Progress 8: which qualifications count?

Be clear on the different elements that make up progress 8, and which qualifications are eligible for inclusion. Understand how discounting will affect multiple qualifications taken in the same subject.

Updated
on 23 January 2025
See updates
School types: AllSchool phases: SecondaryRef: 10131
Contents
  1. Pupil attainment is compared across 8 elements
  2. Qualifications for the 8 elements
  3. Discounting applies when pupils take a duplicate subject qualification

Pupil attainment is compared across 8 elements

Progress 8 compares pupils’ end of Key Stage (KS) 4 progress against the progress of other pupils nationally who had similar attainment at the end of KS2. 

Attainment tracks across 8 subjects (the attainment 8 score).

See pages 14 to 17 of the DfE's secondary accountability measures guidance. 

A double-weighted maths element that will contain the pupil's English Baccalaureate (EBacc) maths qualification point score An English element based on the higher point score of a pupil's EBacc English language or English literature qualification. This will be double-weighted, if the pupil has taken both qualifications The 3 highest point scores from any of the following EBacc subjects: sciences, computer science, geography, history and languages (the EBacc element) The 3 highest point scores from any 3 other subjects, including English language or literature (if not counted in the English element), GCSEs (including EBacc subjects) or other