Catlow, Nick

Fisher, Alison

English

Digital Education Resource Archive

                 These statistics are currently designated as experimental. Experimental statistics are official statistics undergoing further development work and your feedback is welcomed.    This release provides information on the number of entries and late entries for GCSE and A level in England, Wales and Northern Ireland during the 2012/13 academic year. If schools and colleges register an entry after the agreed deadline it is late and may be subject to an additional charge. Entries are made up of unitised and component entries, depending on whether the specification is unitised or linear.  The key findings for this release are as follows.  The proportion of GCSE entries that were late fell from 7.8 per cent in the 2011/12 academic year to 6.6 per cent in 2012/13.  The proportion of A level entries that were late also fell, from 6.7 per cent in the 2011/12 academic year to 4.1 per cent in 2012/13. However, this up slightly on the year before when 3.9 per cent of entries were late.  This is in the context of a 10 per cent decrease in GCSE entries and a 0.5 per cent decrease in A level entries.   Ofqual/13/5340 Entries and Late Entries for GCSE and A Level: 2012/13 Academic Year Key points Published:  8th November 2013  Nick Catlow Policy Lead  Alison Fisher  Head of Statistics    Contents Introduction ......................... 1 Key statistics ....................... 2 Certificates awarded 2 GCSE entries 3 GCSE late entries 4 A level unit entries 4 A level late unit entries 5 Background notes ............... 6 Qualification reform 6 Glossary of terms ............... 7 Your feedback .................... 8 Users of these statistics 8 Appendix............................. 9   Entries and Late Entries for GCSE and A Level: 2012/13 Academic Year Ofqual 2013 1 Introduction This statistical release, published on behalf of the qualifications regulators for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, presents data on entries and late entries for GCSE and A level exams during the 2012/13 academic year. Six exam boards offer these qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland:  AQA  Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) (Northern Ireland)   International Curriculum & Assessment Agency (Examinations) (ICAA(E))  Oxford Cambridge and RSA Examinations (OCR)  Pearson  WJEC.  Note that the figures within this commentary have been rounded to the nearest 100. Tables are in the appendix. This is the first release to report on entries and late entries for GCSE and A level exams. Future releases will be reported annually, following the summer examination series.   These statistics are experimental, which means they are in testing phase and not yet fully developed. We have published them to:  involve users and stakeholders in their development  build in quality at an early stage  deliver statistics that meet users’ needs.  Your feedback is valued and further information on how to provide this is given in the section ‘Your feedback’.   Entries and Late Entries for GCSE and A Level: 2012/13 Academic Year Ofqual 2013 2 Key statistics Certificates awarded In the 2012/13 academic year, more than 2.6 million AS and A level certifications were awarded. More than 6 million GCSE certifications were awarded in England, Wales and Northern Ireland during the same period. The number of certifications for GCSEs and A levels has remained fairly constant over the last five years (see figure 1 and table 1). Changes in the number of certifications are likely to be affected by changes in the cohort size. Figure 1: Number of certifications for GCSE and A level, academic years 2008/09 to 2012/13    Entries and Late Entries for GCSE and A Level: 2012/13 Academic Year Ofqual 2013 3 GCSE entries Over the last five years there have been some significant changes to the structure of GCSE qualifications. The majority of GCSEs changed from linear, recorded as one entry, to a unitised structure where GCSEs are made up of a number of units and reported at unit level. As more GCSEs became unitised, the number of entries increased. We can see from figure 1, however, that the actual number of candidates certificating remained fairly stable. We know that there was a significant increase in the number of candidates entered for units at a younger age from 2010/11 to 2011/12. This accounts for some of the increase in candidates certificating during this period.  