More than 5.7 million GCSE results were issued to over 1 million students in England this summer across more than 40 subject areas. Entries for GCSEs have increased this year reflecting the increasing rise in population size of this cohort.

Overall outcomes

This year’s GCSE results are stable overall in comparison with those in 2025. Overall outcomes at grade 7 and above are almost identical to last year (21.8% of results are at grade 7 and above compared with 21.7% in 2025), and outcomes at grade 4 and above are just 0.1% down on 2025 at 67%.

Students aged 16 took eight GCSEs on average – fractionally more than last year’s 7.8 average.

Popularity of subjects

According to the number of entries, the top 10 subjects at GCSE remain unchanged with Maths, English Language, English Literature, Combined Science and History making up the top five. Outside of the top ten, Statistics, Business Studies and Sociology are increasing in popularity. Our summary of the entries for this summer provides more information on subject take-up.

Maths and English GCSEs

In Maths, there has been a small increase in the proportion of 16 year-olds achieving the higher grades at grade 7 or above. This is consistent with the strong take-up and outcomes in A Level Maths and Further Maths.

However, 177,619 16 year-old students (28.2%) did not achieve a grade 4 or above in Maths and 179,930 (28.6%) did not achieve a grade 4 or above in English. In addition, fewer 17 year-olds resitting Maths and English Language achieved a grade 4 and above this year (16.4% and 21% respectively). The figures reduce further at age 18 with only 10.4% (Maths) and 16.1% (English) of 18 year-olds achieving a grade 4 or above.

Gender patterns

Female students continue to outperform male students at GCSE with 51.1% of female students and 41.9% of male students achieving grade 4 and above (the figures represent 16 year-olds who took 7 or more GCSEs - 551,950 students). At the higher grades, 6.7% of female students and 4.4% of male students achieved grade 7 and above. Variation in gender patterns can be seen from subject to subject.

Regional patterns

Like last year, more results were issued in London at grade 4 and above (71.7%) and grade 7 and above (28.6%) than in any other region. The North East had the fewest grade 7s and above (17.7%), while the West Midlands had the fewest grade 4s and above (62.5%).

A full breakdown of grades achieved is available on the JCQ website. Further statistical information is available from Ofqual including interactive visualisations of outcomes.

Our summaries of this year’s results trends for A Levels and VTQs are also available.