The Academy of Social Sciences congratulates everyone receiving their GCSE results today.
Published this morning, this year’s results show that social science subjects continue to be a popular choice for students taking their GCSEs, with 483,117 entries for exams in business studies, economics, geography and statistics across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Geography, which is part of the English Baccalaureate (EBacc), remains the sixth most studied GCSE in England, Wales and Northern Ireland with 302,706 entries in 2025, an increase of 1.8% compared to last year (297,411 entries). In addition, business studies and statistics have seen percentage increases in the number of entries in 2025 compared to 2024, with business studies seeing an increase of 2.1% (from 135,090 entries in 2024 to 137,924 in 2025) and statistics an increase of 9.5% (from 31,844 entries in 2024 to 34,879 entries in 2025). According to the Joint Council for Qualifications, there were also 51,883 entries in 2025 for ‘other social science subjects’ which include sociology and (social) psychology, among others.
Dr Rita Gardner, Chief Executive of the Academy, said, “We’re delighted to see that the social science subjects remain a popular choice for students at this stage of their education. The skills and knowledge studying the social sciences bring, opens doors to a wide variety of opportunities for further study and future careers. They help us to understand how different aspects of the human world works and provide the tools to shape society for the better. Congratulations to everyone receiving their GSCE results today.”
Studying the social sciences for your post-16 qualifications, like at A Level, AS Level, Highers and Advanced Highers, is a popular choice for many students who want to understand more about the societies we live in, economic development, people’s behaviour, environmental sustainability and the nature of our changing human world. They open up a huge range of opportunities for further study and careers, not only in roles related directly to these areas but the transferable skills gained from the study of the social sciences equip people for a wide range of jobs in business, the public sector and charities too.