About 750,000 pupils in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are finding out their GCSE results.
We congratulate young people receiving their results today. They have worked hard over the last two years and deserve their success.
Results show there was an increase in the proportion of entries awarded between an A* and a C grade. A total of 69.8% of entries made that grade.
However, once again, there have been worrying falls in the number of pupils sitting sciences, languages and humanities. That's why we are introducing the English Baccalaureate. We know that employers and universities value a broad academic education, but today's figures are further evidence that Labour steered young people away from rigorous subjects. This has got to change if we want to keep up with the likes of China and Singapore.
We are also taking steps to restore confidence in GCSEs, by scrapping modular exams and restoring marks for spelling, punctuation and grammar. We cannot allow the hard work of students to be undermined by an exams system that doesn't adequately prepare them for further education or the workplace.
Schools Minister Nick Gibb said: "Today we can congratulate thousands of young people as they collect their GCSE results and celebrate the culmination of five years of secondary education.
"No-one should underestimate the hard work and application needed to gain GCSE qualifications.
"But we have to make sure we prepare young people for the future, whether they are going onto further education, training or into the workplace.
"While it is encouraging to see the rising uptake in maths and single sciences, it is worrying that once again there are falling numbers studying languages.
Through the English Baccalaureate, we want to make sure all pupils have the chance to study the core academic subjects which universities and employers demand."