Geography GCSE and A Level entries rise

The number of students being entered for geography GCSE and A Level exams in England in 2023 has increased compared to last year, with a steady rise in the number of geography GCSE candidates observed year-on-year since 2010.

Provisional data published today by Ofqual shows a 1.8% increase in the number of A Level students studying geography in 2023 compared with last year, taking the number of A Level candidates to just under 35,000.

Geography is now the sixth most studied GCSE subject in England, with entries rising by 1.4% to just over 283,000 – the highest number of geography entries at GCSE since 2001.

Steve Brace, Head of Education and Outdoor Learning at the Society, said: “The Society is delighted to see a continuing rise in the number of pupils studying geography at GCSE and A Level. Since 2010, we’ve seen a significant increase in the uptake of geography at GCSE, with over 100,000 more pupils studying geography today than over a decade ago. This is testament to the work of geography teachers and the Society wishes geography pupils every success in their August results.

"When pupils choose geography, this provides access to a wide range of further study, rewarding careers, highly competitive salaries and a curiosity about the world that can last a lifetime.”

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