GCSE Dates 2025: Exam Timetable And Key Information

Here’s your guide to the key GCSE 2025 dates. All timetables for the GCSE exam series have been confirmed, so we can give you the key dates to help you prepare for the 2025 GCSE exams.

When Are the GCSE Exams 2025?

In the 2025 academic year, GCSE exams take place in May and June, across all exam boards.

The first GCSE exam is on Monday 5th May 2025, and the final GCSE exam is on Friday 20th June 2025. GCSE results day will be on Thursday, 21st August 2025.

Here we look at dates for all major GCSE examinations in England focusing predominantly on the Edexcel, OCR, and AQA exam boards.

We start with the dates for the maths exams as these are the GCSE papers that our online GCSE maths tutors prepare students for. But, for completeness, we’ve also included dates for English and Science.

GCSE MATHS 2025: STAY UP TO DATE

Join our email list to stay up to date with the latest news, revision lists and resources for GCSE maths 2025. We’re analysing each paper during the course of the 2025 GCSEs in order to identify the key topic areas to focus on for your revision.

GCSE dates 2025
GCSE results 2025 (when published)
GCSE results 2024
Analysis of GCSE Maths Paper 1 (2024)
Analysis of GCSE Maths Paper 2 (2024)
Analysis of GCSE Maths Paper 3 (2024)
Summary of ALL GCSE Maths Papers (2024)

Changes to the GCSE exams since 2024

After the pandemic, to help mitigate the effects on learning, students had advanced information on the topics covered in the GCSE exams 2022. 

In 2023 and 2024 there was no advanced information. But in maths, physics and combined science exams students had formulae and equation sheets similar to this free maths formula sheet.

Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary, announced that exam aids, including maths formulas and equation sheets, will remain until 2027 for GCSE students.

GCSE timetable for each exam board

Edexcel GCSE 2025 dates

According to the Edexcel Pearson GCSE 2025 examination timetable, the Edexcel Maths Paper 1, Maths Paper 2 and Maths Paper 3 exams will begin on Thursday 15th May 2025.

Edexcel mathematics paper 1 (Non-Calculator) for both the Foundation Tier and Higher Maths Tier is on Thursday 15th May.

Edexcel mathematics paper 2 (Calculator) will take place on Wednesday 4th June for both Foundation Tier and Higher Tier.

The third and final Edexcel mathematics paper 3 (Calculator) for both Foundation Tier and Higher Tier is on Wednesday 11th June.

All Edexcel maths papers last for one hour and thirty minutes and take place in the morning session.

OCR GCSE 2025 dates

The OCR GCSE 2025 exam timetable runs throughout May and June 2025. OCR labels mathematics papers 1, 2, and 3 as Foundation Tier and mathematics papers 4, 5, and 6 as Higher Tier.

OCR papers 1 and 4 (the first Foundation Tier and the first Higher Tier papers) will take place on Thursday 15th May.

The second exam for both Foundation and Higher Tiers, OCR papers 2 and 5 will take place on Wednesday 4th June.

Students will sit the final paper for both Foundation and Higher, OCR papers 3 and 6 on Wednesday 11th June. 

All OCR maths exams take place in the morning session and are each one hour and thirty minutes long.

AQA GCSE 2025 dates

The AQA 2025 GCSE exam timetable is similar to Edexcel and OCR for the maths exams.

AQA GCSE maths paper 1 (Non-Calculator) for both Foundation Tier and Higher Tier will take place on the morning of Thursday 15th May, lasting one hour and thirty minutes.

AQA GCSE maths paper 2 (Calculator) for both Foundation Tier and Higher Tier is set for the morning of Wednesday 4th, lasting one hour and thirty minutes.

AQA GCSE maths paper 3 (Calculator) for both Foundation Tier and Higher Tier will be in the morning on Wednesday 11th also lasting one hour and thirty minutes. 

Summary of maths exam dates 2025

Here’s a summary of the dates your students will sit the three maths papers:

• Thursday, 15 May 2025 – First paper (Edexcel, OCR & AQA) Non-Calculator
• Wednesday, 4 June 2025  – Second paper (Edexcel, OCR & AQA) Calculator
• Wednesday, 11 June 2025 – Third paper (Edexcel, OCR & AQA) Calculator

For maths, Eduqas, WJEC (Wales) and CCEA (Northern Ireland) follow the same dates.

