GCSE results day is an exciting moment for students, as well as their parents and guardians. Knowing how to find your GCSE results can help your day run more smoothly and avoid extra stress.
Most students typically receive their results by visiting their school in person. They can also be accessed only through a school portal. There is even the possibility of getting your results by phone or email. Your results can even be posted by mail. The arrangements vary by school, so it's a good idea to familiarise yourself with your options in advance.
This guide will explain how to get your GCSE results online and in person, what to do if you don't receive them straight away, and the next steps to consider after getting grades for the exams you took.
How GCSE results are released
GCSE results day is normally the third Thursday of August. For the current academic year, this is Thursday, 20 August 2026.
You don't receive GCSE results directly from the exam board. They will send final grades directly to the school, which is responsible for passing these results to the student. Your school should be your main point of contact.
You will be able to get your results early in the morning. This is normally between 8 - 9.30 am. The exact time varies, and your school will let you know if the results should be collected in person or online.
Each school has a preferred system for GCSE results. This includes:
- A printed results slip at school
- Logging into a secure online portal
- Getting results by email or post (this needs to be arranged in advance)
If you were a private candidate, such as being home-schooled, your exam centre will contact you with instructions. This normally means attending the centre in person or accessing results online.
Make sure to keep on top of any emails or messages your school sends before results day. This will include guidance on timings, access instructions, and who to contact if there are any problems.
Certified Statement of Results
The ‘Certified Statement of Results’ is an official document given by the exam board. It confirms your GCSE grades. Keep it secure, because it gives proof to an educational institution or employer if you lose your original results slip or GCSE certificates.
You don't normally receive this statement on results day. Schools normally give a provisional results slip, which is temporary until your certified statement is received.
If you need a Certified Statement of Results, such as due to losing the record, you need to request it directly from the relevant exam board. There is normally a fee, and it takes several weeks to process. Schools can advise you on this.
Find your results online
You can now get your results online with many schools. Some students prefer this option, such as to avoid the stress of opening the results in front of other people, or if they are on holiday.
Results will be shared through a secure school portal. It is normally the learning platform or student management system used by the school during the academic year. Your school will give you login details in advance and instructions to access your grades. If you're already experienced using the system for homework, the login details are often the same.
To access your results online:
- Log in to the school system using your student username and password
- Navigate to a section labelled "Results", "Exams", or "Documents"
- Download or view your GCSE results statement
You may be sent a direct email or message with a link to your results. Other schools upload the results at a set time. In this instance, you'll need to refresh the page or log out and back in if they don't appear automatically.
You won't be able to access your results directly through the exam board, such as Edexcel or Pearson. Always use your school as the main point of contact. Even when exam board systems are used, the school still controls access.
If you have trouble accessing results online, check first for emails or messages from your school with instructions. Then contact the school office or exams team for support.
If you sat your exams privately, the exam centre will explain how to access your results online. This is normally sent to you before results day, and may also be available on their website.
Get your GCSEs in person
If you prefer to collect your results in person, this is still the default option for secondary schools. They will normally open early and set a time window to collect your grades. You may need to bring a form of identification, and it's a good idea to plan your arrival time to avoid queues.
The results are normally on a printed slip that shows each subject and grade. Schools will often also provide information about next steps, such as application forms for sixth form enrolment or college offers.
If you can't attend in person, it's normally fine for someone to collect the results on your behalf. Make sure this person has the following:
- Written permission from you
- Identifies themself as the person collecting
- Gives proof of their identification, such as a passport or driver's licence
If you're late to the collection window or miss it, contact the school office. They will tell you how to access your results another way.
Private candidates need to collect their results from the exam centre. Check the instructions detailing results collection, as they will vary by centre.
Get your GCSE Results by phone or post
It's possible to get your results by phone or post. This is less common and will depend on the arrangements of the school or exam centre, and will likely need to be requested in advance.
GCSE results by phone
It's standard policy for schools not to give GCSE results over the phone. However, this is possible if requested in advance by the student. It is more common for:
- Private candidates
- Students unable to attend in person, such as due to being unwell or on holiday
- Exceptional circumstances
If the results are given over the phone, the school will typically ask security questions to confirm your identity. They will call at an agreed time on results day and only provide information about your results.
If you want to receive results by phone, remember to request this in advance. Otherwise, it will not be possible.
GCSE results by post
Receiving your grades by post is possible if requested before results day. Results will normally be sent by first-class post. They will not arrive on results day, and will normally arrive one or more days following. The school is not responsible for any postal delays.
If you need your results urgently, such as for applications or enrolment, you should collect them in person or access the results online.
What if you can't find your results?
If you're having trouble getting your GCSE grades on results day, the first step should be to check all correspondence from your school or exam centre. This could be emails, messages or letters. Look for access instructions, collection times, or contact details for the exams team.
If you're having trouble accessing your results online, try to refresh the page or log out and back in. You may need to clear your cookies or use Incognito Mode in case there is an issue with caching. If this doesn't help, make sure the results have been officially released. You could also try accessing the portal on a different device or browser.
If you still can't get your results, contact your school directly, or your exam centre if you're a private candidate. The exams officer can check if results have been released and help you to access them. Don't contact the relevant exam board, as they won't be able to help.
If you need a replacement exam certificate or statement of results, you will normally need to pay a fee to the exam board. While you could contact the board directly, it's best to get advice from your school if you are still studying at the institution.
If you think there's an error with your results, contact the school or exam board immediately. There are strict deadlines for marking reviews and appeals.
Next steps after your results
The next steps after results day depend on your grades. This depends on your plans and whether your grades have met the entry requirements for your chosen pathway.
