Results released this week show that the GCSE pass rate has risen for the 23rd year in a row, to 98.7% of the entries passing.

Grade A* or A results were achieved by 22.6% of pupils, and this year there was also an increase in the number of pupils taking their GCSE exams a year early.

More people than ever opted to take science exams, but there has been a fall in the number of French or German entries.

Lots of people are saying that the GCSE exams are getting easier, which is why so many students do well. There is now fierce competition for many students who want to get places on college courses.