London and the South East of England have seen larger year-on-year drops in the GCSE pass rate than anywhere else in the country, according to the 2025 exam figures. This year, 71.6% of entries in London achieved grade 4 or above, which is equivalent to the old grade C and considered a standard pass.
While this is the highest out of schools for any region in England, it’s down nearly a full percentage point from 72.5% in 2024. In south-east England, the proportion has dropped from 70.4% to 70.0%.
Most regions have seen a decrease in the standard pass rate this year, though by a smaller margin. For instance, in the West Midlands, the figure has fallen from 63.1% to 62.9%, the lowest for any region in England, while neighbouring East Midlands is down by just 0.1 percentage points from 65.1% to 65.0%.
READ MORE:Could you pass a GCSE maths paper? Test your number knowledge in our quiz
Only one region saw a clear year on year increase in entries receiving a grade 4 or above: eastern England, up from 67.9% to 68.0%. Four regions saw a greater proportion of entries awarded 4 or above than in the pre-pandemic year of 2019: eastern England, north-east England, London and south-west England.
The record London still holds for GCSE results
London also holds the record for the highest proportion of entries awarded the top grades of 7 or above, at 28.4%, down slightly from 28.5% in 2024. North-east England had the lowest regional percentage at 17.8%, unchanged from last year.
These regions have recorded the highest and lowest proportion of entries achieving top grades in each of the past three years, but the gap between them has narrowed over that period, from 10.8 percentage points in 2023 to 10.7 points in 2024 and 10.6 this year.
However, the gap remains wider than before the Covid-19 pandemic, when it stood at 9.3 points in 2019. It is also wider than at any point in the pre-pandemic period dating back to at least 2009, according to analysis by the PA news agency, which is the earliest available archive data.
London is one of three regions to see a year-on-year drop in entries receiving top grades, along with south-east England (down from 24.7% to 24.6%) and the East Midlands (from 18.3% to 18.1%). The East Midlands is the only region where the proportion of entries awarded 7 or above this year, 18.1%, is lower than the equivalent figure in the pre-pandemic year of 2019 (18.3%).
At a national level, 31.6% of entries in Northern Ireland received grade 7/A or higher, above the equivalent figure for England (21.8%) and Wales (19.5%). For entries awarded 4/C or higher, Northern Ireland was ahead at 83.5%, significantly above England (67.1%) and Wales (62.5%).
How the numerical grades compare
Where there was previously eight grades you could achieve between A*-G, the number system adds an extra one. This means how results determine grades has shifted slightly.
The grade of 9 – the highest mark – is designed to make the most exceptional pupils stand out even more. New grade boundaries show A* aligns with upper percentile of 8 along with 9, which essentially means less pupils will be achieving the highest grade.
Despite general confusion, the BBC says both the number and letter scales do meet in some places:
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the bottom of grade 7 is aligned with the bottom of grade A
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the bottom of grade 4 is aligned with the bottom of grade C
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the bottom of grade 1 is aligned with the bottom of grade G
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three number grades – 9, 8 and 7 – correspond to the two previous top grades of A* and A
What’s needed for a pass?
Where a grade of C was previously needed for a pass, the number system has changed the definition. A grade of 4 is needed for a standard pass, while 5 is needed for a strong pass.
Government school league tabled are based off how many pupils achieved a grade 5 or higher. Some sixth forms require pupils to achieve a certain number of 5 and 6s.
How regions performed compared to last year
Here are the percentages of GCSE entries awarded the top grades of 7 or higher, by nation and region, in 2025, with the equivalent figures for 2024 and the pre-pandemic year of 2019:.
– North-east England 17.8% (2024: 17.8%; 2019: 16.4%).
– North-west England 18.8% (2024: 18.6%; 2019: 18.6%).
– Yorkshire & the Humber 18.4% (2024: 18.3%; 2019: 17.8%).
– West Midlands 18.5% (2024: 18.5%; 2019: 18.1%).
– East Midlands 18.1% (2024: 18.3%; 2019: 18.3%).
– Eastern England 22.2% (2024: 21.4%; 2019: 20.5%).
– South-west England 21.4% (2024: 21.2%; 2019: 20.4%).
– South-east England 24.6% (2024: 24.7%; 2019: 23.5%).
– London 28.4% (2024: 28.5%; 2019: 25.7%).
– England 21.8% (2024: 21.7%; 2019: 20.7%).
– Wales 19.5% (2024: 19.2%; 2019: 18.4%).
– Northern Ireland 31.6% (2024: 31.0%; 2019: 30.5%).
– All 21.9% (2024: 21.8%; 2019: 20.8%).
Here are the percentages of GCSE entries awarded 4 or higher, by nation and region:.
– North-east England 64.9% (2024: 65.2%; 2019: 63.8%).
– North-west England 64.2% (2024: 64.2%; 2019: 64.9%).
– Yorkshire & the Humber 63.6% (2024: 63.9%; 2019: 64.1%).
– West Midlands 62.9% (2024: 63.1%; 2019: 63.8%).
– East Midlands 65.0% (2024: 65.1%; 2019: 65.8%).
– Eastern England 68.0% (2024: 67.9%; 2019: 67.1%).
– South-west England 69.1% (2024: 69.1%; 2019: 68.3%).
– South-east England 70.0% (2024: 70.4%; 2019: 70.2%).
– London 71.6% (2024: 72.5%; 2019: 70.6%).
– England 67.1% (2024: 67.4%; 2019: 67.1%).
– Wales 62.5% (2024: 62.2%; 2019: 62.8%).
– Northern Ireland 83.5% (2024: 82.7%; 2019: 82.2%).
– All 67.4% (2024: 67.6%; 2019: 67.3%).
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