The DfE has clarified that: "all students have been awarded the centre assessment grade submitted by their school, unless their calculated grade was higher. The centre assessment grades were devised by teachers who know their students best, and signed off by the head teacher or college principal. These grades were based on a range of evidence including mock exams and coursework as well as work in class and homework. It means on average pupils this year have higher grades than in previous years".

A summary of some of the subject-level data available for A level entries in 2020 can be found below:

Overall

• 87.5% of all entries achieved a grade C or above, compared to 75.5% in 2019
• 38.1% of all entries achieved a grade A or above, compared to 25.2% in 2019

English

• Entries into English language increased by 7.1%
• 87.1% of all entries into this subject achieved a grade C or above, compared to 78.9% in 2019
  • 21.8% of these entries achieved a grade A or above, compared to 11.3% in 2019
• Entries into English literature increased by 2%
• 91% of all entries into English literature achieved a grade C or above, compared to 80% in 2019
  • 37.7% of these entries achieved a grade A or above, compared to 24.1% in 2019

Maths

• Entries into maths increased by 2.6%
• 86.3% of all entries achieved a grade C or above, compared to 75.1% in 2019
  • 49.5% of these entries achieved a grade A or above, compared to 40.5% in 2019

Science

• Entries into individual Biology, Chemistry, and Physics decreased by 6.6%, 5.5% and 2.9% respectively
• Biology: 83.6% of entries achieved a grade C or above, compared to 66.3% in 2019
  • 36.8% of these entries achieved a grade A or above, compared to 23.5% in 2019
• Chemistry: 86% of entries achieved a grade C or above, compared to 71.4% in 2019
  • 41.9% of these entries achieved a grade A or above, compared to 28.4% in 2019
• Physics: 83.8% of entries achieved a grade C or above, compared to 70% in 2019
  • 41.2% of these entries achieved a grade A or above, compared to 27.5% in 2019

MFL

• Entries into French and German decreased by 0.7% and 7% respectively, entries into Spanish increased by 1.2%;
• French: 93.8% of entries achieved a grade C or above, compared to 85.2% in 2019;
  • 53.6% of these entries achieved a grade A or above, compared to 36.4% in 2019;
• German: 94.7% of entries pupils achieved a grade C or above, compared to 84.2% in 2019;
  • 58.3% of these entries achieved by grade A or above, compared to 40.4% in 2019;
• Spanish: 94.7% of entries achieved a grade C or above, compared to 84.6% in 2019;
  • 54.5% of these entries achieved a grade A or above, compared to 34.9% in 2019

For further information about other subjects, please click here.