GCSEs: Rise Expected In Number Getting A*-C

A rise in the number of schools opting for international GCSEs, particularly in key subjects like English, could have an impact on this year's grades, an expert believes.

Professor Alan Smithers of Buckingham University said some schools may be moving "weaker" students over to IGCSEs in some subjects and as a result, scores are likely to be higher on average.

IGCSEs in subjects like English test different skills and abilities than the latest non-international GCSEs and some believe they are easier for some students.

As a result, as many as seven in 10 GCSEs could be awarded at least a C grade this year, Prof Smithers believes.

Hundreds of thousands of teenagers across England, Wales and Northern Ireland will receive their long-awaited GCSE results today.

Prof Smithers, who is director of the Centre for Education and Employment Research, said: "Exams regulator Ofqual sets great store by maintaining standards from year to year, so it's likely that the overall pattern of results will be similar to last year.

"But because of the movement and changes in the cohort they are likely to be a bit up on last year.

"I would expect the percentage (getting a grade C or above) to be closer to 69% this year."

Last year, just over two thirds, 68.8% of entries scored at least a C grade, up 0.7 percentage points on 2013.

A small rise in top grades was also likely, Prof Smithers said.

A series of reforms in England started five years ago under the coalition government will work their way into the exam results this year.

Among the changes was a rule that only a candidate's first attempt at a qualification would count in school league tables.

Prof Smithers said the change has led to fewer pupils being entered for exams before the end of Year 11, when students usually sit their GCSEs.

Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) said last week that, across all subjects, entries for their IGCSE courses in England are up 56% on last year.

Meanwhile, data published in May by Ofqual showed that there had been a 4% drop in pupils entered for GCSE English this year, compared to last year.

A spokeswoman for CIE said it was not easy to draw conclusions.

She said: "With changes in the cohort we would expect to see small changes in grade distribution. Standards have not changed, we have maintained our standards year on year."

Brian Lightman, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said any move to IGCSE is about finding the appropriate course for students.

He said schools are particularly keen on IGCSE English as it still assesses speaking and listening, which teachers still see as an "essential skill" even though it was taken out of the GCSE last year.