The recent return to linear-structured GCSEs in England could have contributed to the 10 per cent decrease in entries seen in the last year (see figure 2 and table 2).  Figure 2: Total GCSE entries, academic years 2008/09 to 2012/13   Notes:1. Entries are made up of unitised and component entries, depending on whether the specification is unitised or linear.Entries and Late Entries for GCSE and A Level: 2012/13 Academic Year Ofqual 2013 4 GCSE late entries Schools and colleges submit entries on behalf of candidates to the relevant exam board. The Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) publishes deadlines by which entries should be made.1 This information is also available from exam boards. If schools and colleges register an entry after the agreed deadline, it is late and may be subject to an additional charge. The proportion of GCSE late entries has fallen from 7.8 per cent in the 2011/12 academic year to 6.6 per cent in 2012/13. This continues the downward trend seen over the last five years. This does not follow the same pattern as total entries, which saw an increase until 2011/12. In 2008/09 10 per cent of all GCSE entries were late (see figure 3 and table 2). For a breakdown of entries and late entries by exam boards (see table 2). Figure 3: Proportion of total GCSE entries that were late, academic years 2008/09 to 2012/13   A level unit entries The number of A level unit entries has remained fairly constant over the last five years, with a slight decrease from 2008/09 to 2009/10. This coincided with the point at which most A level qualifications were reduced from six to four units, likely one of the reasons for the decrease (see figure 4 and table 3).                                              1 www.jcq.org.uk/exams-office/key-dates-and-timetables/key-dates-in-the-examination-cycle-201314  0.00%2.00%4.00%6.00%8.00%10.00%12.00%2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13Proportion of total GCSE entries that were late Entries and Late Entries for GCSE and A Level: 2012/13 Academic Year Ofqual 2013 5 Figure 4: Total A level unit entries, academic years 2008/09 to 2012/13   A level late unit entries The proportion of A level unit entries that were late has fallen from 6.7 per cent in the 2011/12 academic year to 4.1 per cent in 2012/13. However, this is up slightly on 3.9 per cent in 2010/11.  There has been a general downward trend since 2008/09 with the exception of 2011/12 where we saw a significant increase (see figure 5 and table 3). For a breakdown of entries and late entries by exam boards see table 3. Figure 5: Proportion of total A level unit entries that were late, academic years 2008/09 to 2012/13  Entries and Late Entries for GCSE and A Level: 2012/13 Academic Year Ofqual 2013 6  Background notes Qualification reform There were four exam series available in each academic year in the period considered. GCSE and A level exams could be taken in the winter and summer exam series2. Additionally, there were a further two exam series for a small range of GCSEs in November and March. The Government set out its intention to reform GCSEs and A levels in The Importance of Teaching – Schools White Paper 2010. 3 The changes mean that, for schools and colleges in England, there is no longer an opportunity to take GCSE and A level exams in the winter series. The structure of GCSEs has also changed in England, with a return to linear assessments, which means exams must be taken at the end of the two-year period of study. Although this change comes in to force from summer 2014 onwards, it will have already had an impact on candidates taking GCSEs now. There will be a resit opportunity in the November series, but only for GCSEs English, English language and mathematics. The Governments of Wales and Northern Ireland have retained the unitised structure of GCSEs, so their schools and colleges will still be able to enter candidates for exams in the winter exam series. However, this will not apply to A level exams. Candidates who started A level courses in 2012 will have one final opportunity to sit A level exams in the winter 2014 exam series. Thereafter the exams will only be available in the summer series. Data source Exam boards submit data to us for GCSEs and A levels they have awarded in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Rounding  Figures in the commentary are rounded to the nearest 100.                                               