GCSE Results Day 2025: Key Dates & What To Do If Things Don’t Go To Plan

With GCSE results day 2025 looming, you might be feeling a range of emotions - from nervous excitement to overwhelmed and anxious. 

If you’re feeling apprehensive about getting your results, this article will help to break down everything you need to know. You’ll find out when you can get your GCSE results, how to prepare for results day and the steps you can take to move forward no matter the outcome.

When is GCSE results day 2025?

When do schools get GCSE results?

GCSE results are released to schools on Wednesday 20th August 2025. 

When do students get GCSE results?

GCSE results come out for students on Thursday 21st August 2025. 

What time do GCSE results come out?

You can usually collect your GCSE results at around 10am, depending on your school.

When is SQA Nationals results day 2025?

Results day for National Qualifications in Scotland is Tuesday 5th August 2025. If you sign up to MySQA, you’ll receive your results by email and/or text, as well as by post. 

How to get GCSE results

How you get your GCSE results depends on where you are on the day and what your school’s arrangements are. 

Your GCSE results will typically be available to pick up from your school on the morning of results day. This is a great way to get them, as you’ll be surrounded by teachers who can give you help or guidance if needed. You can find out in advance exactly what time your school will be open for you to collect your results, but this tends to be from around 10am. 

If you won’t be home on results day or able to collect your results in person, you can have them emailed or posted to you. Most schools will also allow you to access your results online. To learn more about how to find your GCSE results, check out our detailed guide. 

Do you have to open GCSE results at school?

You’ve been waiting a long time for your GCSE results, so, understandably, results day may be quite exciting and sometimes even stressful. Deciding whether to open your GCSE results among your friends and family is totally up to you. 

Some students prefer to have loved ones around so they can share their joy or disappointment with them. Others want to absorb the information alone before they share it with anyone else. Just bear in mind that opening your results at school may be beneficial in case you need some advice from teachers or advisors. This is especially recommended when you think your grades will be lower than expected. 

How to prepare for GCSE results day

You might feel like there’s a lot resting on your GCSE results, whether that’s getting into sixth form or college or being able to pursue your dream job. 

But it’s important to remember that no matter what results you get, you always have options. Here’s how you can prepare for GCSE results day. 

How to manage anxiety about GCSE results day

If you’re worried you haven’t got the grades you were hoping for, this might be causing you to feel stressed and anxious about results day. 

We know that the entire exams process can be a stressful time for students, with 85% of students experiencing exam anxiety. 

To help stay as calm as possible in the lead up to results day, we’d recommend doing things to take your mind off your results. This might be as simple as making plans with friends or family to keep you occupied.

Remind yourself of the famous quote: “Worrying does not take away tomorrow's troubles. It takes away today's peace.” You could be worrying for no reason at all, and dwelling on potential negative outcomes won’t actually change anything.

Instead, try focusing on what you can control. Remind yourself that there are always alternatives, even if things don’t go as planned the first time. It may not be your ideal scenario, but there are plenty of paths available to you. We’ll look at these in more detail later. 

Have a good night's sleep so you can be prepared for whatever comes next - whether it’s a celebration or planning your next steps. Check out our free exam anxiety relief pack; these helpful techniques can also help with any pre-results day anxiety. 

What to take on GCSE results day 

Make sure you have the following items prepared for GCSE results day:

• Photo ID - you may need it to collect your results from school. 

• A fully charged phone is a must-have. You’ll need it for celebratory selfies, calling someone to share the good news, or calling your next school if you missed your grades.

• Pen and paper in case you need to speak to a teacher or advisor. 

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Before going to collect your results, it’s also a good idea to read about the GCSE requirements for your college or sixth form, as well as degrees and universities you plan to apply to in the future.

This way, you’ll know if you need assistance from your teachers or advisors on the day.  

What grades do I need to pass my GCSEs?

You’ll need to get a 4 for a ‘standard pass’ or a 5 for a ‘strong pass’.

How to read GCSE results

Now for the exciting part! 

When you receive your GCSE results paper, you may wonder what the different numbers mean. 

Your results will be directly below your personal details. You’ll see each subject listed along with the course code (you don’t need to pay attention to this) and your final grade shown next to it. This will range from 9 (highest) to 1 (lowest). 

Some schools also provide a breakdown of marks, showing how close you were to the next grade boundary. Grade boundaries are also released on results day. These can help give you an idea of how students across the country performed in a specific exam. 

