Thousands of teenagers across the country are collecting their GCSE results this morning after sitting exams earlier in the summer. For the first time, many will be able to access their results online, though most students are still expected to go to their schools to find out their grades.
Hard copy results will be handed out by schools from 8am before they are updated online at 11am. The Department of Education has encouraged students to go in person to collect their results so that they can speak to teachers and staff about what to do next if their results are not as good as they had hoped.
Students will also be able to access their results via the Education Record app, which has now been fully rolled out following a successful trial in Manchester in 2025.
Grade Boundaries and Grading System
GCSE grade boundaries will be confirmed today by exam boards including AQA, Pearson Edexcel, OCR, CCEA and WJEC. The grade boundaries, which have followed a numerical 9 to 1 system since 2017, are not fixed from one year to the next as exam boards set these once marking is almost complete.
Senior examiners consider the difficulty of each paper, candidates' performance and the quality of the answers before setting the grade boundaries. This means grade boundaries are determined once exams have been taken and marking is nearing completion. If a 2026 paper proves harder than its equivalent in 2025, fewer marks could be needed to secure the same grade. If it is easier, the boundary could be higher.
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.
Resit Options and Costs
Maths and English GCSE resit exams are held in November for both AQA and Pearson Edexcel. Additionally, the standard annual exams are held in May or June each year. Students aged 16 to 19 without a grade 4 or above in either English or maths will continue studying GCSE level English and maths. They will not need to resit the exams as part of this. Some colleges and schools offer a functional skills qualification in English or maths instead of a GCSE. This is a level 2 qualification focused on applying English or maths in real life.
For students who have recently left school or are going to sixth form, the best option is the former school or the sixth form centre they are planning to attend. Further Education colleges will offer some GCSE subjects, particularly English and maths. For those who are not in education, there are private exam centres that accept external candidates for exams.
To resit any other subject, students must wait until 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.
Celebrity Reassurance for Disappointed Students
Several well-known figures have used results day to remind students that disappointing grades do not necessarily dictate what comes next. Lord Alan Sugar, who built a hugely successful business career founding electronics company Amstrad before becoming known through The Apprentice, wrote on X in 2017: "GCSE RESULTS. If you didn't get the grades don't panic. @richardbranson didn't get any I never went to UNI. Get on with what you're good at."
Sir Richard Branson, who left school without any qualifications before building the Virgin business empire, wrote on his blog: "My suggestion is to not get too caught up in grades and concentrate on goals. Some people point rightly to the likes of Albert Einstein, Steve Jobs, Sir Winston Churchill and Bill Gates and note that they all failed exams. They all went on to achieve great things."
Jamie Oliver, who has been open about leaving school with just two GCSEs before building a hugely successful career in food, used Instagram to reassure students. He wrote: "Whatever your results, you've done brilliantly. Even if they're not what you expected, you're going to be just fine. Remember, school is just one part of your journey." Oliver then pointed to his own experience, adding: "I came out of school with just two GCSEs, and look at me now! 30 cookbooks, done – and more to come."
Robbie Williams has spoken openly about leaving school without any GCSE qualifications and later feeling that his dyslexia, dyscalculia and ADHD had gone unrecognised at the time. He previously told The Sun: "I've been wanting to set up a university but, actually, I wouldn't be able to attend if and when I do, because I didn't get any GCSEs. I got nothing higher than a grade D, and everything else I failed or I didn't turn up for. I really want to go back and get them."
