O Level Results Day 2026

O Level results day is one of the most nerve-wracking days of your academic life. After months of revision and seemingly endless exams, results day can feel like everything is riding on one envelope.

Not knowing whether you've hit the grades you need — for sixth form, college, A Levels, or whatever comes next — can turn the wait into an anxious countdown.

Don’t worry. This guide has everything you need to walk into results day feeling informed and in control. You'll find out when results are released, how to access them, what your grades mean, and what your next steps might look like.

Key Takeaways

• Cambridge International (CIE) O Level results day for the June 2026 exam series falls on Tuesday 18 August 2026, at 06:00 GMT/UTC.  (opens in a new tab)

• School candidates receive results directly from their school, centre, or online results portal. 

• A grade C or above is required to pass an O Level subject.

• Whatever your results, options are available to you, including resits, appeals, and alternative academic pathways.

When Is O Level Results Day 2026?

The date of your O Level results day depends on when you sat your exams.

Results are typically released at 6.00 am BST on results day through the CIE website or your school’s online portal.

How to Check Your O Level Results

How you access your results depends on whether you're a school candidate or a private candidate.

School Candidates

If you sat your O Levels through a registered school or exam centre, your results will be passed directly to your school. Your school or centre will tell you in advance how results will be distributed. This may be: 

• In person

• Through an online portal

Private Candidates

If you sat your O Levels independently, you can access your results online via the Cambridge Candidate Results Portal (opens in a new tab). You will need login credentials, which are issued by Cambridge International schools and centres.

Results Day Checklist: What to Bring

To make sure results day runs smoothly, have the following ready:

• Photo ID - some schools and centres need this to verify your identity if collecting in person.

• Login credentials - for your school's portal or the Cambridge Candidate Results website.

• Reliable internet connection - to access your results online.

• Fully charged phone - for checking results, contacting schools or colleges, or sharing news with family.

• A list of your grade requirements - so you can act quickly once you know your results.

Getting everything together the night before means you can focus on the important stuff on the day itself and try to banish those results day nerves.

Understanding Your O Level Grades

Cambridge O Levels are graded on a scale from A to G*, with a U (Ungraded) awarded if a student does not meet the minimum standard.  (opens in a new tab)

To pass an O Level subject, you need to achieve a grade C or above.

Many sixth forms and colleges require at least five O Level passes at grade C or above as a minimum entry requirement for A Levels or other post-16 study. 

How to read O Level results

Now for the moment you’ve been waiting for – reading your results! Once you log in to the results portal or receive your statement of results, you’ll see your personal details followed by a list of your subjects. Alongside the subject name, you’ll see the overall grade you achieved in each one.

O Level grades range from A* (the highest) to G, with A* to C considered passing grades. If you receive a U (Ungraded), it means you didn’t meet the minimum standard required for a grade.

Unlike some qualifications, O Level results don’t show the exact marks you got on individual papers or coursework components. However, you may be able to request a detailed breakdown or remark through your school or exam centre, depending on your exam board’s policy.

Whether you’ve smashed your goals or things didn’t go quite as planned, take a moment to be proud of yourself. This is a big milestone!

O Level Results Trends

Interested in how previous students have performed in their O Levels? 

In 2024, a record number of students sat both the CIE O Level and IGCSE exams, with a total of 956,100 exam entries, marking a 7% increase from the previous year (opens in a new tab).

There was a significant increase in entries for subjects addressing contemporary global issues. Environmental Management experienced a 36% rise in entries at CIE O Level and IGCSE, while Global Perspectives saw an increase of 15%. 

Comparing 2024 (opens in a new tab) with CIE’s O Level results data from 2023 (opens in a new tab), the subjects with the biggest increases in A* grades were: 

1. Tamil: Increased from 37.9% A* (2023) to 48.2% A* (2024)

2. Arabic: Increased from 46.8% A* (2023) to 52.7% A* (2024)

3. Art and Design: Increased from 3.4% A* (2023) to 8.7% A* (2024)

4. English Language: Increased from 12.6% A* (2023) to 17.3% A* (2024)

5. Literature in English: Increased from 19.8% A* (2023) to 24.1% A* (2024)

Bar chart showing the O Level subjects with the highest percentage increases in A* grades from 2023 to 2024

What Happens If You Don't Get the Grades You Need?

