gcse results day guide need to know School Leavers

GCSE Results Day 2023 | What You Need to Know

Waiting for GCSE results day 2023 can be extremely stressful. But, your final grades aren’t the end of the world, although it may feel like it now. There are plenty of opportunities that enable you to still get into your dream career without the perfect results.

Remember you’re not alone on this results day and this is an exciting start to your professional life. We’ve created a guide filled with everything you need to know to put your mind at ease. You have plenty of options. Not only now, but also in the future, don’t panic!

When is GCSE Results Day 2023?

GCSE Results Day 2023 date is Thursday 24th August for England and Wales students. For students in Scotland, Results Day 2023 is on Tuesday the 8th of August. Students can normally receive their exam results from around 10am, although this may vary.

Most schools receive students’ exam results the day before but these are for the exams offices eyes only!

How to get GCSE Results?

You can pick your GCSE results up from your school at around 10 am. Alternatively, if you’re not going to be in the UK on results day then you can arrange in advance to receive them via email. To do this you will need to speak to your school.

When you go to get your exam results it’s advisable for you to bring with you the following:

  • Acceptance letters
  • Contact details of the college or sixth form
  • A pen
  • Your phone (we’re sure your family will want to hear about how you did)
  • A drink

How Do GCSE Grades Work?

Previously, the grading system was A* to U. Now as part of the new GCSE exams reform, grades range from 9 to 1, and a U grade for papers too low to be classed. If you’re a parent reading this, the table below will be particularly useful to help you understand the current grading system:

new vs old gcse grading system

A grade 9 is the highest you can receive and an A* in between the 8 and 9 grade. A 7 is an A grade and a grade 4 is a C.

"I Didn't Get the Grades I Wanted, Now What?"

First of all you should try 100% accurate tool to calculate your grades. After calculating your grades according to your university or college grading system. You can move forward! Exam results aren’t everything. Don’t let them get you down too much, it’s what you do now that matters. You still have so many options!

If you need a specific grade to be accepted to college, sixth form or university, you can always consider having your paper remarked.

We wouldn’t advise this if you were only a few marks off the lower grade boundaries as it’s highly unlikely to make much difference or worse it could bring your grade down! However, if you were only a few marks off a higher grade you might want to consider having your GCSE results remarked.

What previously used to be known as ‘remarks’ is now called Reviews of Results (RoR). To get your paper remarked you’ll need to discuss this with your school and teachers who will be doing all the paperwork alongside the exam board. Each exam board has a different procedure. You may have sat exams for a number of qualification providers.

Check with your school to see which ones were used for each of your exams/qualifications:

  • Pearson
  • AQA
  • OCR
  • CCEA (Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment)
  • WJEC (Welsh Joint Examinations Committee)

Do You Have to Pay to Get Your GCSE Results Remarked?

You do have to pay to get your exam paper remarked, how much all depends on the exam board and subject you’d like remarking. Prices vary from around £30 upwards. However, you will get your fee refunded if your grade changes. Deadlines for a remark request should be checked on the qualification examining boards website.

Can You Retake GCSEs?

If you didn’t get the grades you wanted you can always look at retaking GCSEs. GCSE resits are common amongst young people who didn’t get the results they need. Your best bet is to discuss this with your teacher, who will be able to advise you based on whether they think you could achieve a better grade.

How to Resit GCSEs

If you still want to take the same path but you didn’t get the grade you needed, it may be worth resitting your GCSE exam.

Wondering how to resit GCSE? Certain grades are a necessity to be accepted onto the A Level or university course you’re interested in.

If your maths results weren’t what you expected and you’re looking for a career in accounting then it’s highly likely that you’ll need to consider retaking GCSEs. Don’t know where to start? You’re always best speaking to your teachers about this to see whether you can resit your GCSEs straight away. Likewise, if you’re seeking a career in writing then good grades in English Language and English Literature would be extremely beneficial.

Normally, to retake a GCSE you would be charged around £35 but it is best to confirm this with the examining board.

Don’t want to resit? What about thinking about a career change? Or a different pathway into the career. You might not have the results you need to apply for A Levels or University but you may still be able to apply for an apprenticeship or BTEC and guess what? Some apprenticeships can actually lead to a degree qualification too!

A level 2 apprenticeship is equal to GCSEs and a level 3 is equivalent to 2 A Level results. Higher apprenticeships are equal to a foundation degree and a degree apprenticeship is the same as a level 6. This means you can get a debt-free degree while you earn a real wage and gain real-life work experience!

What If I Do Better Than Expected?

If you’ve done better than expected then a big well done! It’s time to celebrate your top grades! Likewise, you might want to rethink your career aspirations or start confirming places on a college course. Maybe you’re considering an alternative college course or a different route into further education?

There are many post 16 options available to young people. These can include:

  • Apprenticeships
  • BTECs
  • A Levels
  • Vocational Qualifications
  • Work Experience

The word really is your oyster and what you choose to do next is entirely up to you. Try to stay open-minded to the options available to you and make sure you discuss with teachers, career advisers, friends and family what you think is the right path for you!

Good luck this GCSE results day 2023!

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