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GCSE results day 2026: Times, grade boundaries, resits and appeals full guide

Students will collect their GCSE results from schools across the UK this week, while many will be accessing their results online for the first time

[A Level and GCSE results may be based on mock grades]

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GCSE results will be released to students on Thursday (stock)(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Thousands of pupils up and down the country will collect their GCSE results on Thursday and be considering the next steps after sitting exams earlier in the summer.

Most students will go to schools to collect their exam results, where they will be able to speak to teachers and staff about what to do next if their results aren't as good as they had hoped.

Although many students will be able to collect their results online for the first time this year, the Department of Education is encouraging pupils to go to schools if they can. The Education Record app has been rolled out to a number of schools following a successful trial in Manchester in 2025, however results will be handed out by schools before they are updated online.

When is GCSE results day 2026?

GCSE results day will be taking place on Thursday August 21. The results will be made available to schools on Wednesday and available to collect from your school from 8am on Thursday morning. Schools will issue their own guidance on how and when students can collect results.

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The results will be available from schools from 8am on Thursday(Image: PA)

What time are GCSE results released?

GCSE results can be released to students by schools from 8am on Thursday. Results will update online on the Education Record app at 11am.

What are the GCSE grade boundaries for AQA, Pearson Edexcel, OCR, CCEA and WJEC?

GCSE grade boundaries are not fixed from one year to the next, with exam boards deciding where they should fall once marking is almost complete.

Official grade boundaries will be published by exam boards including AQA, Pearson Edexcel, OCR, CCEA and WJEC on results day.

What do the GCSE number grades mean?

In England, GCSEs are graded from 9 to 1. The highest grade of 9 is above the old A* as a 'super grade'. A U means a qualification is 'ungraded' and is the lowest possible result.

Grade 4 is considered a standard pass and the equivalent to a low grade C on the former letter-based system. Grade 5 or above is considered a 'strong pass'.

Students who receive a grade 3 or below in GCSE maths or English language will generally have to continue studying the subject.

The grading system is different elsewhere in the UK. Wales continues to use grades from A to G*, while Northern Ireland also uses letter grades, including the C* grade introduced in 2019.

How to resit GCSE exams

Maths and English GCSE resit exams take place in November for both AQA and Pearson Edexcel. To resit any other subject students must wait until the the standard annual exam dates in May or June next year.

Many schools, colleges and sixth form centres will allow students to resit their exams for free in the following year from their first attempt, if the grade was below a 4. For those who passed with a Grade 4 or above, or those wanting to take resits independently there is likely to be a charge of between 75 to 500 depending on the subject and where the exam is taken.

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