2 The winter exam series typically runs from January to February. The summer exam series runs from May to June. 3 www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/175429/CM-7980.pdf  Entries and Late Entries for GCSE and A Level: 2012/13 Academic Year Ofqual 2013 7 Glossary of terms A level Available as advanced level (A level) and advanced subsidiary (AS) qualifications. They are the qualifications that the majority of students use to gain entry to university. They are generally sat by 17- to 18-year-olds in schools and colleges, but are open to anyone who wishes to gain a qualification. Certificate/certification A formal acknowledgement of a student’s achievement.  GCSE General Certificates of Secondary Education are the main school-leaving qualification in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. They are available in a range of subjects and can be studied alongside other qualifications. They are generally sat by 15- to 18-year-olds in schools and colleges, but are open to anyone who wishes to gain a qualification.   Entries and Late Entries for GCSE and A Level: 2012/13 Academic Year Ofqual 2013 8 Your feedback If you use our Statistical releases we would like to hear from you.   Users of these statistics These statistics are designated as experimental. They are in testing phase and not yet fully developed. We welcome your feedback on any aspect of our statistical releases, including content, timing and format. We also would be particularly interested to know how you use or could use these statistics in your work.   Please send your comments to the Statistics team at statistics@ofqual.gov.uk . Entries and Late Entries for GCSE and A Level: 2012/13 Academic Year Ofqual 2013 9 Appendix Table 1 Total number of certifications for GCSE and A level in each academic year, 2008/09 to 2012/13 Table 2 Total number of GCSE entries and late entries in each academic year, 2008/09 to 2012/13 Table 3 Total number of A level entries and late entries in each academic year, 2008/09 to 2012/13   Entries and Late Entries for GCSE and A Level: 2012/13 Academic Year Ofqual 2013 10 Table 1: Total number of certifications for GCSE and A level in each academic year, 2008/09 to 2012/13     England, Wales & Northern IrelandYear AQA Pearson OCR WJEC CCEA ICAA(E) Total2008/09 2,907,700 1,421,900 1,332,900 600,100 171,000 6,433,7002009/10 2,883,300 1,487,800 1,295,000 638,300 176,400 6,480,8002010/11 2,762,200 1,591,500 1,113,500 675,000 151,200 16,200 6,309,5002011/12 2,572,000 2,015,800 1,117,500 699,900 144,100 2,200 6,551,7002012/13 2,683,100 1,784,400 980,200 697,800 145,200 800 6,291,5002008/09 955,700 541,700 595,200 161,400 59,700 2,313,7002009/10 998,200 498,700 628,400 188,000 61,500 2,374,8002010/11 1,094,400 645,700 663,700 205,200 63,500 2,672,4002011/12 1,064,700 655,900 621,500 203,300 67,300 2,612,7002012/13 1,069,900 660,400 603,800 204,200 68,700 2,607,000Source: EPG exams monitoring dataNotes:1. Data includes applied subjects, certifications from other UK regions and overseas.3. ICAA(E) awarded GCSEs for the first time in 2010/11. In previous years, specifications were delivered in conjunction with CCEA. ICAA(E) do not offer A levels.2. Data is rounded to the nearest 100. Figures have been rounded independently so may not sum to the total.GCSE certificationsA level certificationsEntries and Late Entries for GCSE and A Level: 2012/13 Academic Year Ofqual 2013 11 Table 2: Total number of GCSE entries and late entries in each academic year, 2008/09 to 2012/13      England, Wales & Northern IrelandYear AQA Pearson OCR WJEC CCEA ICAA(E) Total2008/09 4,438,100 2,821,200 3,037,100 175,000 131,800 10,603,1002009/10 4,608,600 3,152,800 3,074,500 252,300 147,900 11,236,1002010/11 6,474,100 4,483,800 3,675,100 936,200 271,300 16,400 15,856,8002011/12 7,643,000 4,566,900 3,348,700 