Ofqual said many of this year’s year 13 pupils who failed their English or maths GCSEs during the last year of the old qualifications in 2016 had to “complete a full year of study” before re-sitting the exams, prompting a 94 per cent rise in November entries among that year group.
The data shows 47,010 pupils in year 13 or above sat a GCSE maths or English exam in November this year, up from 24,250 last year.
November entries give schools an opportunity to enter sixth form pupils who failed their English or maths for re-sits.
In previous years, pupils have been much more likely to re-sit their English or maths GCSEs in year 12, but changes to the exams in recent years has prompted a sharp rise in entries from older sixth formers.
This year, 25,910 year 13 pupils sat GCSE maths in November, up from 12,700 last year, and 21,100 re-sat English language, up from 11,550.