Grade boundaries are essentially the minimum marks needed to achieve each grade in an exam. If a test was particularly hard, the grade boundaries might be lower, meaning you need fewer marks to achieve a certain grade. Exam boards set these boundaries after all papers are marked to ensure fairness. Check out our grade boundaries resource to find out more. 

If you're confused, your teachers can help clarify your results.

For a more in-depth look at how to read your GCSE results, check out our blog explaining the layout. 

GCSE results trends

Want to know how past students have performed in their GCSEs? Looking at GCSE results from previous years reveals some interesting trends. 

According to Ofqual, 22.6% of students achieved a grade 7 or higher in 2024. This was a slight increase from 22.4% in the previous year. 

These figures are more in line with GCSE results pre-pandemic. However, they still show a steady increase in the number of students achieving top grades. In 2019, 21.9% of entries achieved a grade 7 or above. 

During the pandemic, there were dramatic changes to grading, which resulted in 30% of students achieving top grades. However, 2024’s GCSE results reflected pre-pandemic trends. 

The GCSE results gap between the south and the rest of England widened in 2024. The percentage of students awarded a grade 7 or above in London was 28.6%, whilst only 17.8% of entries in the North East were awarded a grade 7 or above. These regional differences remain very similar to the 2023 GCSE results, increasing by just 0.2 percentage points.  

In 2024, 73.7% of girls' entries achieved a grade 4 or higher, compared to 67.1% of boys' entries. The gap between them has narrowed by 2.2 percentage points since 2019. This change is due to an increase in the proportion of boys securing grade 4 or above, while the percentage for girls has slightly declined.

“Bad” GCSE grades: What should I do if I’m disappointed with my results?

What if I didn’t get the grades I need for sixth form or college?

If your GCSE results are correct but are not good enough to get you into your chosen college or sixth form, don’t panic, there are still a few things you can do. 

The best thing to do is talk to your teacher or advisor. They will be able to give you advice on what to do next. One of your options is to speak to your college or sixth form and ask if they will accept you with the grades you received. If they won’t, other schools may offer you a place with your current grades. 

If you received a grade lower than 4 in English and Maths, or you'd like to improve your grades, you may be able to retake your Maths and English exams. This may be necessary for some students who want to study specific degrees like medicine, teacher training or dentistry. 

If you want to retake other GCSEs, you’ll need to discuss it with your school. The other resits usually happen during summer. Please note that this is the case if you are based in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. In Scotland, there are no exam resits and students need to retake the whole course the following year. 

What if I didn’t get the grades I need to progress with A Levels? 

If you didn’t get the grades needed to continue onto A Levels, you could explore other options, such as doing a technical or hands-on course. In England, you are able to do T Levels, which is a new qualification that enables students to combine studying and work placements. Another option is a Level 3 vocational course or apprenticeship. These are great for anyone who is looking for work experiences such as onsite construction or hair and beauty. You can explore more equivalents to A Levels here. 

How to appeal GCSE results and support available

If you think your GCSE results could be wrong, you have the right to appeal and request a review of marking—but act fast, as there’s a limited window to do so.

How does the GCSE appeal process work?

1. Request a Priority Copy of Your Marked Paper – If you want to see how your exam was graded before deciding on a review, you can request a scanned copy. The deadline for this is 4th September 2025.

2. Apply for a Review of Marking – If you believe there has been a mistake, you can ask for your paper to be re-marked by a different examiner. However, this could result in your grade going up, down, or staying the same, and the new grade will be final. The deadline for this is 25th September 2025.

3. Pay a Fee – The cost of an appeal varies depending on the exam board. For example, AQA charges £124.90 for a review. Some schools may cover this cost if they strongly believe a marking error has occurred.

Appealing a grade can be stressful, but you don’t have to do it alone. Here are some ways to get support:

• Speak to Your Teachers – They can help you decide if an appeal is worth pursuing and guide you through the process.

• Talk to Your Exams Officer – They handle exam administration and can submit the appeal on your behalf.

• Check School or College Policies – Some institutions may offer financial help if they believe your grade was unfair.

• Seek Advice from Exam Boards – If you're unsure about the process, the websites for AQA, Edexcel, OCR and WJEC provide detailed appeal guidance.

• Emotional Support – If you're feeling overwhelmed, talk to a school counsellor, teacher or even a support service like YoungMinds. 

Check out our step-by-step guide to appealing your GCSE results. 

Can I resit GCSEs?

