GCSE Exam Dates 2026: Complete Timetable & Results Day Guide

GCSE exams 2026 run from Monday, May 4, 2026 to Friday, June 26, 2026. The exam period spans approximately 8 weeks with exams scheduled across all subjects. Morning exams typically start at 9:00 AM and afternoon exams start at 1:30 PM. Specific dates vary by subject and exam board. Your school will provide a personalized timetable in March 2026 showing exact dates and times for all your exams. Contingency dates June 24-25 are reserved for national emergencies only. Plan to be available for the entire exam period as clashes are managed through alternative timetabling.

GCSE results day 2026 is Thursday, August 20, 2026. Results are available from schools between 9:00-11:30 AM depending on your school's schedule. Exam boards release results to schools as early as 6:00 AM online through their secure portals. You'll collect physical results from your school in a sealed envelope - bring photo ID. Results are also available online through exam board portals if your school has arranged access. Check with your school for specific collection times and procedures. Results cannot be given over phone or email for data protection reasons. If you can't collect in person, nominate someone in writing beforehand.

GCSE Maths 2026 exam dates: Paper 1 (Non-Calculator) on Thursday, May 14, 2026 at 9:00 AM; Paper 2 (Calculator) on Wednesday, June 3, 2026 at 9:00 AM; Paper 3 (Calculator) on Wednesday, June 10, 2026 at 9:00 AM. These dates apply to AQA, Edexcel (Pearson), and OCR exam boards for both Foundation and Higher tiers. Each paper is 1 hour 30 minutes and contributes equally (one-third each) to your final grade. All three papers cover the full maths specification including number, algebra, geometry, ratio, probability, and statistics. You must take all three papers to receive a GCSE grade. Approved calculators required for Papers 2 and 3 only - Casio fx-83GTX or fx-85GTX recommended.

GCSE English Language 2026: Paper 1 (Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing) on Thursday, May 21, 2026 at 9:00 AM (1hr 45min); Paper 2 (Writers' Viewpoints and Perspectives) on Friday, June 5, 2026 at 9:00 AM (1hr 45min). GCSE English Literature 2026: Paper 1 (Shakespeare and 19th Century Novel) on Monday, May 11, 2026 at 9:00 AM (1hr 45min); Paper 2 (Modern Texts and Poetry) on Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at 1:30 PM (2hr 15min). These dates are consistent across AQA, Edexcel, and OCR exam boards. English Language is compulsory for most students. English Literature is optional but required for many sixth forms and university courses.

Most students take 8-12 GCSEs, with 9-10 being the national average. Core compulsory subjects (for most schools): English Language, English Literature, Maths, Sciences (either Combined Science worth 2 GCSEs, or separate Biology, Chemistry, Physics worth 3 GCSEs). Additional subjects chosen from: Modern Foreign Languages (French, Spanish, German), History, Geography, Computer Science, Art & Design, Music, Drama, Religious Studies, PE, Design & Technology, Business Studies, and others. Minimum requirement for most sixth forms/colleges is 5 GCSEs at grade 4+ including English and Maths, though many require grade 5+. Taking 10-11 GCSEs provides good balance between breadth and depth while maintaining manageable workload.

GCSEs use a 9-1 grading system where 9 is the highest grade and 1 is the lowest. Grade 9 is awarded to approximately top 3% of students achieving grade 7 or above in that subject. Grade 4 is considered a standard pass (equivalent to old grade C) and is the benchmark for English and Maths. Grade 5 is a strong pass and often required for sixth form entry. Grades 7-9 are equivalent to old grades A-A*. Grade 6 roughly equals old grade B. Grades 1-3 are below pass standard. U means ungraded (fail). There's no fixed percentage of students awarded each grade - it depends on performance against assessment objectives. Ofqual ensures standards remain consistent year-on-year so a grade 7 in 2026 represents same level as grade 7 in 2025.

Yes, you can resit GCSEs if you're unhappy with your results. November 2026 resits available for English Language and Maths only (limited subjects). May/June 2027 resits available for all GCSE subjects. You must retake the entire qualification, not individual papers. When you resit, both your original grade and resit grade appear on your record, but your higher grade is the one that counts for applications and requirements. There's no limit on number of resit attempts, though you'll need to pay exam entry fees each time. Many schools don't offer resit support, so you may need to study independently or pay for private tuition. Consider registering as private candidate at local exam centers. Resit grades don't usually differ in how they're viewed by colleges/universities - a grade 7 is a grade 7 regardless of when achieved.

If you miss GCSE exam due to valid reason (illness, bereavement, emergency), contact your school exam officer immediately. Provide medical certificate or documentary evidence ASAP. Your school may apply for special consideration on your behalf - this can award you a grade based on your coursework, mock exams, and teacher assessments, though the estimated grade may be lower than you'd have achieved. Contingency exam dates June 24-25, 2026 are reserved for national emergencies only (e.g., school closure, widespread transport disruption) not individual circumstances. Missing exam without valid reason or simply oversleeping results in zero marks for that paper, which severely impacts your final grade. If you're feeling unwell on exam day, attend if at all possible - better to try than not attempt. Exam boards have very strict criteria for special consideration and don't grant it lightly. Always inform school immediately if you think you'll miss an exam.