Record entries for Cambridge at IGCSE, O, A and AS level

Today (Tuesday 13 August), 631,248 students worldwide received their Cambridge IGCSE, O level and International AS and A level results – an increase of 11% on last year.

Representing 5,261 schools in 140 countries, the students sat a total of 1.6 million exams – up 9% on 2023.In a video message, Rod Smith, group managing director for international education at Cambridge, celebrated all students’ achievements: “I want to congratulate everyone receiving exam results today and all the dedicated teachers across the Cambridge community who work so hard to support students. It’s the culmination of a lot of hard work.”

‘Good news’ for appeal and relevance of an international education

At Cambridge IGCSE and O level, there were 956,100 entries – up 7% on June 2023. These were taken by 295,972 students in 4,581 schools in 140 countries. The most popular subjects were mathematics, physics, first-language English, chemistry and biology.

At Cambridge International AS and A level, there were more than 631,405 entries – up 13% on June 2023 – taken by 316,008 students in 3,143 schools in 128 countries. Here the most popular subjects were English general paper, mathematics,  physics, chemistry and English language.

Asked if strong growth is set to continue, Rod Smith told Relocate Global that this year’s data continues the trend of year-on-year growth since 2020.”

When we look back at where we were in 2020 before Covid to now, there are 59% more students internationally entering exams than there were before. Every year, year on year, it just continues to grow. The reason we are very positive about it is because it’s a really positive message about the value of international education in today’s world. In the face of today’s global challenges, it’s heartening to see more and more young people choosing an international education to help them thrive in an ever-changing world.” 

Where are most Cambridge students studying?

The figures reflect trends highlighted at IPSEF last month with data from LEK Consulting showing continued demand for quality international education and the British curriculum as a leader in this field.

Schools in the US (up 21%), China (up 17%) and Pakistan (up 7%) accounted for the highest number of entries this year. Asked what the growth in these countries mean, Rod Smith explained that for the US in particular, it is as much about embracing internationalism as it is improving choice and opportunity for everyone.

“We are growing really significantly in the US. The US is an unusual case for us in some respects because it’s not just an international schools market.

“We are actually growing in districts and the equivalent of state schools – public schools. Growth here is as much about the growth of internationalism as a mindset as it is about the US itself in some areas looking for ways to improve their own education system. Some states are really looking at alternatives and working hard to look at this as part of their choice agenda. Schooling here is very much about people who aren’t accessing higher education and the US is working to improve the disparities between access to higher education.

“For other high-growth countries for Cambridge, including China and Pakistan, growth is coming from the rising numbers of international schools, including established schools in the UK extending their offering and international school group investments.

Growing interest in environmental and global perspectives at subject level

Sciences, maths and English continue to be the most popular subjects globally across Cambridge IGCSE, O Level and International AS and A level.

However, reflecting students’ interests and future focus, as well as how schools are broadening their curriculum to offer students more scope to learn about a changing world, some of Cambridge’s fastest-growing subjects are:

• Environmental management: entries up 36% at Cambridge IGCSE and O Level and 30% at International AS level
• Global perspectives: up 15% at Cambridge IGCSE and O Level and 17% at International AS and A level
• Marine science: up by 26% at Cambridge International AS and A level
• Computer science: entries up 14% at Cambridge IGCSE and O level and 19% at International AS and A level.

Explaining their growing popularity, Rod Smith said that as international education becomes more mature, there is increasingly an opportunity to introduce and study wider subjects in preparation for university. Engineering and medicine, which remain popular, are being joined by a wider range of subjects students are looking to study at degree level.

“We are finding this is manifesting itself in the growth of slightly less traditional subjects, subjects that are a bit broader, and actually specifically focused on issues young people really care about,” he said. “So, environmental management, absolutely. Science is much more focused here on how are they going to make a difference on the world around them, on sustainability and the environment.”

Marine science is a particularly leading-edge context for science because of the state of the world’s oceans. We are seeing a real demand-led approach to these slightly newer subjects with an environmental mindset.

“Our global perspectives qualification is also growing. That’s less explicitly about sustainability, but it’s much more flexible where students can pick the global topics and themes that offer a national and international perspective.

The value of international education for the future

For Rod Smith, climate education is a great case in point about why an international education is valuable.

“At the heart of these issues is that there is knowledge that is global and knowledge that is common. The truth is also that these issues are going to be solved through local implementation. It is global and local.

“In many respects I think sometimes the story about why an international education is so valuable is because it offers an international perspective. Actually, the great value of an international education is that it is global and it is a community of people you can tap into around the world, but actually it is about how it works in your local context as well.”

“These subjects reflect the issues young people care about and where they want to make a difference. A global education brings together a global perspective, but these challenges are always going to be solved locally in this context.”

Other exam boards release their GCSEs on Thursday August 22 with A levels and post-16 vocational qualifications including Btecs, VTQs and T levels on or before Thursday 15 August. Share your resultswith our sisiter website Relocate Global’s coverage.