The number of entries for GCSEs this autumn amounts to just 0.2% of the summer 2021 series.  5,700 entries were made for the GCSE exam series in England across all Awarding Organisations.  

This figure is less than a third of the number of entries made last year in the autumn 2020 series.

These entry figures do not include English language or maths, which are routinely available in a November series (see below).

The autumn series is part of the arrangements for awarding qualifications in 2021 put in place following the cancellation of the exams in the summer. This additional exam series provides students who would like to improve their grade or who were unable to receive a grade in the summer, with the chance to take an exam.

The GCSE subjects with the highest numbers of candidates entering were English literature (955 entries) and combined science (1,170 entries but counted twice).  The only other single subjects with over 300 entries were religious studies (420), biology (395) and chemistry (330).

English and maths
The total GCSE entries in English language and maths in November 2021 decreased by 13% compared to 2020. The number of entries is similar to that seen in 2019.

Entries for English language decreased by 15% to 50,345 this year whilst entries for maths decreased by 12% to 63,695 this year.  As in previous years, the majority of entries in GCSE maths were for the foundation tier (96%).

Autumn entry figures for A and AS Levels were published in October.