Official Statistics

Provisional Entries for GCSE, AS and A level: Summer 2020 exam series

Published 11 June 2020

Applies to England

Provisional Entries for GCSE, AS and A level

Summer 2020 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 by 14 April 2020 for qualifications which were to be taken in summer 2020.

Entries reflect the information submitted to exam boards at that time but numbers for final entries are always expected to vary to some degree. Additional variation in final entries for summer 2020 is possible in light of the cancellation of exams and the operation of alternative arrangements, which are outlined here.

The main trends in provisional entries for GCSE and GCE (AS and A level) for the summer 2020 exam series are:

  • GCSE entries increased by 2% this year, mostly due to an increase in entry for EBacc subjects. The increase corresponds with an increase of 3% in the size of the 16 year old cohort this year.
  • The largest increases in EBacc entry numbers are in combined science, mathematics & English language.
  • A level entries for the summer 2020 exam series decreased by 2% overall compared to last year, in line with a decrease in the size of the 18 year old cohort (which fell by 3%).
  • The overall entry for AS in summer 2020 decreased by 26%.

GCSE entries

The overall entry for GCSEs in summer 2020 increased by 2% from 5,185,840 in 2019 to 5,281,745 in 2020.

Total entries for GCSEs from summer 2016 to summer 2020.

The majority of GCSE entries are from year 11 students, and it is the increase in year 11 entries this year that is responsible for the overall increase. It is likely that the reason for this increase is a larger cohort, since the size of the 16 year old cohort increased by 3% in 2020 compared to 2019 according to ONS population estimates (624,590 compared to 607,496).

Exam Series Year 10 & below Year 11 Year 12 and above Total
2016 297,340 4,277,635 354,495 4,929,475
2017 134,300 4,573,175 390,550 5,098,020
2018 123,350 4,619,275 393,870 5,136,495
2019 127,240 4,657,115 401,480 5,185,840
2020 124,310 4,756,135 401,300 5,281,745

The increase in entries for GCSE was mostly due to a rise in entries to EBacc subjects. Entries in EBacc subjects increased by 90,405 (2%) and entries in non-EBacc subjects increased by 5,505 (1%) compared to 2019.

Percentage of GCSE entries for EBacc and non-EBacc subjects from summer 2016 to summer 2020.
Type 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
EBacc subjects 3,528,305 3,850,805 4,054,475 4,206,700 4,297,100
Non-EBacc subjects 1,401,170 1,247,220 1,082,020 979,140 984,645
Total 4,929,475 5,098,020 5,136,495 5,185,840 5,281,745

Change from previous year in GCSE entries for EBacc subjects

The graph and table below show the change this year in entries to EBacc subjects compared to 2019. The subjects are ordered by total entry size in 2020 (largest to smallest).

Percentage change in GCSE entries for EBacc subjects from summer 2019 to summer 2020.
Subject grouping June 2019 June 2020 % change in entries
Combined science 786,830 820,270 4%
Mathematics 742,245 757,235 2%
English language 729,315 746,705 2%
English literature 551,205 561,315 2%
History 264,680 275,910 4%
Geography 253,125 256,805 1%
Biology 167,525 166,635 -1%
Chemistry 160,980 159,760 -1%
Physics 159,555 158,395 -1%
French 125,700 125,770 0%
Spanish 101,080 105,840 5%
Computing 78,080 76,180 -2%
German 42,175 43,390 3%
Other modern languages 32,035 30,685 -4%
Ancient languages 12,170 12,215 0%
Total 4,206,700 4,297,100 2%

There have been increases in entry numbers in many EBacc subjects, particularly combined science, mathematics and English language. The largest proportional increases were in combined science, history and Spanish.

In combined science, the number of entries in 2020 increased by 33,440 compared to 2019. The total decrease in entries to single sciences (biology, chemistry and physics) was 3,270. There are likely to be a large variety of reasons why entries to combined science have increased, including the increase in the 16 year old cohort and a possible small shift from single sciences, as well as other factors.

Modern foreign language entries have increased by 2% (from 268,955 to 275,000). German and Spanish increased (by around 3% and 5% respectively) and French entries remained stable compared to 2019.

Entries in computing decreased slightly this year (from 78,080 in 2019 to 76,180 in 2020) after several years of increases.

