More than one in four GCSE results in Cardiff schools were the top A*to A
Pupils at Cardiff schools have achieved better than Wales-wide GCSE results at the gold standard A*-C grades. Thousands of teenagers in the city picked up their results today with the council describing results as “outstanding”
According to provisional WJEC GCSE results released today, 26.4% of Cardiff entries achieved A*–A grades, compared to the national figure of 19.5%.
The proportion of entries awarded A*–C grades stands at 68%, again outperforming the Wales average of 62.5%, with 96.8% of Cardiff GCSEs graded A*–G. Follow live updates as pupils receive their grades here
Compared to the last pre-pandemic year in 2019 results are also up. In 2020 and 2021 exams across Wales were cancelled and grades awarded on teachers assessment and in 2022 and 2023 they ran as usual but with extra help to account for lost learning.
A return to “normal” pre-pandemic exam conditions resumed in 2024. You can read details of the all-Wales GCSE results here
Cardiff GCSE results 2025 compared to 2019:
- A*-G grades 96.8% up from 96.3% in 2019
- A*-C grades 68% up from 66.3% in 2019
- A*-A are 26.4% from 23.1% in 2019
Results have also improved from 2024, which marked the final step in returning to pre-pandemic arrangements.
- A*-G grades 96.8% up from 96.1% in 2024
- A*-C grades 68% up from 67.4% in 2024
- A*-A are 26.4% up from 26.0% in 2024
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Pupils also collected grades in the National/Foundation Skills Challenge Certificate (Welsh Baccalaureate) and the National/Foundation Welsh Baccalaureate today.
Read more: First look at Cardiff’s new multi million pound school campus
Cllr Sarah Merry, Cardiff Council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for education, said: “I would like to warmly congratulate Cardiff’s pupils who are receiving their GCSEs and all other qualification results today.
“These achievements reflect their commitment, effort, and determination.
“It is particularly pleasing to see Cardiff’s performance continue to improve, with A*–A GCSE grades well above the Welsh average and above our results for both 2019 and 2024.
For those unsure about their next steps, Cardiff Council is offering help via its What’s Next platform: www.whatsnextcardiff.co.uk
The city’s GCSE results today follow better than Wales-wide A level results last week.
