This year’s GCSE results show the biggest decline since 2008. This is attributed to government modifications in the system that require students to resit English and Maths until they pass. Recently published results reveal the overall percentage of achieving A* to C declined from 69% to 66.9%.
Exam heads are worried that this year’s results were somewhat caused by comprehensive changes leading to huge impacts on different subjects. Pupils decided to shift from “easier” arts subjects to take up geography or history. Exam chiefs also worry that forcing pupils to resit English and Maths until they receive a C does not work. Generally, pupils only go up half a grade in a resit. This means that those who received an E or F will not succeed in getting a C.
There is a decrease of pupils taking the GCSE English, about 200,000 lower than those taking Maths. This appears to be the result of more schools having pupils take the iGCSE English exam, an alternative qualification.
GCSE Results Comparisons
Compared to the rest of England, London has considerably the highest grades. Part of the reason may be the capital’s ongoing move to improve its schools. Above 70% of pupils from London received A* to C, a total of 8.6% of them got A*. This is 0.8% more than South East, the second best performing region.
When it comes to gender gap, girls still outperform boys at GCSE exams, rising slightly by 0.5%. Only 62.4% of boys were awarded with at least a C, compared with 71.3% of girls. However, from 73.1% from last year, both genders are down to 64.7%. Girls also outdid boys at the highest grades, with 7.9 per cent getting an A*, compared with 5% for boys.
What To Do When Your GCSE Results Show Bad Marks
Certain GCSE grades are required to get on to A-level courses at school sixth forms or sixth form colleges. If you have fallen short of the required grades, there are simple things you can do. First is to call your parents or guardians and ask for advice on what to do next. If you only missed out on a grade, try asking your teacher to remark one of your papers. Otherwise, know if you can retake exams in the subject. Students may usually take resit exams in November. You should also get in touch with your chosen institution to know if they can offer you a course.
On the other hand, the range of opportunities available for pupils goes beyond university. This includes intermediate apprenticeships or BTEC education. Apprenticeships help equip you with the skills to succeed in a working environment while gaining important vocational qualifications. BTEC diploma can be taken alongside or instead of A-levels.
We at Essay Writer wish all GCSE exam takers the best in your future. For those who are onto the next step of selecting A-Level subjects, a lot of work is needed. One advice we can give is to choose what you are good at and something you love. It is important to choose subjects related to your chosen career. Next is to start creating an impressive Personal Statement. We do offer professional writing services and if you require our assistance, please feel free to contact us.