Not getting the results you were hoping for can feel disappointing. But you have several options. Most students who don't get the grades they need on O Level results day find a path forward.

Resit Your O Level Exams

You can resit Cambridge O Level exams. You’ll usually resit the exams in the November or following June exam session. 

Talk to your school or exam centre about resit options, entry deadlines and fees. Coursework and practical marks may be carried forward in some cases.

If you haven’t managed to achieve a pass (grade C or above) in core subjects like English and Maths, it’s highly advisable to resit these O Levels.

Check out Save My Exams’ O Level revision resources to boost your chances of improving your grades. We also offer our top tips and advice on resitting your GCSEs, which can also be applied to O Levels.

Appeal Your O Level Results 

In some rare cases, administrative mistakes or errors in marking may mean that your results are incorrect. If you’ve taken some time to reflect on your results and feel that they could be wrong, you can request:

• A review of marking

• Access to your marked script

Here’s what you should do next: 

1. Contact Your School or Exam Centre
   Begin by speaking with your teachers/advisors at school or the exam centre where you sat your O Levels. They can review your results, compare them to your predicted grades and guide you on the appeal process. They’ll also help submit a request on your behalf.
   

2. Choose the Type of Appeal
   Depending on your concerns, you can request either a clerical check (to verify marks were added correctly) or a review of marking (where an examiner re-checks the paper).
   

3. Submit the Appeal Form
   Complete the relevant appeal form provided by your school or exam board. Again, you can get help with this from teachers and advisors at your school or exam centre. Usually, your school will submit this on your behalf.
   

4. Pay the Fee
   There is typically a fee per subject reviewed. This may be refunded if the appeal leads to a grade change.

It's important to act quickly, as appeals must be submitted within a set timeframe after results day.

Explore Alternative Qualifications or Pathways

If A Levels aren't the right fit, there are other post-16 options worth exploring. These include:

• Vocational qualifications, such as BTECs, which are more practical and coursework-based.

• T Levels, that are equivalent to three A Levels, but are more practical and include an industry placement.

• Apprenticeships that are a great option if you want to learn while you earn.

How to Look After Your Mental Health on Results Day

O Level results day is emotionally intense, whatever the outcome. It's completely normal to feel nervous, relieved, excited, or even deflated. Sometimes all at once!

A few things worth remembering:

• Your results are not your worth. One set of exam results does not define who you are or what you're capable of.

• You are not alone. Thousands of students across the world are experiencing results day at the same time as you.

• You can plan ahead. Think about your Plan B before results day arrives. Knowing you have options, whether that's a resit, a different course, or an alternative qualification, makes it much easier to handle difficult news calmly.

If you're struggling emotionally, talk to a trusted adult. A: 

• Parent

• Teacher

• School counsellor

You don't have to process results day by yourself. For some instant support, check out our free anxiety relief kit.

FAQs About O Level Results Day

What time are O Level results released in 2026?

Cambridge O Level results for the June 2026 series are released at 06:00 GMT/UTC on 18 August 2026.  (opens in a new tab)

What happens if I do worse in an O Level resit?

If you resit an O Level and end up with a lower grade than your original result, don't worry - your higher grade will usually stand.

Most exam boards will use the highest grade you've achieved when issuing your final certificate. So even if your resit result is lower, your original (higher) grade won’t be replaced.

What do I need on O Level results day?

You'll need photo ID (if collecting in person), login credentials for your school's results portal or the Cambridge Candidate Results website, and a charged phone so you can act quickly on your results.

Improve Your Grades with Save My Exams

Save My Exams helps over 1.5 million students each month to prepare for their exams. Get instant access to past papers, exam-style questions, revision notes, and more to boost both your confidence and grades. 

All of our resources are tailored to your exam board, ensuring you focus only on what’s relevant to your course. With everything you need all in one place, Save My Exams equips you with everything you need to excel. 

Explore our O Level Revision Resources.

References

• Cambridge Candidate Results Portal (opens in a new tab)

• Cambridge International - Record number of students receives June 2024 results (opens in a new tab)

• Cambridge International - Cambridge O Level candidate grades June 2024 (opens in a new tab)

• Cambridge International - Cambridge O Level candidate grades June 2023 (opens in a new tab)