GCSE Results 2017: pass rates fall slightly following exam reforms
English literature pass-rates have declined by 2.5 percentage points to 72 per cent, following new, tougher exams.
However, the pass rate for maths, which has also been made harder, has risen from 61.5 per cent to 68.9 per cent, the BBC has reported.
Overall, in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, passes (grades C/4 and above) have dropped by 0.6 percentage points to 66.3 per cent.
Exam boards have also stated that 2,000 candidates achieved a 9 (the highest grade under the new system) in all new three exams and that there was 50,000 grade 9s overall.
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