GCSEs 2023: Expected fall in top marks and more resits across UK - with England set for biggest drop as Northern Ireland and Wales keep inflated grades

Teenagers across Britain were today waking up to their GCSE results in a year when the proportion of top grades awarded is expected to fall - but students in England will be worse off as those in Wales and Northern Ireland retain grade inflation. Similar to A-level results last week, top GCSE grades are set to drop on last year as part of a plan to bring grades down to pre-pandemic levels in England this year. In England, exams regulator Ofqual has said this year's GCSE results will be lower than last year and they would be similar to those in 2019. Bill Watkin, chief executive of the Sixth Form Colleges Association, said it was 'possible' that some sixth forms and colleges will lower the GCSE grades required for entry compared with last year.