If you want to retake your GCSEs, you may be able to do it in your school or college or resit with an online GCSE course. The good news is that if you failed non-compulsory subjects and realised you would like to explore other subjects, you can decide to take different GCSEs the following year. 

English and Maths must be retaken if you don’t achieve at least a grade 4. But if you pass one of your English GCSEs (English Language, for example) then you won’t have to retake your English Literature exam unless you want to. You only need to pass one of the English GCSEs to meet the minimum requirement. 

Resits usually take place in November for these subjects, while other subjects can be retaken the following summer. You can sit the exam at your school, college or a private exam centre. The resit is usually just the written exam—coursework or practical components may be carried over. Once marked, your new grade will replace the old one if it’s higher.

Most schools will offer courses and classes for those who wish to retake their GCSEs. It’s important to remember that to resit GCSEs you will need to potentially pay exam fees and course fees. The total amount needed will depend on the exam board, how you decide to study, and how much additional learning support you need.

When it comes to resitting GCSE exams, you may want to reflect on what you need to improve on. If you’re looking to get the most out of your revision and make it as effective as possible, our revision resources can help students boost their grades by two levels.   

Further reading:

• GCSE Maths Resits Guide

• GCSE Resits: How to Improve Your Grade 

• GCSE English Language Resit

Frequently Asked Questions

Are GCSE results important for university?

The essential GCSEs to pass are English and Maths. While you can drop non-compulsory subjects such as Chemistry or History, and decide to retake different GCSEs, you will need to study English and Maths until you pass. 

It’s important to remember that some top universities require specific GCSE grades. If your grades are too low, it’s worth considering resits in November 2025. This can avoid potential issues with getting into the university of your choice in the future. Speak to your school and teachers for advice. 

To find information on what GCSE grades are required to get into the uni you have in mind, check on the university website or the UCAS website. If you have any more questions about career choices, you can contact the National Careers Service.

If you were expecting slightly better results, but you still got into college or sixth form and your GCSE results won’t affect your university eligibility - that’s amazing! Focus on the positives and celebrate your achievements. 

What happens if I’m on holiday on GCSE results day?

Some students may not be at home for GCSE results day, given it falls during the summer holidays – try not to worry and enjoy your well-earned break! 

Thankfully, you’ll still be able to get your results. If you know you’re going to be away for results day, let your school know in advance. You’ll have a few options: 

• You can nominate a friend, guardian or family member to pick your results up for you on the day. You’ll have to provide a written note or letter to your school in advance, stating that you’re allowing this person to collect your results. The person will also have to take photo ID to verify their identity.

• You can arrange to have your results posted or emailed to you. Again, you’ll have to organise this in advance with your school. 

• You may be able to access your results online if your school has an online portal. Speak to your teachers to find out more. 

If you can’t collect your results on the day due to unforeseen circumstances, don’t panic. Give your school a phone call on the day and explain the situation, and they’ll advise you on what they can do to help. Usually, your results will be posted out to you. 

Some colleges and sixth forms have an enrolment day on the same day as GCSE results day. This is where students have the opportunity to speak to subject teachers, college support staff and senior leaders and confirm their choices. 

If you’re on holiday for GCSE results day, this means you may also be away for your college/sixth form’s enrolment day. Make sure to contact the college/sixth form in advance so that a new enrolment date can be arranged for you and to discuss how your GCSE results will be sent to them on the day. 

How do I get GCSE certificates?

It’s important to note that your GCSE results paper isn’t the same as your GCSE certificates. You won’t receive your GCSE certificates on results day, these will typically be sent out to your school around 3 months after receiving your results. 

You can then usually arrange for your school to post your certificates to you or collect them yourself. Your school will keep your GCSE certificates for 12 months, so it’s not essential that you collect them right away. 

Keeping your certificates safe is important, as universities or future employers may ask for copies of them to verify your GCSE results. If you misplace or lose your certificates, you should be able to order a replacement 'certified statement of results' from the exam board. This may come with a cost. 

What happens if you do worse in a GCSE resit?

If you do worse in a GCSE resit, don’t panic—you won’t be stuck with the lower grade! Your highest grade from either the original exam or the resit is the one that counts. This means that even if your resit doesn’t go as planned, your previous best result will still stand.

However, if your goal was to improve your grade for college or university, it might be worth exploring your options. You could speak to your school or college about whether another resit is possible, look into alternative qualifications, or focus on strengthening other areas of your application if this is possible. 

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Explore our GCSE Revision Resources. 

References

GCSE outcomes in England

UCAS

Contact us | National Careers Service