Cambridge’s June 2026 series grew again. AS & A Level entries rose 5% to about 737,000, from almost 368,000 students at 3,492 schools. IGCSE entries rose 3% to almost 757,000. Growth was strongest in Indonesia, up 12%, and China, up 7%. Almost 30,000 students in the Middle East were graded without exams.
What were the headline numbers?
Across the June 2026 series, “nearly 705,000 students in 148 countries sat Cambridge exams … with total entries up to 1.7 million” (Cambridge, 11 August 2026).
| Qualification | Entries | Change on June 2025 | Students and schools |
|---|---|---|---|
| AS & A Level | About 737,000 | Up 5% | Almost 368,000 students, 3,492 schools, 128 countries |
| IGCSE | Almost 757,000 | Up 3% | IGCSE and O Level: more than 315,000 students, 4,949 schools, 144 countries |
| O Level | Almost 231,000 | Up 2% | As above |
| Project Qualification (IPQ) | Not stated | Up 68% | — |
Sources: Cambridge releases of 11 August and 18 August 2026; Tes for the 737,000 total and 128 countries.
The June series also saw “the first exams delivered on screen across a range of subjects”, as an option alongside paper. See Cambridge digital exams.
Which markets grew fastest?
Indonesia and China, among those Cambridge named. A Cambridge spokesperson told Tes that AS & A Level entries were “up 7 per cent in China, 5 per cent in Bangladesh, 12 per cent in Indonesia and 5 per cent in Saudi Arabia”.
| Market | AS & A Level entries, June 2026 | Other 2026 figures |
|---|---|---|
| Indonesia | Up 12% | Among the top two markets for the new March Checkpoint series |
| China | Up 7% | — |
| Bangladesh | Up 5% | All Cambridge entries up 8% to more than 43,500 |
| Saudi Arabia | Up 5% | — |
| India (March series) | AS & A Level up 12% | Over 91,000 March entries, up 7% |
Sources: Tes; The Business Standard; Cambridge India release. Country guides: Indonesia, Bangladesh, India.
Which subjects are most popular?
The same core as last year. At AS & A Level, the five most-entered subjects were English General Paper, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and English Language. Tes noted that for “the second year in a row” the top five “were exactly the same”. At IGCSE, they were “Mathematics, Physics, First Language English, Chemistry and Biology”. Global Perspectives also grew, with “combined IGCSE and O Level entries up 9%”.
How were grades distributed?
Cambridge publishes cumulative world grade distributions per syllabus, though no all-subject figure. For selected subjects in June 2026 (A Level statistics, IGCSE statistics):
| Subject | % A* | % A* to A | % A* to C |
|---|---|---|---|
| A Level Mathematics | 16.9 | 37.1 | 74.3 |
| A Level Physics | 13.6 | 33.1 | 71.1 |
| A Level Chemistry | 16.5 | 38.0 | 72.9 |
| A Level Biology | 13.7 | 34.6 | 71.5 |
| A Level Economics | 12.9 | 30.2 | 66.4 |
| IGCSE Mathematics | 18.9 | 34.7 | 72.9 |
| IGCSE Physics | 20.9 | 44.5 | 81.5 |
| IGCSE Chemistry | 16.9 | 44.1 | 82.9 |
| IGCSE First Language English | 14.6 | 36.8 | 84.4 |
Cambridge cautions that “these figures may differ from previous June series” because the mix of schools and countries changes. It adds that “the awarding standard returned to the pre-Covid standard in June 2023”. To compare your own results, see benchmarking school results against Cambridge worldwide statistics.
What happened in the Gulf?
Almost 30,000 students were graded through Portfolio of Evidence. Cambridge said “school closures caused by regional conflict meant exams could not be sat safely, affecting almost 30,000 Cambridge students”. Schools delivered “Portfolio of Evidence, an established contingency method that assesses students on a range of work marked by Cambridge examiners”. In September, Tes reported criticism from school leaders. Cambridge said grades “align correctly with the exam route and are valid and reliable”. It also introduced “a reduced fee” for enquiries and “a free retake option for the November 2026 or June 2027 exam series” (Tes, 14 September 2026). See what the 2026 Gulf cancellations taught schools.
What does this mean for schools?
Five takeaways, which are our analysis:
- A Level entries grew faster than IGCSE. AS & A Level entries rose 5% against 3% for IGCSE, so sixth-form capacity deserves a place in planning.
- Asian markets led the named growth. Indonesia (12%), China (7%) and India’s March series (12% at AS & A Level) all beat the 5% global AS & A Level rise.
- Skills qualifications are rising. IPQ entries rose 68% and Global Perspectives 9%. Both need staffing and supervision time.
- On-screen exams have started. Plan devices and rooms before opting in.
- Contingency evidence is now standard practice. 2026 showed that a full series can be replaced by portfolio evidence at short notice.
Cambridge also reported that “98% of Cambridge International A Level students who applied to UK universities in the 2025 cycle received at least one offer”. It says Cambridge learners are “around one in eight international students entering UK universities”.
How schools do this with AI Buddy
Comparing a school’s results with Cambridge’s world figures starts with good internal data. AI Buddy records mock and practice results by subject, topic and student across Cambridge and Pearson Edexcel. Leaders can set their predicted distributions against the world statistics before results day, and see which topics caused gaps afterwards.
Frequently asked questions
How many students took Cambridge exams in June 2026?
Nearly 705,000 students in 148 countries, with total entries of 1.7 million.
Did Cambridge A Level entries grow in 2026?
Yes. AS & A Level entries rose 5% to about 737,000, from almost 368,000 students at 3,492 schools.
Which countries grew fastest for Cambridge in 2026?
Among the countries Cambridge named, Indonesia’s AS & A Level entries grew 12% and China’s 7%. Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia each grew 5%.
What percentage got an A* in Cambridge A Level Maths in 2026?
16.9% of A Level Mathematics candidates worldwide achieved A*, and 74.3% achieved A* to C, according to Cambridge’s June 2026 statistics.
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Sources
- Cambridge International, AS & A Level entries grow 5 per cent amid rising global demand (11 August 2026) and Students globally receive IGCSE and O Level results (18 August 2026)
- Cambridge International, A Level results statistics June 2026 and IGCSE results statistics June 2026
- Tes, Exam results 2026: Cambridge International A levels released (11 August 2026) and Heads in Middle East hit out at ‘incomprehensible’ grades (14 September 2026)
- The Business Standard, Cambridge entries in Bangladesh rise 8% (13 August 2026); Cambridge International, March 2026 exam results (19 May 2026)