IGCSE and GCSE Results 2026: Key Statistics and Trends
The key statistics from 2026 GCSE and IGCSE results: UK headline grades, England by region, Cambridge IGCSE grade rates by subject worldwide, Cambridge IGCSE 9–1 results and what they mean for 2027.
In summer 2026, 22% of UK GCSE results were 7/A or above and 67.3% were 4/C or above, across 6,199,256 entries from 1,130,316 students (JCQ, 2026). Internationally, Cambridge IGCSE results varied widely by subject, with A\* rates from 7.0% in Geography to 26.1% in Additional Mathematics (Cambridge International, 2026).
This post pulls together the most useful figures for students and parents.
Key Takeaways
- UK GCSE 2026: 22% at 7/A or above, 67.3% at 4/C or above, 97.9% at 1/G or above.
- Results were almost unchanged from 2025.
- In England, London had the highest share of grade 7+ results (28.6%).
- Cambridge IGCSE A* rates ranged from 7% to 26% across popular subjects.
What Were the Headline GCSE Results in 2026?
UK GCSE grades were stable. JCQ reported 22% of results at 7/A or above (21.9% in 2025), 67.3% at 4/C or above (67.4% in 2025) and 97.9% at 1/G or above, unchanged (JCQ, 2026). The number of students rose 1.5%, partly because the 16-year-old population grew by 1%.
| UK GCSE results | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Students | 1,113,580 | 1,130,316 |
| Entries | 6,160,034 | 6,199,256 |
| 7/A and above | 21.9% | 22.0% |
| 4/C and above | 67.4% | 67.3% |
| 1/G and above | 97.9% | 97.9% |
Source: JCQ, 2026.
In England alone, 21.8% of results were grade 7 or above and 67.0% were grade 4 or above (Ofqual, 2026).
How Did Results Vary Across England?
London led again. It had the highest share of grade 4+ results (71.7%) and grade 7+ results (28.6%). The North East had the lowest grade 7+ rate (17.7%), and the West Midlands the lowest grade 4+ rate (62.5%) (Ofqual, 2026).
Entries shifted too. Statistics rose 11%, business studies 8% and sociology 5.2%, while French fell 5.5% and computing 7.2% (Ofqual, 2026). Among 17-year-olds resitting, 21.0% achieved grade 4 or above in English language and 16.4% in maths.
How Did Cambridge IGCSE Students Do in 2026?
Cambridge International publishes world results for every IGCSE subject. In June 2026, 34.7% of Mathematics candidates achieved A or A\*, against 44.1% in Chemistry, 44.5% in Physics and 37.3% in Biology (Cambridge International, 2026).
| Cambridge IGCSE, June 2026 | A\* | A or A\* | C or above |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 18.9% | 34.7% | 72.9% |
| Additional Mathematics | 26.1% | 51.7% | 86.1% |
| First Language English | 14.6% | 36.8% | 84.4% |
| Biology | 14.7% | 37.3% | 77.1% |
| Chemistry | 16.9% | 44.1% | 82.9% |
| Physics | 20.9% | 44.5% | 81.5% |
| Economics | 20.9% | 44.0% | 79.1% |
| Computer Science | 14.3% | 42.3% | 86.4% |
Source: Cambridge International, 2026.
Cambridge's June 2026 series was large: Cambridge began releasing results to nearly 705,000 students in 148 countries, and reported strong growth in IGCSE entries in Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand (Cambridge International, 2026).
What About Cambridge IGCSE 9–1 Results?
Schools in Cambridge's zone 3, the UAE and Oman can choose 9–1 grading. In June 2026, 57.5% of 9–1 Biology candidates got grade 7 or above, and 24.0% got a 9 (Cambridge International, 2026). Cambridge says the 9–1 syllabuses and exams "are identical to their equivalent A\*-G graded syllabuses".
These rates aren't a guide to which subject is easiest, because different students take each one. Additional Mathematics has the highest A\* rate partly because only strong mathematicians take it. Our easiest IGCSEs and hardest IGCSEs guides look at this in more detail.
For international families, these figures are useful for target-setting. An A\* in Cambridge IGCSE Mathematics puts a student in roughly the top fifth worldwide. Knowing that helps set ambitious but realistic targets subject by subject.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What percentage of GCSE results were 7 or above in 2026?
22% across the UK, up from 21.9% in 2025 (JCQ, 2026). In England, the figure was 21.8% (Ofqual, 2026).
What percentage of IGCSE students get an A*?
It depends on the subject. In June 2026, Cambridge IGCSE A\* rates were 18.9% in Mathematics, 16.9% in Chemistry, 14.7% in Biology and 14.6% in First Language English (Cambridge International, 2026).
When are 2027 GCSE results released?
Thursday 19 August 2027 (JCQ, 2026). See our GCSE and IGCSE results day 2027 guide.
The Bottom Line
- UK GCSE 2026: 22% at 7/A or above and 67.3% at 4/C or above, almost unchanged.
- London had the highest share of top grades in England.
- Cambridge IGCSE A* rates ranged from 7% to 26% across popular subjects.
- Subject results reflect who takes them, not just difficulty.
Next, see the IGCSE grade boundaries for June 2026.
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