Hundreds of thousands of GCSE students in England, Northern Ireland, and Wales are awaiting their results, which are scheduled for release on Thursday 20 August from 08:00 BST.
Students who are unhappy with their grades can first discuss their concerns with their school or college, which will contact the exam board for a review. If still not satisfied, an appeal can be requested, and further review can be sought from regulator Ofqual.
For those who need to resit exams, any GCSE can be retaken the following academic year. In England, a grade 4 or above in maths and English GCSEs is required for further study. The next resits for these subjects are anticipated in November 2026.
In England, GCSEs are graded numerically from 9-1, with 4 being a "standard pass" and 5 a "strong pass." Wales and Northern Ireland generally use letter grades, unless an English exam board manages the exam. Grade boundaries, which show the minimum marks needed for each grade, will be published on results day.
After GCSEs, students in England must remain in official education or training until they turn 18. Options include full-time education, apprenticeships, or part-time work combined with study, with choices ranging from A-levels and International Baccalaureate to various vocational courses and T-levels in England.