Provisional entries data for this summer has been released giving a picture of the increasing or decreasing popularity of GCSE and A Level subjects. According to Ofqual’s latest GCSE and A Level entry figures for summer 2026, trends for this year include:

GCSE

• Overall GCSE entries have increased by 1.1% from last year to 5,840,185 in summer 2026. This represents a reversal from last year’s decrease and a continuation of the longer term upward trend in entries for GCSEs and reflects the 1.2% increase in the 16 year-old population size 
• The majority of GCSE entries are in EBacc subjects*.  Despite the overall growth of EBacc entries, 8 of the 15 EBacc subjects saw a decreases in entries (including Geography, Sciences and Languages) with the largest percentage fall in Computing (down 7%).  
• 9 out of 17 non-EBacc subjects had an increase in entries with the largest increases seen in Statistics (up by 11.9%) and Business Studies (up by 8.5%).  Entries for Classical subjects and Engineering were both down by 8%.   
• The percentage of entries for post-16 Maths and English Language GCSE resits has increased for this summer (English is up 1.1% and Maths is up 0.7%).   Year 12 and above GCSE entries have increased by over 18,000 (to 492,330). 
  

A Level

• Overall A Level entries have increased by 2.9% from last year to 845,485 in summer 2026, partially explained by a 4.3% increase in the size of the 18 year-old population. 
• A Level subjects with the highest percentage increases in entries were:
  • Political Studies +13.1% (to 23,560 entries)  
  • Law +11.6% (to 16,090) 
  • Economics +10.7% (to 46,365) 
  • Further Maths +8.6% (to 20,340) 
  • History +5.4% (to 43,150). 
  • A Level Maths (109,875 entries), Psychology (76,765 entries) and Biology (68,860 entries) remain the most popular subjects this year all with increases of around 4%. 
• A Level subjects with decreasing entries include:
  • Drama -9.5% (to 6,710) 
  • English Literature -5.8% (to 32,890) 
  • Music -4.9% (to 4,635) 
  • Religious Studies -2.9% (to 13,970). 

All data is based on provisional entries as at 15 April 2026.

*The government confirmed the English Baccalaureate (EBacc) performance measure is to be removed following recommendations from the Curriculum and Assessment Review.  The 2026 cohort of students will have made GCSE subject choices before this decision was announced.