How popular are Polish language GCSE exams?
Polish language exams at the GCSE level are gaining in popularity. Apart from the periods of changes in the specification (e.g., 2018) and the global pandemic (2020 - 2021), the number of candidates for the GCSE exam has steadily increased. In 2023, it reached a record number of just over 7,000 candidates over the past 20 years, that is, Poland's entry into the European Union.
The two years during the pandemic showed the incredible determination of young people who, despite adversity – due to social and systemic reasons – have worked tirelessly to obtain qualifications in Polish as their heritage language.