GCSE Results 2024: Information And Next Steps For Teachers And School Leaders

GCSE results 2024 are some way ahead, but as usual, Third Space Learning is here to guide you through the exam season. Here’s where we will update with information on GCSE results day and particularly what the picture looks like for the maths exams.

This blog will be updated regularly over the coming months and into next year as new information about the 2024 GCSE results becomes available.

GCSE exams 2024

For the first time in four years, GCSEs will be back to their full 2019 format with no advanced information and no more formulae sheets in the exams. Following the Covid-19 pandemic, 16-year-olds sitting their GCSEs were allowed formulae sheets in maths, saving the time spent memorising formulas. However, come 2024, GCSE students will no longer have access to these materials from the previous years in line with changes to the grading system.

Read more: GCSE maths grade boundaries

GCSE results 2023

The GCSE results 2023 results were down on 2022, but remained higher than 2019, which was the last set of pre-pandemic results. In 2023, GCSE grade boundaries across each exam board were set to the pre-pandemic format, offering little additional protection from any disruption to students’ learning. Consequently, GCSE results in 2023 were lower than in 2022 due to the pre-pandemic grading.

Read more: GCSE 2023 Dates

Analysis of GCSE maths papers in 2023 

The maths GCSE results 2023 saw a drop in the proportion of grade 4 and above grades to 72.3%. This figure bears resemblance to pre-pandemic levels, such as the 2019 results figure of 71.5%. There was a higher proportion of higher grades (5-9) and a lower proportion of top GCSE grades (1-4) in comparison to 2019.

• Analysis of GCSE maths topics from 2017 to 2023 GCSE Foundation papers
• Analysis of GCSE maths topics from 2017 to 2023 GCSE Higher papers
• GCSE maths 2023: Summary of all papers (Foundation and Higher)

Other GCSE results

GCSEs results 2022

The GCSE results 2022 last year were lower than the previous two years for young people sitting the exams, which was to be expected. However, these figures still remained higher than the pre-pandemic 2019 results, with the 2022 results being deemed a ‘midpoint’ between 2019 and 2021.

For sixteen-year-olds sitting the exams, 75.3% of all GCSEs across all subjects and ages were awarded a grade 4 (pass mark) or above. 

Read more: GCSE 2022 dates

GCSEs results 2021

In 2021, grades were awarded by teachers, as opposed to examiners, based on what grade they believe a student would have earned if they had sat the exam. Mock exams, in-class tests, and other non-exam teacher assessments that had already been completed were used to assess students’ performance.

Exam results in 2021 were even higher than in 2020, with the rate of students achieving 7 and above rising to 28.9% in 2021, from 26.2% in 2020. The rate of those who earned a 4 and above rose to 77.1% in 2021 up from 76.3% in 2020.

GCSE results 2020

In 2020, an algorithm developed by Ofqual was designed to assign GCSE grades. Centre assessments were to be put through the model which used schools’ past performance and expected national outcomes to ‘standardise’ grades. The exam regulator offered protection to students that accounted for disruption to their learning.

In response to controversy over how a similar model had down-graded A-Level results, this plan was scrapped three days before GCSE results were announced, with results instead coming from students’ centre assessment grade or calculated grade, whichever was higher.

In 2020, the proportion of GCSE candidates receiving the highest three grades rose from 21.9% in 2019 to 27.6% in 2020. Students achieving a 4 or above rose from 70% to 79% in England. In maths, the proportion of students who gained a 7 and above rose from 20% to 24%, and those who gained a 4 and above rose from 71.5% to just above 77%.

When are resits?

For students who did not score as highly as they had hoped, there is the possibility to resit GCSE exams. Maths and English resits will take place in November of 2024. Retakes for other exams will be during the 2024 exam season.

Concerned about GCSE results in 2023?

You don’t need to be. At Third Space Learning we’re here to help you deliver the best outcomes for your students, whatever your resources. The most effective way to do this is with our online, one-to-one GCSE revision tuition based around developing skills to answer GCSE exam questions.

Free GCSE maths revision resources

Don’t miss the extensive library of free secondary maths resources, worksheets and formula sheets for AQA, Edexcel and OCR that you can download and use in school. Specifically designed for GCSE maths revision, the GCSE maths past papers, GCSE maths worksheets and GCSE maths questions, will help to familiarise students with the type of materials covered in the exam as well as how questions are marked.

Do you have students who need extra support in maths?
Every week Third Space Learning’s maths specialist tutors support thousands of students across hundreds of schools with weekly online 1-to-1 lessons and maths interventions designed to plug gaps and boost progress.

Since 2013 we’ve helped over 150,000 primary and secondary students become more confident, able mathematicians. Find out more about our GCSE Maths tuition or request a personalised quote for your school to speak to us about your school’s needs and how we can help.