GCSE Results, Obtaining Certificates & Disappointing Results

Hi,

I’m Alix and it’s my mission to help as many of the next generation as possible work in careers that meet their passion and purpose, making them happy and fulfilled adults.

Join me in making sure you’re one of them…

Today we’re looking at receiving your GCSEs, how to get a copy of your certificates and options for what to do if you get disappointing results.

Release date…

In the UK, GCSE results are typically released in mid to late August.

The exact day varies slightly from year to year, however, with today’s technology you can check online with your relevant examination boards and educational institutions for this year’s.

It’s also generally announced in the papers, on the radio and on the tv – we’ve all seen those reports where students get their results in front of a camera!

Besides, you should be informed of the specific date well in advance by your school or college.

Collection…

You should be able to pick up your results from wherever you took your exams, however, schools may now also provide you with the option to access your results online to save the trip.

The big day…

Having said that, often on ‘results day’ there’s almost a formal gathering of your friends, peers, hangers on (and, sometimes, a tv crew) where you meet to celebrate your achievements.

At this gathering, you can take time out from celebrating to discuss the results with teachers and receive guidance on next steps.

You can explore and discuss options for further education or career paths, though if you read my article ‘Exploring Options After GCSEs’ you’ll already have the heads-up on this.

If you’re unable to collect the results personally, you can usually nominate someone else to pick up the results on your behalf.

For politeness and smooth running, it would be a good idea to advise the school ahead of time who will be popping by and ensure the nominated person has written authorisation - and possibly nowadays, photo id.

In some cases, schools may also send the results by post. This can vary depending on the school's policies and arrangements made with the different examination boards.

Disappointing results…

If, unfortunately, your results were lower than you need for your next career step, I’m pleased to say that it’s possible to retake those you need to - see my article ‘Retaking your GCSE exams’.

If you want/need to do this, it may be an idea to do this quickly while your previous revision is still fresh. It may be that having recently taken the exams - you know what you need to study more on, know where you struggled during the exam. So your revision will be targeted, rather than feeling you have to revise from the beginning.

Also, it’s possible that you might believe there may have been an error in your exam marking.

You will know how well you felt you did on the day, whether you struggled or felt you sailed through, having done expert revision.

So, you can take the opportunity to discuss the matter right away with your teachers and explore options for having it remarked or appealing the grades.

Again, see my article ‘Appealing your GCSE results’.

As practices and policies can change over time, I recommend that you check with your school or college for the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding GCSE results and their procedures for you collecting them.

But now on to…

Obtaining a hard copy of your GCSE certificate(s)…

The first, and easiest, step is to contact the school or college where you took your exams.

They will keep records of their students' results and will be able to provide you with information on how to request a copy of your certificate.

Identify the exam board…

Or you can contact the exam board that conducted your GCSE exams.

There are several different exam boards in the UK such as AQA, Edexcel (Pearson), OCR, WJEC, and CCEA, depending on the subject and region.

If you’re unsure which exam board conducted your GCSE exams, your school or college can help you identify the correct one.

Requesting a certificate…

Once you know the exam board, visit their website and simply request a certificate.

Most exam boards have a section on their website dedicated to certificate services, where you can find the necessary forms and instructions.

Note: this also applies if you’re requesting a replacement certificate.

When applying for a certificate (or replacement certificate) online, you’ll need to provide some essential information, such as your full name, date of birth, the year you took the exam(s), the name of the school or college where you sat the exams and, of course, the subjects.

Pay the fee (if applicable)…

There may be a fee associated with obtaining a replacement GCSE certificate.

The fee amount can vary depending on the exam board and the urgency of your request.

Make sure to check the exam board's website for details on any applicable fees and payment methods.

Processing time…

The processing time for replacement certificates may vary depending on the exam board and the volume of requests they’ve received.

Be patient and allow time for the board to process your request and deliver.

Keep your certificate(s) safe…

Once you receive your certificate(s), it’s essential to keep them in a safe place.

Your certificate(s) are important documents that may be required for various purposes, such as further education, employment, or, in some cases, immigration applications.

Note: I’ve learnt that scanning important documents and emailing them to myself is a way of keeping at least a copy safe.

If you encounter any difficulties or have specific questions about obtaining your GCSE certificate(s), don't hesitate to contact the exam board directly for assistance.

Remember that the process may vary slightly between different exam boards, so it's essential to refer to the specific guidelines provided by the relevant exam board.

And there you have it. Some of the above will be obvious, but the whole point of this website is that it’s for those who don’t have involved parents or mentors to help, advise or even ask. I write articles for those who (like I was at the time), not fully aware of options out there, or routes you can take.

Don’t judge, just take from my articles what you can or need.

I’d love to hear how you’re getting on, so please contact me and keep me updated.

Good luck!