Professor Alan Smithers, director of education at the University of Buckingham, said the pandemic had done little to close the gender gap. A record drop in GCSE grades is expected this week after exams are held for the first time since 2019. Students receive the results on Thursday. GCSE grades are graded from 9 to 1 in England, with 7 tied to a low A and 4 to a low C. Wales and Northern Ireland retain letter grades and Scottish students do not take GCSEs. Smithers estimates about a quarter of a million
