11.3 million certificates were issued for GCSE, A/AS Level, vocational and other qualifications in the academic year 2022-2023 - an increase of 2.7% on the previous year according to Ofqual’s latest annual qualifications market report.

Other trends emerging from the report include:

1. There were 10,700 active qualifications (available qualifications with certificates) - a 5.6% decrease from the previous year. 
2. 6.2 million GCSE, AS and A Level certificates were awarded (up 2.3%). The 10 highest volume GCSE subjects accounted for 79% of all GCSE certificates. The 10 highest volume A Level subjects accounted for 67% of all A Level certificates.
3. 5.1 million certificates were awarded for vocational and other qualifications (up 3%). Twenty Awarding Organisations awarded 76% of all certificates.
4. There were 251 Ofqual-recognised Awarding Organisations - up from 229 the previous year. Twenty Awarding Organisations awarded 89% of all certificates.
   

Most exams and assessments returned to pre-pandemic arrangements in 2023 but figures from previous years used by Ofqual as comparisons, may have been influenced by pandemic alternative arrangements.  Changes in cohort sizes - mostly driven by the 10% increase in 16-year-olds over the past 5 years - may also have affected the numbers of certifications.