GCSE results are published around the same time every year. They’re usually released on a Thursday in late August, a week after A-level results are published. Here are dates for 2020 and 2021:
2020
Thursday 20th August
2021
TBC
When do A-level results come out?
If you’re finishing your A-levels this year, it’s your turn to go first! But if you have brothers, sisters or friends who have just finished their GCSEs, don’t forget that they’ll be waiting anxiously for their own results – so be gentle with them!
Here are the release dates for the next two years:
Once you have the envelope in your hands, it's yours
to do with what you will (we suggest opening it...)
Results are released early by the exam boards, the organisations that set your exams – some as early as 6am.
Pick up your results around 10am, depending on your school (so unless you’ve been up all night worrying, the wait shouldn’t be too painful. Check out our guide to coping with results day if you're a bag of nerves).
When you get to school, you’ll be directed to where you can pick up your exam results, which is often in the school hall.
Your results will be handed to you in an envelope.
Your results are yours to do with what you will! That could include heading for the nearest shredder, or stuffing them down the back of the sofa – but we recommend getting the stress over with and opening them as soon as you can.
Whether it’s GCSEs or A-levels, our most important piece of advice is don’t panic!
If your results aren't what you expected, you're bound
to be disappointed - but there are plenty of options
The first thing to do is to talk to your sixth form or university. They’ll be able to tell you whether the requirements were hard and fast, or whether they can let you in even though you didn’t quite meet your offer. If you're planning to go to university, make sure you know how to apply for another place through UCAS Clearing.
If you really needed those grades and you’re determined to stick with your plans, you can always resit. You don’t have to redo the whole lot, you’ll just study for the exams where things didn’t go so well and sit them again so you can meet the requirement for your A-levels or university place.
Consider an apprenticeship or school/college leaver programme
It might seem like it, but doing A-levels then going to university isn’t the inevitable path that everyone has to take. You could do a school leaver programme or apprenticeship instead - this way you could train for a high-skilled job while doing it, and getting paid at the same time. Some apprenticeships even let you work towards a degree.
After GCSEs: You can start an intermediate or advanced apprenticeship at 16, and many of them let you qualify for vocational qualifications equivalent to GCSEs, and you can often go on to get higher qualifications or even a degree by doing another apprenticeship at the end of it.
After A-levels: If you can’t face retaking your A-levels, maybe another three years of studying isn’t for you. Apprenticeships rarely ask for the grades required by the top universities, and as well as getting paid to train for a particular job, you could study for extra qualifications or even a degree with a higher or degree apprenticeship.
I’ve heard that A-levels are changing. Does this affect when results come out?
No, results day will continue to be in the summer.
The changes mean that all A-levels exams will be taken at the end of the two-year course, rather than some modules being taken at the end of Year 12 as part of your AS qualification. You will still complete your AS, but if you want to do the full A-level, you'll need to take a new set of exams at the end of Year 13 – in other words, your AS marks won't count towards your A-level.
Opportunities on Success at School
You can find out about loads of apprenticeships and training programmes for school leavers here on the Success at School site. Click here to view opportunities.
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