Entries in EBacc subjects over time and by year group

The total numbers of entries in English language, history, geography and Spanish have been increasing slowly over time. Recent increases in mathematics and combined science are slightly more marked. Considering the temporal trend, entries in biology, chemistry and physics have remained comparatively stable since increasing in 2018. Entries in other subjects have been largely stable over the past five years.

GCSE entries in EBacc subjects from summer 2016 to summer 2020.

In all subjects, the majority of entries are from candidates in year 11, but the proportion of entries from candidates in year 10 and below in “other modern languages” is consistently higher than observed in other subjects. Entry patterns by year group are stable over time and this remained the case in 2020.

Proportion of GCSE entries in EBacc subjects for different year groups from summer 2016 to summer 2020.

Changes in GCSE entries for non-EBacc subjects

Overall, entries in non-EBacc subjects increased slightly in 2020. The largest relative changes in 2020 were increases of 9% in both statistics and citizenship studies.

The graph and table below show the change this year in entries to non-EBacc subjects compared to 2019. The subjects are ordered by total entry size in 2020 (largest to smallest).

Percentage change in GCSE entries for non-EBacc subjects from summer 2019 to summer 2020.

Note: ”All other subjects” is shown in the table below but not in the graph above due to the very small number of entries in 2019 (65 entries).

Subject grouping June 2019 June 2020 % change in entries
Religious studies 251,140 248,340 -1%
Art & design subjects 184,060 193,035 5%
Business studies 89,860 91,800 2%
Design & technology 90,805 89,665 -1%
Physical education 80,665 74,995 -7%
Drama 58,255 58,000 0%
Food preparation & nutrition 45,295 47,495 5%
Social science subjects 38,355 38,560 1%
Music 34,990 34,865 0%
Media / film / TV studies 36,870 34,845 -5%
Statistics 23,720 25,845 9%
Citizenship studies 20,425 22,285 9%
Performing / expressive arts 9,335 9,085 -3%
Economics 6,145 6,525 6%
Classical subjects 3,575 3,755 5%
Engineering 2,990 2,830 -5%
Other sciences 2,600 2,725 5%
All other subjects 65 0 -100%
Total 979,140 984,645 1%

Entries for tiered GCSEs

In some subjects, there are two tiers of entry: foundation and higher. The graph below shows the entry by tier for the last 3 years for those reformed specifications which are tiered (except statistics which was awarded for the first time in 2019).

Proportion of GCSE entries in tiered GCSE subjects from summer 2018 to summer 2020.

In most subjects, the proportion of entries to the foundation tier has remained stable in 2020 after increases in 2019 following advice provided to schools and colleges in light of evidence of some inappropriate tier entry in 2018 (see Ofqual’s blog).

AS and A level entries

The overall entry for A levels in summer 2020 decreased by 2% from 745,585 in 2019 to 731,855 in 2020. The decrease may reflect a decrease in the size of the overall cohort: ONS census data indicates that there are fewer 18 year olds in England in 2020 than in 2019 (599,393 compared to 618,873).

The overall entry for AS in summer 2020 decreased by 26% from 117,595 in 2019 to 86,970 in 2020. This drop in AS entries continues a trend caused by the decoupling of AS from A levels as part of AS and A level reforms.

AS and A level entries from summer 2016 to summer 2020.
Qualification June 2016 June 2017 June 2018 June 2019 June 2020
A level 783,295 785,450 759,670 745,585 731,855
AS 1,135,605 659,880 269,090 117,595 86,970
Total 1,918,900 1,445,330 1,028,765 863,180 818,825

A level entries

Some A level subjects have increased in entry and other subjects showed a decrease. Overall, modern foreign language (French, German, Spanish) entries did not show much variation in the number of entries compared to last year, but entries in other modern languages decreased by 21%. Entries are higher in mathematics and further mathematics than in 2019 but biology, chemistry and physics all showed a slight decrease this year. Entries in history and geography both showed relatively large decreases (13% and 14% respectively), as did political and religious studies (both by 11%). Entries in computing increased by 11%.

The graph and table below show the change in entries this year compared to 2019. The subjects are ordered by total entry size in 2020 (largest to smallest).

