Map of A Level grade outcomes by county in England





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Note: Only subjects taken by more than 2,500 students are included.

Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2023.



For any feedback on these graphs, please contact [email protected].

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If you need an accessible version of this information to meet specific accessibility requirements, please email [email protected] with details of your request.


1. What does the map show?


The map shows A-level results (the percentage of grades awarded for specific grades) in England by subject and county for the summer 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019 and 2018 examinations series.

2. How are the counties on the map defined?


The counties presented are the ceremonial counties of England as defined by the Lord Lieutenancies Act 1997. The map does not show individual Local Authorities. The Greater London region includes the City of London. An Ordnance Survey OpenData map dataset was used to define the county boundaries on the map.

3. How were grades awarded in summer 2023?


The aim of awarding in summer 2023 was to return to pre-pandemic grading. As in any year, grade boundaries were set based on a combination of quantitative and qualitative evidence. The return to pre-pandemic grading means that national results will be lower than summer 2022 and it will be most meaningful to compare this year’s results with 2019, the last year that summer exams were taken before the pandemic. Further information is available on the Ofqual website, in the Ofqual student guide 2023, and in our blog 10 things to know about GCSE, AS and A level grades.

In 2020 and 2021, when GCSE, AS and A level grades were determined by teachers, national outcomes were higher than prior to the pandemic. Outcomes were also higher than pre-pandemic in 2022 when grading was at a midway point between summer 2019 and summer 2021 (see also Q4. How were grades awarded in summer 2022, summer 2021 and summer 2020?).

4. How were grades awarded in summer 2022, summer 2021 and summer 2020?


Awarding in summer 2022 was at a midway point between summer 2019 and summer 2021. As in any year, grade boundaries were set based on a combination of quantitative and qualitative evidence. Further information is available on the Ofqual website,, in the student guide to exams and formal assessments in 2021 to 2022, and in our blog post from 2022.

Ahead of summer 2021, the government determined that many exams and assessments could not be held fairly as a result of the disruption students had faced due to the pandemic. Teachers were asked instead to submit grades to the exam boards, based on their assessment of what students have shown they know and can do, enabling progression to the next stage of education, training, or employment. The student guide to awarding in summer 2021 gives further information.

The summer 2020 exam series was cancelled due to the measures put in place in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Students were awarded either their centre assessment grade or the calculated grade, whichever was the higher. Further information about the alternative arrangements for awarding in summer 2020 is available on the Ofqual website.

5. What subjects are included?


The subjects presented are A level subjects which were taken by at least 2,500 students in summer 2023. The all subjects category only includes subjects which were taken by approximately 2,500 students in summer 2023.

6. Which students are included?


For each subject listed, you can choose to see results for either all students, or just students aged 18 (the age that most students take A levels).

7. What does the pop-up box show?


When you click on any county on the map a pop-up box will appear. The pop-up box provides more information for the county based on the options you have selected (year, subject, grades and students). It also allows you to compare the county figures to the overall England figures. Key information displayed in a pop-up box is:

  • the number of grades awarded in the county (in relevant age group) for the selected subject; and of those:
  • the proportion of grades awarded for the selected grade in the county; and
  • the proportion of grades awarded for the selected grade in the England.

For instance, in 2018, there were 350 grades awarded, for students aged 18, who certificated in Business in Norfolk. Of those 320 grades, 4% were A*. In comparison, the proportion of 18-year olds who achieved A* in Business A level that year in England was 3.4%.

The number of grades awarded have been rounded to the nearest five. Where there are fewer than 25 grades, this is indicated. Where there are no awards this is indicated as ‘0’.

8. What do the different colours in the map indicate?


The different colours indicate the range of the percentage of grades awarded for the grades selected across all of the counties. Therefore, the range given in the map legend changes with the options selected by you. The colours range from dark representing higher percentages to light representing lower percentages.

9. What does the ‘select view’ drop-down do?


For each subject, you can choose whether the map shows 'grade outcomes' or 'subject uptake'. The subject uptake map shows the number of grades awarded in the selected subject, relative to all subjects within each county. The pop-up will display:

  • the total number of grades (E and above) awarded for the chosen subject in England,
  • the percentage of grades awarded for the selected subject in the selected county; and
  • the subject rank in terms of the number of grades awarded relative to all subjects in the county selected.
  • the subject rank in terms of the number of grades awarded relative to all subjects in England.

For instance, in 2023, there were 264,930 grades awarded for History at grade A* to E. In Lincolnshire, History had the 6th highest uptake relative to all other subjects, accounting for 6.3% of all grades awarded within the county. In comparison, in Leicestershire, History had the 10th highest uptake, accounting for 4.0% of all grades within the county. History had the 6th highest uptake in England, relative to all other subjects.

The number of grades awarded have been rounded to the nearest five. Where there are fewer than 25 grades, this is indicated. Where there are no awards this is indicated as ‘0’.

Please note, the option to view subject uptake is not applicable for ‘all subjects’.

10. Why are we publishing this data?


We are publishing this data in the interests of openness and transparency and so that schools, policymakers and other stakeholders can access this data in an interactive manner and explore grade outcomes in England and across counties.

11. Where does this data come from?


Data are supplied to Ofqual by examination boards near to results day. At the point in time Ofqual receive the data, all certificates and entries may not have been fully processed. Additionally, the data do not reflect changes to grades that may occur after results.

12. How do I interact with the map?


If you are using a laptop or desktop computer you can scroll up, down, left, and right using the arrow keys. You can also move the map by holding the left mouse button and dragging. If you are on a mobile or a tablet you can scroll the map using two fingers.

The ‘reset view’ button will reset the zoom and map location to the default zoom level and a centered location within the map panel.

You can use the zoom bar on the left-hand side of the map to zoom in or out. You can also centre and zoom in to a location of your choosing by double clicking on the location (or double tapping if you are using a mobile or a tablet).

You can enter full-screen mode by clicking on the 'view fullScreen' button to the left of the map. You can exit full-screen mode by clicking on the 'exit fullScreen' button to the left of the map, or by pressing the 'Esc' key.


For any feedback on these graphs, please contact [email protected].

Return to the Ofqual Analytics home page.

If you need an accessible version of this information to meet specific accessibility requirements, please email [email protected] with details of your request.