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Facts and figures

Here are some facts and figures about the qualifications and examinations system that you might find interesting.

  • Test distribution

    The test distribution is the biggest annual mailing of its kind in the country – 4.2 million test papers, in 80,000 packages, delivered over a two-week period.

  • Test papers

    Delivering the national curriculum tests involves producing and distributing test papers equivalent to 237 million sheets of A4.

  • Pupils taking national curriculum tests

    Around 600,000 pupils take national curriculum tests each year at the end of each key stage, a total of 1,800,000 pupils each year in over 20,000 schools.

  • Highest entry GCSE subjects

    The highest entry subjects in 2007 were GCSE mathematics, with 750,570 candidates, and GCSE English, with 721,762 candidates.

  • Specifications

    Schools and colleges can choose from more than 400 GCSE and A level specifications, offered by five awarding bodies.

  • National Vocational Qualifications

    Over six and a half million NVQs have been awarded since they were introduced.

  • GCSE and A level subjects

    There are more than 45 GCSE and more than 40 AS/A level subjects on offer.

  • Accredited awarding bodies

    Ofqual regulates over 120 accredited awarding bodies.

  • Accredited qualifications

    There are over 6,000 accredited qualifications.

  • The 2007 summer exam series

    For the 2007 summer exam series, over 21 million A level and GCSE question papers were distributed by the three awarding bodies in England.

  • Size of exam system

    Over 26 million separate examination scripts and items of coursework are submitted by students and marked by over 55,000 examiners each year.

  • GCSE results

    Over 6,418,900 GCSE results are issued each year.

  • A level results

    Over 800,000 A level results are issued each year.