The DfE has clarified that: "all students have been awarded the centre assessment grade submitted by their school, unless their calculated grade was higher. The centre assessment grades were devised by teachers who know their students best, and signed off by the headteacher or college principal. These grades were based on a range of evidence including mock exams and coursework as well as work in class and homework. It means on average pupils this year have higher grades than in previous years".

A summary of some of the subject-level data available for GCSE entries in 2020 can be found below:

GCSEs 16-year-olds:

• Overall entries to GCSE at age 16 rose by 2.1% to 4.3 million entries
• Entries into individual Ebacc subjects rose by 2.5% at age 16

English

• Entries into English language increased by 3.3% at age 16
• 80.2% of 16 year old pupils taking English language achieved a 4/C or above, compared to 70.5% in 2019
  • 23.5% of these pupils achieved a 7/A or above, compared to 17.4% in 2019
• Entries into English literature increased by 3.1% at age 16
• 80.1% of 16 year old pupils taking English literature achieved a 4/C or above, compared to 74.1% in 2019
  • 24.7% of these pupils achieved a 7/A or above, compared to 20.7% in 2019

Maths

• Entries into maths increased by 1.8% at age 16
• 77.2% of 16 year old pupils achieved a 4/C or above, compared to 71.5% in 2019
  • 24.3% of these pupils achieved a 7/A or above, compared to 20.4% in 2019

Science

• Science double award entries increased by 4.8% at age 16
• 64.5% of 16-year-old pupils achieved a 4/C or above, compared to 55.5% in 2019
  • 10.4% of these pupils achieved a 7/A or above, compared to 7.5% in 2019
• Entries into individual biology, chemistry, and physics decreased by 0.06%, 0.3% and 0.2% respectively
• Biology: 95.2% of 16-year-old pupils achieved a 4/C or above, compared to 90.6% in 2019
  • 54% of these pupils achieved a 7/A or above, compared to 43.3% in 2019
• Chemistry: 95.9% of 16-year-old pupils achieved a 4/C or above, compared to 90.4% in 2019
  • 53.5% of these pupils achieved a 7/A or above, compared to 44.1% in 2019
• Physics: 96.3% of 16-year-olds achieved a 4/C or above, compared to 91.1% in 2019
  • 53.2% of these pupils achieved a 7/A or above, compared to 44% in 2019

Modern foreign languages 

• Entries into French and Spanish increased by 1.6% and 8.4% respectively, entries into German decreased by 0.6%
• French: 82% of 16-year-old pupils achieved a 4/C or above, compared to 69.4% in 2019
  • 29.5% of these pupils achieved a 7/A or above, compared to 22.9% in 2019
• German: 86.6% of 16-year-old pupils achieved a 4/C or above, compared to 75.3% in 2019
  • 33.3% of these pupils achieved by 7/A or above, compared to 22.9% in 2019
• Spanish: 81.6% of 16-year-old pupils achieved a 4/C or above, compared to 69.7% in 2019
  • 31.8% of these pupils achieved a 7/A or above, compared to 25.7% in 2019.

GCSE all ages:

• 76% of entries achieved a grade of 9-4, compared to 67.1% in 2019
• Entries into individual Ebacc subjects rose by 2.2%

English

• Entries into English language increased by 3.7%
• 71.4% of all entries into this subject achieved a 4/C or above, compared to 61.8% in 2019
  • 18.7% of these entries achieved a 7/A or above, compared to 13.9% in 2019
• Entries into English literature increased by 2.1%
• 79.7% of all entries into English literature achieved a 4/C or above, compared to 73.4% in 2019
  • 24.3% of these entries achieved a 7/A or above, compared to 20.2% in 2019

Maths

• Entries into maths increased by 2%
• 66.6% of all entries achieved a 4/C or above, compared to 59.6% in 2019
  • 19% of these entries achieved a 7/A or above, compared to 15.9% in 2019

Science

• Science double award entries increased by 4.6%
• 64.5% of all entries achieved a 4/C or above, compared to 55.4% in 2019
  • 10.5% of these entries achieved a 7/A or above, compared to 7.5% in 2019
• Entries into individual biology, chemistry, and physics decreased by 0.04%, 0.3% and 0.3% respectively
• Biology: 94.6% of entries achieved a 4/C or above, compared to 89.6% in 2019
  • 52.8% of these entries achieved a 7/A or above, compared to 42.3% in 2019
• Chemistry: 95.7% of entries achieved a 4/C or above, compared to 90% in 2019
  • 53.2% of these entries achieved a 7/A or above, compared to 43.9% in 2019
• Physics: 96.1% of entries achieved a 4/C or above, compared to 90.8% in 2019
  • 53% of these entries achieved a 7/A or above, compared to 43.8% in 2019

Modern foreign languages 

• Entries into French and Spanish increased by 1% and 7.4% respectively, entries into German decreased by 1.3%
• French: 82.1% of entries achieved a 4/C or above, compared to 69.7% in 2019
  • 29.9% of these entries achieved a 7/A or above, compared to 23.7% in 2019
• German: 86.8% of entries pupils achieved a 4/C or above, compared to 75.8% in 2019
  • 34.1% of these entries achieved by 7/A or above, compared to 24.2% in 2019
• Spanish: 81.8% of entries achieved a 4/C or above, compared to 70.3% in 2019
  • 32.5% of these entries achieved a 7/A or above, compared to 27.1% in 2019

For further information about other subjects, please click here.