The proportion of GCSE students getting top grades in Northern Ireland has fallen again, although it remains higher than in 2019, the last time students sat a full set of public exams before the pandemic.

Provisional data published today by the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ), with results for some 30,800 GCSE students, show trends similar to those identified in last week’s A-level results.

In Northern Ireland around 34.5 per cent of GCSE students received a grade A/7 and above in 2023, down from 37 per cent in 2022.

In 2021 almost 40 per cent of students received these top marks under a teacher-assessment system (teacher-assessed grades were also used in 2020) following the cancellation of exams. When national exams were last sat in 2019, the proportion receiving top grades was 30.5 per cent.

Today’s results also show that 86.8 per cent of students received grade C/4 (a standard pass) and above, which remains higher than the 82.2 per cent recorded in 2019.

In GCSE English language, 27.3 per cent per cent of entries achieved A/7 and above, and 86.5 per cent grade C/4 and above.

In maths, 29.2 per cent of entries achieved A/7 grade and above, while 76.4 per cent were awarded a grade C/4 or above.

GCSE results: The return to pre-Covid arrangements

More than 41 per cent of all GCSE entries were in Stem (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects.

A minority of GCSE entries in Northern Ireland are made through English and Welsh exam boards, with a combined system of letters and numbers used to reflect different grading approaches (see graph above).

GCSE entries in in Northern Ireland increased slightly in 2023 to 168,118, from 164,413 in 2022.

Exam bodies across the UK are continuing to move back towards exam arrangements that were in place before the Covid pandemic.

• Related: A-level passes in Northern Ireland returning to pre-Covid levels
• England: Attainment gap widens after grading reset
• Scotland: Post-Covid pass rates fall again and attainment gap grows

This year GCSE students in Northern Ireland were provided with advance information on some topics in most exams to mitigate the impact of disruption to their learning during the pandemic. Examiners were also told to be mindful of this disruption.

Graham Gault, director of school leaders’ union NAHT Northern Ireland, said: “These results are testament to young people’s resilience following the pandemic and the hard work of themselves and of all school and college staff.

“These achievements should be celebrated and are in no way diminished by the government’s decision to move back to pre-pandemic grading, which was always going to impact overall results.”

Dr Gault added: “The student cohort, the context and the approach to grading has been different every year since 2019 so these results are in no way comparable with previous years.”

The vast majority of GCSEs in Northern Ireland are taken through the Northern Ireland-based Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA).

CCEA chief executive Gerry Campbell said: “Thank you to the teachers, exams officers, examiners and moderators for their support and dedication, which helped to ensure a successful delivery of this year’s examinations and assessments.

“Also, I wish to acknowledge the important role of the thousands of parents and carers across Northern Ireland, as they have guided and supported our young people throughout their studies.”

Mark Baker, chief executive of the Controlled Schools’ Support Council (CSSC), said students “should be proud of their achievements, not only those confirmed today but those realised throughout their school life”.

He added: “I would also like to acknowledge the dedication and diligence of the teachers and support staff, who have inspired, encouraged and guided their learning.”

While GCSE results and some statistics were released today, full details of how students did this year will not be available for a number of months.

Northern Ireland’s provisional A-level results were published last week.

Careers advice for students who received their results today is available here or by calling 0300 200 7820