Sixth form or college
If your results meet the entry requirements for your sixth form or college, you can normally confirm your place on results day or in the days following. Check the requirements of the educational institution, as they normally expect enrolment confirmation within a few days.
You may need to do the following:
- Confirm your place in person or online
- Provide your GCSE results
- Confirm your chosen subjects
- Results are lower than expected
Talk with the school or college you want to enrol at if your results don't match the requirements. This is a common situation schools encounter, particularly for Maths and English, which are required for many courses and careers.
Some schools will be flexible, particularly if you were close to the required grade. For example, if you wanted to study Maths and Further Maths at A Level, the school may accept you for Maths, but set a performance assessment early in your first term for Further Maths to ensure you are managing the curriculum.
If you can't take the course at your preferred school or college, you may need to do one of the following:
- Retake one or more GCSEs
- Choose an alternative course
- Delay entry and reapply
- Appeals and marking reviews
You can request a review of marking if you don't accept your results. This is also known as an appeal. The process is managed by the exam board.
You need to request a review within a few days of results day. The school will submit the review on your behalf. Remember that the grades can go up, stay the same, or go down: it's also possible your grade could drop.
Your school will suggest if a review is worthwhile, based on your marks, your predicted grade, and how close you were to the next grade boundary.
GCSE retakes
Many students retake GCSEs, especially for Maths and English, which are core subjects and essentially for further education, apprenticeships, and employment.
A retake is normally taken in the next summer exam series. If you are retaking English Language or Maths, you can retake them in November.
If you are considering a retake, tutoring can help you to address weaknesses in the subject curriculum, improve your exam technique, and prepare more effectively. Follow the link to learn how tuition works with TeachTutti and how to get started. You can also explore all the GCSE subjects taught by qualified tutors with TeachTutti.
Alternative routes
If you're not sure about studying at a sixth form or college, you may want to consider an alternative, specialised route. It's a good idea to speak with a careers advisor about the following options:
- Vocational or technical qualifications - This is a practical, job-focused qualification. It is specific to a particular industry or trade, combining theory with hands-on experience and work placements.
- Apprenticeships - This is paid work that combines employment with structured study. It allows you to earn a wage while gaining valuable skills and a recognised qualification.
- Functional Skills qualifications - Learn practical skills that you'll encounter in daily life. This includes practical English, Maths, and ICT skills.
If your next step is not as straight forward as accepting your place at a sixth form or college, remember to take time with your decision. It is best to slow down and consider all the options carefully.
Final thoughts - Getting your exam results
It's usually straightforward to collect your GCSE results, and your school or exam centre should give you detailed instructions well in advance of results day. Whether you decide to get your grades in person or find them online, it's a good idea to check the instructions in advance to avoid extra stress.
There are clear next steps if your results aren't what you hoped for first. Career and exam advisors will be on hand at school to walk you through marking reviews, retakes, and alternative pathways as appropriate.
Remember that GCSE results are an important milestone, but only the next step in a larger journey. With the right information and support, you can make informed decisions about your immediate future.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. The majority of schools provide GCSE results through an online, secure portal. It's normally the same system used during the school year, so your login details should be the same. Don't approach the exam board for exam results.
The results window normally opens between 8 - 9.30am. The exact time varies by school or exam centres. Check for any instructions sent before results day.
Yes. Schools require written permission from the student and identification from the person collecting your results. Check the exact requirements in advance with your school.
Contact your school or exam centre if you can't access your results. They will tell you if results have been released, or of any issues with their systems. They can also help you to access your GCSE gradings. Don't approach the exam board as they can't help.
You need to ask your school for a marking review on results day or, at latest, within a few days following. Bear in mind that your grades could go down as well as up or remaining the same after a review.
Retakes take place in the next summer exam series. If you're retaking English Language or Maths, you can also retake in November if you prefer.
Targeted tutoring helps students to prepare for exam resits by focussing on weaker areas and improving exam technique. If you need support in the core subjects, TeachTutti has qualified Maths tutors and experienced English tutors. Lessons can be in person or online using the TeachTutti learning platform. Every tutor has an enhanced DBS check.
While your GCSEs are important, they don't define your future. Plenty of success people didn't succeed academically yet flourished outside education. For example, Sir Richard Branson left school at 16 without qualifications, and continued to found the Virgin Group. He is now a billionaire.
There are multiple pathways available, including retakes, alternative courses, and vocational routes. Students can successfully move forward in their chosen route even if their GCSE results didn't go as planned.
No. GCSE certificates aren't issued on results day. You'll receive a provisional results slip showing your grades. This isn't an official certificate.
You'll normally get your certificates later in the year. The exam board will send it to your school in October or November, and you'll be contacted when they are ready to collect. Some schools require certificates to be collected in person, while others will post your documents.
You can request a replacement certificate if you've lost your GCSE certificates. You can also ask for a confirmation letter to be sent by the exam board. Each board typically won't issue duplicate certificates, and will instead give a replacement document.
Contact the exam board to get a replacement. Give your full name as it was when you took the exam. You will also need to give your date of birth, and the year you took the exams. Finally, there will be a fee payable to the exam board.
The exam board will normally send you a Certificate Statement of Results or an official confirmation letter. This takes several weeks, so apply well in advance of when proof of the document is required.
It's possible to get results by email, but schools are less likely to allow this option as it is less secure. Email delivery is normally only available if it has been arranged in advance.
If a school agrees to notify you be email, this will normally happen on results day. It will be sent as a secure message or attachment, and information will be limited for privacy reasons.
This post was updated on 13 Jan, 2026.
