Maths A Level entries continue to rise
02 June 2025
Maths continues to grow in popularity with entries for both A Level Maths and A Level Further Maths increasing this year.
After breaking through the 100,000 mark last year, Maths remains the most popular A Level with 105,755 entries this summer (up 4.5%). Further Maths has the biggest A Level increase - up 7.5% with over 18,000 entries.
According to Ofqual’s latest exam entry figures for summer 2025, other trends for this year include:
GCSE
- GCSE entries have decreased by 0.6% this summer (to 5,777,020) despite a population increase of 0.2% for year 11 students. The decreasing entries reach across both EBacc and non-EBacc subjects. This interrupts the trend of slow but steady increasing entries for most GCSEs over the past 5 years.
- The majority (82%) of GCSE entries are in EBacc subjects, but entries for 8 out of 15 of these subjects have decreased this year including English Literature (-1.4% to 614,800 entries), and History (-5,9% to 293,835). Single science subjects such as Biology, Chemistry and Physics entries have all decreased (by just over 6% each to 171,690, 163,100 and 162,865 entries respectively). Combined Science entries are up slightly (0.8% to 934,500) (an entry in combined science is double counted because combined science is the equivalent of 2 GCSE grades).
- Most non-EBacc subjects have also decreased in entries including Religious Studies (-2.3% to 242,310), and Economics (-6.1% to 7,290). Increasing non-EBacc entries include Statistics (+9.2% to 35,175), Music (+5.9% to 34,555), and Performing Arts (+7.5% to 7,175).
- The percentage of entries for maths and English language GCSE resits has increased for this summer. Exact figures by subject have not been published, but entry figures from students in year 12 have increased by 11% (to 471,675).
A Level
Overall entries for A Level have decreased by 0.4% (to 821,875) despite a 3.8% rise in the 18-year-old population. More than half of A Level subjects have decreased in entry size this summer compared with last summer. These include:
- Psychology (-3.4% to 73,565)
- Biology (-4.3% to 66,100)
- History (-5.7% to 40,940)
- English literature (-4.7% to 34,920)
- Geography (-6.3% to 31,395)
- Computing (-2.4% to 19,010)
Increasing entries for A Level subjects include:
- Maths (+4.5% to 105,755)
- Physics (+4.2% to 42,025)
- Business Studies (+1.6% to 41,940)
- Economics (+5.6% to 41,880)
- Further maths (+7.5% to 18,730).
AS Level
Overall entries for AS have decreased by 12.7% this summer (to 52,295). AS Level entries have significantly decreased for a number of years following the decoupling of AS and A levels. Reflecting the increased uptake at A Level however, AS entries increased for Further Maths (up by 5.3%) and economics (up by 0.1%).
All data is based on provisional entries as at 16 April 2025.