Whilst overall entries for GCSEs remain at a fairly stable rate this year with A Level entries increasing slightly, the latest provisional entry figures give insight into trends emerging at subject level. Main trends for summer 2021 include:

GCSEs

• The overall entries for GCSEs in summer 2021 remain stable: 5,301,075 entries in 2021 compared to 5,281,745 in 2020 (+0.4%)
• Entries from year 11 students are higher than at any time in the past five years. This is partly explained by a small increase in the size of the 16-year-old cohort, which increased by 2% in 2021 compared to 2020. The increased number of entries from year 11 is offset by decreases in the number of entries from younger and older candidates resulting in a very similar overall entry to 2020
• EBacc entries continue to account for the majority of GCSE subjects. Entries for EBacc subjects increased overall by 40,580 (+1%), and particularly in Combined Science, English Literature, Geography, Physics and Chemistry. Entries in computing increased slightly this year after a fall last year.
• Entries for non-EBacc subjects decreased by 21,255 (-2%) compared to 2020, continuing a trend seen in previous years. Decreases were seen in Religious Studies, Design and Technology, PE, Drama and Citizenship Studies
• Entry to higher tier has increased slightly in most tiered subjects in 2021 including Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Maths.

AS and A Levels

• A Level entries for summer 2021 increased by 3% overall (756,230 in 2021 compared to 731,855 in 2020). The change reflects a change in the size of the cohort
• Geography (+16%), Law (+14%) and Computer Science (+10%) have the biggest percentage increases. Entries in Biology, Chemistry and Physics all show a slight increase this year
• Decreased entries can be seen for English Literature (-6%) and English Language (-3%)
• The overall entry for AS in summer 2021 decreased by 33% (58,300 in 2021 compared to 86,970 in 2020). This drop in AS entries continues a trend caused by the decoupling of the AS from the A Level.

Data is based on provisional entries as at 28 April 2021.