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GCSE Resits Plummet to Decade Low as Mandatory Exams Face Overhaul
22 Aug
Summary
- GCSE pass rates for English and Maths hit record lows in 2025
- Resit rates at an all-time high, with less than 20% of students passing
- Government considers scrapping mandatory resits to tackle failing students
In a concerning development, the GCSE pass rates for English and Maths in the UK have hit record lows in 2025. The overall pass rate for English dropped to 60.2%, the worst result since 2004, while just 58.3% of students passed their Maths GCSE this year, down from 59.5% in the previous year.
Compounding the issue, the rates of GCSE resits for these two core subjects are at an all-time high, with nearly a quarter of all entries being resits. However, the success rate for these repeat attempts is dismal, with just 23.1% of students who resat their English GCSE receiving a standard pass, and a mere 18.2% for Maths.
Faced with these alarming statistics, the government is now considering scrapping the mandatory resit policy altogether. Education leaders have long called for a reform of the current system, describing the process as "utterly demoralizing" for struggling students. The review of the curriculum and assessments, led by Professor Becky Francis, is expected to recommend more practical and applied alternatives to the traditional GCSE format in English and Maths.
