade 7/A or above) and 73.4% (pass rate).

2023 GCSE Mathematics results

• 2023 GCSE Mathematical proficiency depicted a dip with 17.2% securing a 7/A or higher.
• This was a descent from 19.9% in 2022 but an ascent from 15.9% in 2019.
• The GCSE pass rate also experienced a reduction, landing at 61%, which is lower than 2022’s 64.9% but higher than 2019’s 59.6%.

History and Geography GCSE 2023 results

• History results revealed that 25.3% attained the top three grades, a decrease from 29.5% in 2022 but an augmentation from 24.6% in 2019.
• The GCSE pass rate settled at 63.5% compared with 70.7% in 2022 and 63.6% in 2019.
• GCSE Geography 2023 saw 24.5% achieving a 7/A or higher and a 64.8% pass rate.
• This contrasted with 30.3% and 72.1% respectively in 2022.

2023 GCSE Modern Foreign Languages results

• In Spanish GCSE, the top grades fell to 26.1%, down from 31.5% in 2022 and 27.1% in 2019.
• The 2023 GCSE pass rate also declined to 69.2%, lower than 77.4% in 2022 and 70.3% in 2019.
• GCSE German top grades descended to 27.6% from 35.1% in 2022, albeit higher than 2019’s 24.2%.
• The GCSE pass rate in 2023 was 76.9%, a fall from 83.5% in 2022 but an increase from 75.8% in 2019.
• French GCSE, the most popular language, saw a decrease in top grades to 26% from 31.4% in 2022, although this was an improvement from 23.7% in 2019.
• The 2023 GCSE pass rate reduced to 70.5%, down from 78.1% in 2022 and slightly up from 69.7% in 2019.

GCSE 2923 Science Results

• GCSE Double Science encompasses GCSE Biology, GCSE Chemistry, and Physics GCSE 2023.
• Double Science GCSE’s top grades fell to 8.5% from 10.3% in 2022 but rose from 7.5% in 2019.
• The 2023 GCSE pass rate also dipped to 56.6%.
• In Biology GCSE 2023, top grades reached 42%, down from 49.8% in 2022 and marginally less than 2019’s 42.3%.
• The 2023 Chemistry GCSE’s top grades were 43.6%, down from 2022 and slightly less than 43.9% in 2019.
• Physics GCSE saw top grades at 43%, a decrease from 2022 and marginally lower than 2019’s 43.8%.

2023 Arts GCSE / Computing GCSE Achievements

• GCSE Art and Design saw 23.9% achieving a 7/A or above in 2023.
• Music GCSE 2023 had 33.3%.
• 2023 GCSE Drama had 25.8%, and Design and Technology saw 21%.
• GCSE Computing’s top grades fell to 24.4% in 2023 from 34% in 2022. Still, higher though than 2019’s 21.6%.

PE GCSE Results

• The percentage of students achieving a 7/A or above in 2023’s GCSE PE was 22.7%.
• This pass rate was down from 34.1% in 2022 but higher than 21.1% in 2019.

Which are the most popular GCSE selection choices?

Of course, there are many ways to compile a list of the most popular GCSE’s. In no particular order, these are the most popular GCSEs:

• English Language and Literature 2022 past papers
• Maths 2022 past papers
• Science 2022 past papers
• History 2022 past papers
• Geography 2022 past papers
• Modern foreign languages

So in summary:

• GCSE Maths and English Language: both GCSE subjects are compulsory for all pupils to take.
• Combined Science GCSE: see our past papers for GCSE biology, GCSE chemistry, and GCSE physics.
• GCSE Humanities: see or latest past papers for History GCSE, Geography GCSE, Religious Studies GCSE.

Other GCSE choices

These include:

• GCSE Arts subjects (Art, Music, Drama, and Media Studies).
• Foreign Languages, such as French GCSE, Mandarin GCSE, Russian GCSE, Spanish GCSE and Spanish GCSE.
• Computer Science
• Art and Design
• Physical Education
• Business Studies

2022 GCSE past papers and 2021 past GCSE exams