Proportion of GCSE entries that achieved a high pass grade in the UK 1988-2024

Published by D. Clark, Sep 3, 2024

In 2024, 21.8 percent of GCSE entries in the United Kingdom earned a grade of A/7 or higher. The significant jump between 2019 and 2020 when compared with 2019 was due to the unique grading situation necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The higher pass rate for students at this educational level increased from 8.4 percent in 1988 to 23.2 percent by 2011, before the pass rate dropped slightly to the low 20s until 2020.

Proportion of GCSE entries awarded a A/7 or higher in the United Kingdom between 1988 and 2024

CharacteristicShare of GSCE entries that were A/7 or higher
2024 21.8%
2023 22%
2022 26.3%
2021 28.9%
2020 26.2%
2019 20.8%
2018 20.5%
2017 20%
2016 20.5%
2015 21.1%
2014 21%
2013 21.3%
2012 22.4%
Showing entries 1 to 13 (37 entries in total)
Created with Highcharts 7.2.2Share of GSCE entries that were A/7 or higher8.4%8.4%9.9%9.9%10.8%10.8%11.4%11.4%12.3%12.3%12.5%12.5%13%13%13.1%13.1%13.7%13.7%14.1%14.1%14.7%14.7%15.2%15.2%15.8%15.8%16.1%16.1%16.4%16.4%16.7%16.7%17.2%17.2%18.4%18.4%19.1%19.1%19.5%19.5%20.7%20.7%21.6%21.6%22.6%22.6%23.2%23.2%22.4%22.4%21.3%21.3%21%21%21.1%21.1%20.5%20.5%20%20%20.5%20.5%20.8%20.8%26.2%26.2%28.9%28.9%26.3%26.3%22%22%21.8%21.8%1988198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
5%10%15%20%25%30%

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Release date

August 2024

Region

United Kingdom

Survey time period

1988 to 2024

Supplementary notes

Data for years prior to 2021 taken from previous versions of this report:

2020 page 8
2019 page 9
2018 page 9
2017 page 9
2016 page 10
2015 page 10
2014 page 10
2013 page 9

Results prior to 2013 taken from an article concerning this topic by The Guardian newspaper.

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