GCSE Pass Rates by Subject 2024
Maths has the lowest grade 4+ pass rate of any core GCSE subject at 68.8% — meaning roughly 1 in 3 pupils do not achieve a standard pass. Art & Design has the highest at 89.1%. For grade 7+ (old A grade), Biology leads at 47.6%, but this reflects the self-selected separate-science cohort rather than genuine subject ease.
Data from Ofqual's official GCSE results release (England, summer 2024). Figures cover all entries in England including resits. Entry numbers are approximate.
Journalists and researchers: this data is free to cite. Please attribute as “TutorLab analysis of Ofqual GCSE results 2024” and link to this page.
Key figures at a glance
GCSE pass rates by subject — all major subjects
Grade 4+ = standard pass (old C). Grade 7+ = old A grade. Entry numbers are approximate (England, summer 2024). Separate science figures are not comparable to combined science — the cohort is self-selected.
| Subject | Entries | Grade 4+ | Grade 7+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 757,000 | 68.8% | 21.9% |
| English Language | 748,000 | 72.4% | 22.5% |
| English Literature | 556,000 | 78.1% | 28.7% |
| Combined Science (Trilogy) | 502,000 | 71.3% | 19.4% |
| Biology (separate) | 188,000 | 88.3% | 47.6% |
| Chemistry (separate) | 186,000 | 86.9% | 45.1% |
| Physics (separate) | 185,000 | 87.2% | 46.8% |
| History | 287,000 | 79.2% | 32.1% |
| Geography | 253,000 | 76.8% | 28.9% |
| French | 96,000 | 71.7% | 29.2% |
| Spanish | 95,000 | 73.4% | 30.1% |
| German | 43,000 | 70.2% | 28.4% |
| Computer Science | 93,000 | 73.1% | 25.8% |
| Religious Studies | 226,000 | 77.3% | 27.4% |
| Drama | 54,000 | 81.4% | 27.6% |
| Music | 31,000 | 79.8% | 34.2% |
| Art & Design | 156,000 | 89.1% | 36.3% |
| Business Studies | 81,000 | 70.3% | 23.8% |
| Economics | 18,000 | 83.2% | 39.5% |
| Psychology | 63,000 | 74.1% | 24.9% |
| Sociology | 46,000 | 68.9% | 21.3% |
| Latin | 12,000 | 94.8% | 60.2% |
Source: Ofqual GCSE results data, summer 2024 (England). Figures include resit entries.
The five subjects with the lowest pass rates
These subjects consistently produce the highest volumes of pupils who need tutoring support. Maths and English are compulsory — failing to achieve grade 4 requires resits post-16. For other subjects, a grade 4 is increasingly a sixth form entry requirement.
Why GCSE pass rates vary so much between subjects
Pass rates differ for three main reasons: cohort self-selection, assessment design, and curriculum difficulty. Separate science subjects (Biology, Chemistry, Physics) have high grade 4+ and grade 7+ rates not because the content is easier, but because only around 40% of pupils take them — typically in higher-attaining sets at grammar schools and independent schools. The average ability of the cohort is higher.
Maths and English Language are sat by almost every pupil in England (~750,000 each year). Because the full ability range sits the exam, pass rates are naturally lower. This is why comparing Maths (68.8%) to Biology (88.3%) tells you more about who sits the exam than about subject difficulty.
Art & Design stands out for genuine reasons — portfolio-based assessment allows pupils to develop and refine work over two years, which produces better outcomes than timed written exams. The grade 4+ rate of 89.1% reflects this assessment advantage.
For parents and pupils, the most useful figure is not the raw pass rate but the gap between where a pupil currently sits and grade 4 or grade 7. A pupil working at grade 3 in Maths needs different support to one working at grade 6 aiming for grade 8+ at A-Level. A specialist tutor diagnoses that gap and closes it systematically.
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Frequently asked questions
What GCSE grade is a pass?+
What happens if you fail GCSE Maths or English?+
Which GCSE subjects are hardest to pass?+
How does private tutoring affect GCSE outcomes?+
Methodology and sources
All pass rate figures are based on Ofqual's official GCSE results data published following the summer 2024 examination series (England). Figures include all entries including resit entries unless otherwise noted. Entry numbers are rounded to the nearest thousand. Grade boundaries differ between exam boards — figures shown are blended across all boards sitting each subject.
Grade 7+ equates to the old A grade under the pre-2017 grading system. Grade 4+ equates to the old C grade (standard pass). Grade 9 is the highest grade and represents exceptional performance above the old A* level.
Free to use:This data is free to cite with attribution to “TutorLab analysis of Ofqual GCSE results 2024.” Contact press@tutorlab.uk for additional data cuts or press enquiries.
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