Northern Ireland has observed a decrease in the proportion of highest-grade GCSE results compared to the previous year, aligning with the anticipated adjustment back to pre-pandemic grading standards. This trend mirrors the recent A-level results from the previous week.
Approximately 31,000 students received their GCSE results on Thursday, marking a significant moment in their educational journey.
The percentage of grades A* and A awarded for GCSE entries in 2023 stands at approximately 34.5%, in contrast to the roughly 37% recorded in 2022. It is noteworthy that prior to the pandemic-induced disruption, a mere third of all GCSEs in Northern Ireland secured A* or A grades in 2019.
While most students collected their results at their respective schools due to the difference in the result distribution process compared to A-levels, online access is not available for GCSE results.
About 86% of the GCSE entries in Northern Ireland secured grade C or higher in 2023, as compared to 90% in the previous year.
Despite the reduction, Northern Ireland’s results outperform those of England and Wales.
The Council for the Curriculum, Examinations, and Assessment (CCEA), the exams board in Northern Ireland, projects a return to pre-pandemic grading standards across all subjects by the summer of 2024.
In addition to GCSE outcomes, some students also received BTEC, vocational, or entry-level qualification results on the same day.
Notably, a fraction of GCSE entries in Northern Ireland are managed through English exam boards, resulting in a numerical grading system for those students.
However, the CCEA has maintained the A*-G grading system in Northern Ireland.
