Provisional November 2021 exam entries: GCSE English language and mathematics
Published 25 November 2021
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2021
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/entries-for-gcse-november-2021-exam-series/provisional-november-2021-exam-entries-gcse-english-language-and-mathematics
1. Main trends
- The total GCSE entries in English language and mathematics in November 2021 decreased by 13% compared to 2020, from 131,300 to 114,040. The number of entries is similar to that seen in 2019 (109,495 entries).
- Entries for English language decreased by 15% from 59,185 in 2020 to 50,345 this year.
- Entries for mathematics decreased by 12% from 72,115 in 2020 to 63,695 this year.
- As in previous years, the majority of entries in GCSE mathematics were for the foundation tier (96%). The remaining students (4%) entered for the higher tier paper.
- Entries by year 12 students increased slightly to 64,830 in 2021 but there was a fall in entries by students in year 13 and above back to similar numbers seen in 2018 and 2019 (47,830 entries).
2. Provisional November 2021 exam entries: GCSE English language and mathematics
This report presents provisional figures on the number of entries for GCSE English language and mathematics submitted by schools and colleges in England to exam boards by 28 October 2021 for exams being sat in November 2021. The November series is usually restricted to students who were aged at least 16 by the end of the preceding August. In 2020 and 2021, any students, including younger students, who were entered in the summer and wished to do so could sit these exams. The 2020 and 2021 series were also open to students the exam boards believe had intended to enter but were unable to do so or who chose not to do so when exams were cancelled. Further information about arrangements for the November and autumn series is available on the Ofqual website.
All the November 2021 entries reported in this release are for students sitting GCSE English language and/or GCSE mathematics. In autumn 2021, all GCSE and A level qualifications and some AS qualifications were made available for examination. Statistics relating to entry for GCSEs other than English language and mathematics were published separately. Statistics relating to entry for AS and A level subjects in the autumn 2021 series are also available on the Ofqual website.
3. November entries over time
Overall, GCSE entries in English language and mathematics in November 2021 decreased by 13%, from 131,300 in 2020 to 114,040 this year.
| Year | Total entries | Percentage change compared to previous year |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 67,755 | Not applicable |
| 2018 | 104,710 | 55% |
| 2019 | 109,495 | 5% |
| 2020 | 131,300 | 20% |
| 2021 | 114,040 | -13% |
Variations in entries over recent years may reflect alternative awarding arrangements for summer series in 2020 and 2021.
4. November GCSE entries by subject
There were 63,695 entries in GCSE mathematics in November 2021 compared to 72,115 entries in November 2020, a decrease of 12% on the previous year.
Entries in English language also saw a change, from 59,185 in 2020 to 50,345, representing a 15% decrease compared to 2020.
| Subject | Year | Total entries | Percentage change compared to previous year |
|---|---|---|---|
| English language | 2017 | 32,970 | Not applicable |
| English language | 2018 | 49,585 | 50% |
| English language | 2019 | 53,540 | 8% |
| English language | 2020 | 59,185 | 11% |
| English language | 2021 | 50,345 | -15% |
| Mathematics | 2017 | 34,785 | Not applicable |
| Mathematics | 2018 | 55,125 | 58% |
| Mathematics | 2019 | 55,955 | 2% |
| Mathematics | 2020 | 72,115 | 29% |
| Mathematics | 2021 | 63,695 | -12% |
5. GCSE mathematics by tier
GCSE mathematics is a tiered qualification with foundation and higher tiers. The tier of entry determines the possible range of grade outcomes. November entry for GCSE mathematics tiers followed a similar pattern to previous years with the majority (96%) of entries in 2021 being for the foundation tier.
| Year | Foundation tier entries | Higher tier entries | Percentage foundation tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 30,345 | 4,440 | 87% |
| 2018 | 51,440 | 3,685 | 93% |
| 2019 | 52,860 | 3,095 | 94% |
| 2020 | 66,935 | 5,180 | 93% |
| 2021 | 60,910 | 2,785 | 96% |
These data suggest that the majority of entries have been made by candidates who are re-sitting so that they may seek to achieve the grade 4 in line with funding requirements (further information about funding requirements is available on the government website).
6. GCSE entries by year group
Overall, year 12 entries increased by 4% from 62,565 in 2020 to 64,830 in 2021.
The total year 13 entries decreased by 29% from 67,450 in 2020 to 47,830 in 2021.
As in 2020, entries at year 11 and below were higher in 2021 than in previous years (more than 1,000 entries in both years), which is likely a result of the altered entry arrangements following the disruption to the summer exam series.
| Year | Year 11 and below | Year 12 | Year 13 and above | Total entries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 25 | 43,480 | 24,250 | 67,755 |
| 2018 | 50 | 57,650 | 47,010 | 104,710 |
| 2019 | 0~ | 60,090 | 49,400 | 109,495 |
| 2020 | 1,285 | 62,565 | 67,450 | 131,300 |
| 2021 | 1,380 | 64,830 | 47,830 | 114,040 |
In English language, year 12 entries increased by 3% compared to 2020 but there was a large decrease in entries from year 13 and above (33%).
Mathematics entries increased by 4% for year 12 candidates, but the biggest change was for year 13 and above where entries decreased by 26% compared to 2020.
| Subject | Year group | 2020 | 2021 | Change in entries | Percentage change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| English language | Year 12 | 28,125 | 29,005 | 880 | 3% |
| English language | Year 13 and above | 30,050 | 20,100 | -9,950 | -33% |
| Mathematics | Year 12 | 34,440 | 35,825 | 1,385 | 4% |
| Mathematics | Year 13 and above | 37,400 | 27,730 | -9,670 | -26% |
7. Background information
In this release, Ofqual presents data on the number of provisional entries for GCSE English language and mathematics in England received by awarding organisations for the November 2021 exam series. In England, GCSE English language and GCSE mathematics exams are routinely available in November. Since 2017, entry to the November series has been limited to students who were aged 16 or above on 31 August of the year of the November series. In 2020 and 2021, any students, including younger students, who were entered in the summer and wished to do so could sit these exams. The 2020 and 2021 series were also open to students the exam boards believe had intended to enter but were unable to do so.
The figures for entries can change daily up to the day of the exams. We collect provisional data at the point when it is reasonably complete, although final entry numbers may be slightly different from these. The figures presented here are the provisional figures as submitted by schools and colleges to exam boards by 28 October 2021.
In this release, all figures are rounded to the nearest 5 to ensure confidentiality of data.
Further information is available in the detailed background information and data tables accompanying this release.
8. User feedback
We welcome your feedback on our publications. Should you have any comments on this statistical release and how to improve it to meet your needs please contact us at data.analytics@ofqual.gov.uk.
Head of profession: Nadir Zanini