English exam dates 2025

As well as Maths, the other key dates for GCSE papers that almost all students will be sitting are for English Language and English Literature.

GCSE English language exam dates 2025

• Friday, 23 May, morning – English language paper 1 (Edexcel, OCR & AQA)
• Friday, 6 June, morning – English language paper 2 (Edexcel, OCR & AQA)

Eduqas and WJEC (Wales) follow the same dates for English language. CCEA (Northern Ireland) English language unit 1 exam is on Wednesday 7th May and CCEA English language unit 4 is on Tuesday 20th May.

GCSE English literature exam dates 2025

Exam dates for the English literature papers vary more widely across exam boards. Here are the key dates you’ll need.

• Monday, 12 May 2025 – English literature paper 1 (Edexcel, OCR, AQA & CCEA)
• Tuesday, 13 May 2025 – English literature paper 1 (Eduquas & WJEC)
• Tuesday, 20 May 2025 – English literature paper 2 (Edexcel, OCR, AQA, Eduquas & WJEC)
• Tuesday, 20 May 2025 – English literature unit 4 (CCEA)
• Thursday, 29 May 2025 – English literature unit 2 (CCEA)

Science exam dates 2025

Biology exam dates

• Tuesday, 13 May – Biology paper 1 combined and single science (Edexcel, OCR & AQA)
• Friday, 7 June – Biology paper 2 combined and single science (Edexcel, OCR & AQA)

Chemistry exam dates

• Monday, 19 May – Chemistry paper 1 combined and single science (Edexcel, OCR & AQA)
• Friday, 13 June – Chemistry paper 2 combined and single science (Edexcel, OCR & AQA)

Physics exam dates

• Thursday, 22 May – Physics paper 1 combined and single science (Edexcel, OCR & AQA)
• Monday, 16 June – Physics paper 2 combined and single science (Edexcel, OCR & AQA)

Other exam dates 2024

Exam dates for language papers (French, German, Spanish, etc), Religious Studies, computer science, design & technology, physical education, and more are available from the websites of the relevant awarding bodies.

For more detail on examination dates such as dates for special consideration requests, contingency days and release of results to the examination centres (GCSE on 21st August and A Levels on 14th August) see the release from the Joint Council for Qualifications.

Support for the GCSE exams in 2025

Third Space Learning’s extensive library of free secondary maths resources supports students with coursework, homework, revision, and preparation for GCSE Maths exams. Our free resources include GCSE maths worksheets, GCSE maths past papers, GCSE maths questions and GCSE maths revision lessons.

If students need additional help, talk to our team about our one to one online GCSE maths tuition programme. This is personalised and targeted to each individual’s gaps, focusing on getting them exam-ready and developing confidence to help them succeed.

A key part of the Third Space Learning one to one tuition is working through GCSE questions with a tutor at a pace to suit the individual.

GCSE results day 2025

GCSE results 2025 will be available across all exam boards in the summer on Thursday 21st August 2025.

GCSE appeals

If students are unhappy with their results, there is a chance to appeal. Edexcel appeals, OCR appeals and AQA appeals must be submitted within 30 days of the results.

Appeals must meet specified criteria; often the head of the test centre or school administration must submit the appeal.

GCSE resits 2025

For those who did not achieve their desired results, GCSE resits are possible during the 2025 GCSE exam season. 

Maths and English GCSE resits are sat slightly earlier in November 2025. 

Planning for the GCSE exams

A crucial part of exam preparation is organisation. Students should note the 2025 GCSE exam dates and use this information to create a revision timetable. This should form part of their plan for how to revise for GCSE. 

In the run up to exam season, it’s also worth reminding your students how to revise, specifically how to revise for maths most effectively, what exam techniques they can utilise to make the most of each mark, what they can start reading within or in addition to the specification, and how individual marks can affect the GCSE grade boundaries.

Finally, we remind all students of the importance of maintaining good health and well-being during a year of exam preparation. We wish all students sitting GCSE exams in 2025 the best of luck!