The proportion of GCSE students receiving top grades in Northern Ireland has fallen compared with 2021, although it remains higher than in 2019, the last year before the coronavirus pandemic and the last time students sat a full set of public exams.
Provisional data published today by the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) shows trends similar to those identified in last week’s A-level results.
The JCQ has released data that shows 2022 figures alongside those from 2021 and 2019, although it warns that “comparisons to previous years should be approached with caution”.
The figures today show that in Northern Ireland around 37 per cent of GCSE students received a grade A/7 and above in 2022.
In 2021 almost 40 per cent of students received these top marks under the teacher-assessment system for awarding grades, after the cancellation of exams. When exams were last sat in 2019, the proportion receiving top grades was 30.5 per cent.
GCSE results day 2022 in Northern Ireland
Some 90 per cent of students received grade C/4 (a standard pass) and above. This was largely similar to 2020 and 2021, but up significantly from the 82.2 per cent recorded in 2019.
In GCSE English language 88.7 per cent got a grade C/4 and above, up 8.0 percentage points from 80.7 per cent in 2019. Those achieving the A/7 grade in English increased - compared with 2019 - to 28.7 per cent, up 5.8 percentage points.
For GCSE maths, 79.8 per cent achieved grade C/4 and above, an increase of 8.5 percentage points from 2019. Grade A/7 also showed an increase from 2019, up 3.8 percentage points to 29.4 per cent.
Pass rates in Northern Ireland this year are once again higher than those in England and Wales.
Around 3 per cent of GCSE entries in Northern Ireland are made through English exam boards, which means some students received grades in the form of numbers as well as letters. Northern Ireland’s exams body, the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA), has kept the A*-G grading system.
GCSE entries in Northern Ireland decreased slightly this year from 166,172 in 2021 to 164,413, a 1.1 per cent decrease.
Some students also received results for Btec, vocational or entry-level qualifications today, although exam board Pearson has warned that some results will not arrive as expected. It is unclear if any students in Northern Ireland have been affected by the delay.
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.
Education minister Michelle McIlveen said: “The outcomes are extremely positive, with 90 per cent of students achieving grades A* to C. The success of our students is well-deserved and testament to their hard work and resilience following three years of disrupted learning. They should be rightly proud of their achievements.
“It is also important to recognise the incredible work of teachers across Northern Ireland in helping students prepare for examinations in a challenging learning environment.
“I wish to thank them for all they have done, as well as the families of students who have supported these young people throughout this important year.”
Careers advice for students who received their results today is available here, or by calling 0300 200 7820