Percentage change in A level entries for A level subjects from summer 2019 to summer 2020.
Subject grouping June 2019 June 2020 % change in entries
Mathematics 86,185 89,730 4%
Psychology 62,685 63,490 1%
Biology 64,460 61,130 -5%
Chemistry 55,615 53,435 -4%
History 47,920 41,645 -13%
Art & design subjects 39,170 38,620 -1%
English literature 37,475 38,310 2%
Sociology 36,295 36,965 2%
Physics 36,420 35,740 -2%
Business studies 30,820 33,260 8%
Economics 30,095 30,865 3%
Geography 32,050 27,470 -14%
Media / film / TV studies 19,985 19,525 -2%
Political studies 18,495 16,455 -11%
English language 13,815 14,715 7%
Religious studies 16,455 14,680 -11%
Mathematics (further) 13,920 14,475 4%
Computing 10,550 11,730 11%
Law 11,245 11,275 0%
Physical education 9,905 10,355 5%
Design & technology 9,375 9,185 -2%
Drama 9,320 8,685 -7%
Spanish 7,995 8,225 3%
All other subjects 8,980 8,095 -10%
French 7,680 7,685 0%
English language & literature 7,580 7,250 -4%
Other modern languages 8,035 6,385 -21%
Music 5,155 5,035 -2%
Classical subjects 4,995 4,700 -6%
German 2,905 2,735 -6%
Total 745,585 731,855 -2%

Change in A level entries for larger entry subjects

The graphs below show the change in entries from 2016 to 2020 for a selection of A level subjects with large entries in 2020. Entries in natural sciences decreased slightly after slowly increasing in previous years, whilst increases in social sciences also slowed. Entries in English (the aggregation of English language, English literature and English language & literature specifications) stabilised after decreasing in previous years.

Change in A level entries for larger entry subjects from summer 2016 to summer 2020.

Note: In this chart, ‘English’ includes English language, English literature and English language & literature specifications.

AS entries

Entries in all AS subjects saw a substantial decrease this year (percentage decreases ranged from 8% to 37%). Overall, there has been a decline of 93% to 86,970 in 2020 from 1,331,955 entries in 2015, the last year before reforms of the legacy (pre-reformed) AS and A levels began.

The graph and table below show the change in entries this year (for larger entry subjects) compared to 2019. The subjects are ordered by total entry size in 2020 (largest to smallest).

Percentage change in AS level entries for AS level subjects from summer 2019 to summer 2020.
Subject grouping June 2019 June 2020 % change in entries
All other subjects 26,255 17,215 -34%
Mathematics 17,190 12,550 -27%
Psychology 10,845 8,110 -25%
Biology 9,180 7,230 -21%
Chemistry 8,175 6,390 -22%
Sociology 7,415 5,960 -20%
Mathematics (further) 5,330 4,925 -8%
Physics 5,820 4,745 -18%
Business studies 5,315 4,140 -22%
Economics 4,300 3,620 -16%
History 4,995 3,585 -28%
Art & design subjects 5,160 3,230 -37%
English literature 4,580 3,160 -31%
Geography 3,030 2,110 -30%
Total 117,595 86,970 -26%

Entries by centre type

The graph below indicates the proportion of entries for each qualification by centre type. In all cases, the majority of entries are from secondary non-selective, maintained centres, followed by sixth form and further education (FE) establishments.

Proportion of entries by centre type for GCSE, AS and A level.
Centre type A level AS GCSE
Secondary non-selective, maintained 423,560 53,065 4,498,255
Sixth Form and FE 165,210 24,015 303,420
Independent 100,640 6,905 266,905
Selective 32,735 2,050 111,590
Other 9,710 935 101,580
Centre type A level AS GCSE
Secondary non-selective, maintained 58% 61% 85%
Sixth Form and FE 23% 28% 6%
Independent 14% 8% 5%
Selective 4% 2% 2%
Other 1% 1% 2%

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 2020 exam 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, although final entry numbers may be slightly different from these. The figures presented here are the provisional figures as received by exam boards by 14 April 2020.

On 18 March 2020, the Secretary of State announced that the summer 2020 exam series would be cancelled in order to help fight the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and that students due to sit the exams would be awarded a grade based on an assessment of the grade they would have been most likely to achieve had exams gone ahead. Alternative arrangements will therefore be in place this year. However, the numbers of provisional entries summarised here represent the provisional entries taken at the same point in time as previous years. Centres were asked to finalise entries by 21 February 2020.

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 2020 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 GCSE, AS and A levels.

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Head of profession: Vikas Dhawan