2,131,400 370,200 2,200 18,062,4002012/13 7,123,400 3,852,500 2,754,200 2,207,400 456,700 1,000 16,395,1002008/09 627,600 302,000 254,400 23,800 8,800 1,216,6002009/10 339,700 317,400 284,100 9,700 8,200 959,0002010/11 470,500 359,500 300,000 14,700 10,200 200 1,155,1002011/12 872,900 266,900 339,500 36,600 14,200 0 1,530,2002012/13 688,300 169,500 245,700 40,800 17,500 0 1,161,8002008/09 5,065,600 3,123,100 3,291,500 198,800 140,600 11,819,7002009/10 4,948,200 3,470,200 3,358,600 261,900 156,100 12,195,1002010/11 6,944,600 4,843,200 3,975,100 950,800 281,500 16,600 17,011,8002011/12 8,515,900 4,833,700 3,688,200 2,168,000 384,500 2,200 19,592,6002012/13 7,811,700 4,022,000 2,999,900 2,248,300 474,200 1,000 17,557,0002008/09 12.39% 9.67% 7.73% 11.97% 6.26% 10.29%2009/10 6.87% 9.15% 8.46% 3.70% 5.25% 7.86%2010/11 6.78% 7.42% 7.55% 1.55% 3.62% 1.20% 6.79%2011/12 10.25% 5.52% 9.21% 1.69% 3.69% 0.00% 7.81%2012/13 8.81% 4.21% 8.19% 1.81% 3.69% 0.00% 6.62%Source: EPG exams monitoring dataNotes:1. Data includes applied subjects, entries from other UK regions and overseas.2. Entries are made up of unitised and linear entries.Number of ontime entries for GCSENumber of late entries for GCSETotal GCSE entriesProportion of total GCSE entries that were late3. ICAA(E) awarded GCSEs for the first time in 2011. In previous years specifications were delivered in conjunction with CCEA.4. Data is rounded to the nearest 100. Figures have been rounded independently so may not sum to the total.Entries and Late Entries for GCSE and A Level: 2012/13 Academic Year Ofqual 2013 12 Table 3: Total number of A level entries and late entries in each academic year, 2008/09 to 2012/13     England, Wales & Northern IrelandYear AQA Pearson OCR WJEC CCEA Total2008/09 2,997,900 1,644,700 1,953,700 445,900 182,200 7,224,4002009/10 2,760,900 1,495,800 1,811,500 467,500 169,400 6,705,1002010/11 2,752,900 1,825,300 1,790,300 516,700 175,500 7,060,8002011/12 2,686,600 1,775,000 1,630,200 517,900 183,000 6,792,7002012/13 2,694,800 1,934,600 1,611,200 519,000 187,200 6,946,8002008/09 123,000 204,800 114,200 45,800 2,400 490,2002009/10 78,600 83,800 101,000 33,800 1,800 299,1002010/11 80,700 112,900 87,300 3,100 2,600 286,4002011/12 99,300 221,200 155,800 4,500 3,400 484,2002012/13 88,800 70,700 127,000 6,900 3,400 296,7002008/09 3,120,900 1,849,500 2,067,800 491,700 184,600 7,714,6002009/10 2,839,500 1,579,600 1,912,500 501,300 171,300 7,004,1002010/11 2,833,500 1,938,200 1,877,600 519,800 178,100 7,347,2002011/12 2,785,900 1,996,300 1,786,000 522,400 186,400 7,276,9002012/13 2,783,700 2,005,200 1,738,200 525,900 190,500 7,243,5002008/09 3.94% 11.07% 5.52% 9.31% 1.30% 6.35%2009/10 2.77% 5.31% 5.28% 6.74% 1.05% 4.27%2010/11 2.85% 5.82% 4.65% 0.60% 1.46% 3.90%2011/12 3.56% 11.08% 8.72% 0.86% 1.82% 6.65%2012/13 3.19% 3.53% 7.31% 1.31% 1.78% 4.10%Source: EPG exams monitoring dataNotes:1. Data includes applied subjects, entries from other UK regions and overseas.2. Entries are made up of unitised and linear entries.Total A level entriesProportion of total A level entries that were late3. Data is rounded to the nearest 100. Figures have been rounded independently so may not sum to the total.Number of ontime entries for A levelNumber of late entries for A level   We wish to make our publications widely accessible. Please contact us if you have any specific accessibility requirements.           First published by the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation in 2013  © Crown copyright 2013 You may re-use this publication (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit The National Archives; or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 4DU; or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk     This publication is also available on our website at www.ofqual.gov.uk   Any enquiries regarding this publication should be sent to us at: Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation Spring Place 2nd Floor Coventry Business Park Glendinning House Herald Avenue 6 Murray Street Coventry CV5 6UB Belfast BT1 6DN Telephone 0300 303 3344  Textphone 0300 303 3345 Helpline 0300 303 3346  

Entries and late entries for GCSE and A Level: 2012/13 academic year

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