GCSE Results 2026: Information For Teachers And School Leaders

GCSE results day 2026 is some way ahead, but as usual, Third Space Learning is here to guide you through the exam season. Here, we will update you with information on GCSE results day, particularly what the picture looks like for the maths exams.

This blog will be updated regularly over the coming months into next year as new information about the 2026 GCSE results becomes available.

Results and key dates in this blog refer to maths GCSE results in England. They do not cover results in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, GCSE English language or literature, sixth form A-levels or Btec level 3 results.

GCSE MATHS 2026: STAY UP TO DATE

Join our email list to stay up to date with the latest news, revision lists and resources for GCSE maths 2026. We’re analysing each paper during the course of the 2026 GCSEs in order to identify the key topic areas to focus on for your revision.

GCSE dates 2026
GCSE results (2026 when available)

Get ahead on revision with the GCSE maths papers analysis from 2025:
Analysis of GCSE Maths Paper 1 2025
Analysis of GCSE Maths Paper 2 2025
GCSE Maths Paper Analysis and Summary 2025
GCSE Maths Teacher Survey Results 2025

When is 2026 GCSE results day?

GCSE results day 2026 is on Thursday 20 August 2026 in England. Students will receive grades for subjects including maths, English, and science on this date. Maths GCSE results are expected to remain stable with formula sheets available until 2027.

Students can collect their GCSE results from their school on results day. If a student cannot collect their results in person, they must arrange with their school to send the results to them, or allow someone else to collect them.

3 ways to help students navigate results day

Let’s face it, results day is daunting for staff and students alike. But as a school, there are plenty of ways you can make your learners feel less nervous.

1. Confirm what time the school will open on GCSE results day for learners to collect their results.
2. Students should consider opening their results either alone, with family, or with friends based on their preference.
3. Inform learners that they have the option to appeal their GCSE grades if they are unhappy with the results received.

GCSE exams 2026

GCSEs once again return to their full 2019 format with no advanced information. However, students can still access formula sheets in the maths exams for 2026 and 2027. This saves time spent memorising formulas and aids in the disruption of learning from Covid-19.

In 2026, exam dates run from Monday, 4th May to Friday, 26th June 2026. Provisional exam timetables are made available in advance of the exam period on awarding organisations’ websites.

Schools and students should regularly check the awarding body websites to stay informed of any changes to the timetable.

Other GCSE results

GCSE results 2025

GCSE results released on Thursday, 21st August 2025, follow the same pattern and remain relatively close to those achieved by students in 2023 and 2024. The exception to this is another rise in the proportion of grade 7+ awarded from 22.4% in 2023 to 23% in 2025. Overall, the pass rate is up by 0.1 percentage points for 16-year-olds in England, making this the second consecutive year to see a rise in results for this age group. 

Find out more about the GCSE grade boundaries for 2025 and previous years.

Analysis of GCSE maths papers in 2025 

For 16-year-olds in England in 2025, results are generally very close to 2024 figures:

• The proportion of grade 1+ awarded in GCSE maths dropped again very slightly by 0.1 percentage points from 2024.
• The proportion of grade 4+ awarded in GCSE maths dropped slightly by 0.1 percentage points; this remains higher than the 2019 figure of 71.5%. 
• The proportion of grade 5+ rose last year by 0.9 percentage points, but fell in 2025 by 0.5 percentage points, and is now much closer to the 2023 figure of 52.4%.
• The proportion of top grades (7+) awarded in GCSE maths has risen by 0.3 percentage points, now standing 1.1 percentage points higher than the 2019 figure of 20.4%.

Usually, we only comment on anchor and pass grades in our headlines, but this year, it is worth noting a fairly significant jump in grade 8+ awards, from 11.5% in 2024 to 12.6% in 2025. Grade 9 awards have remained consistent.

GCSE results 2024

GCSE results 2024, released on Thursday, 22nd August 2024, were largely comparable to 2023 and remained higher than pre-pandemic results. However, there were small fluctuations on the 1+, 4+ and 7+ GCSE grade boundaries across all exam boards compared to GCSE results 2023. Learn more about the 2024 GCSE maths papers in our comprehensive Edexcel foundation and higher papers summary.

GCSE results 2023

The GCSE results 2023 results last year were down on 2022, but remained higher than 2019, the last set of pre-pandemic results. In 2023, GCSE grade boundaries across each awarding exam board reverted to the pre-pandemic format, offering little additional protection from any disruption to students’ learning. Consequently, GCSE results in 2023 were lower than in 2022 due to the pre-pandemic grading.

The maths GCSE results 2023 saw a drop in the proportion of grade 4 and above grades to 70.3%. This figure resembles pre-pandemic levels, such as the 2019 results figure of 71.5%. There was a higher proportion of top GCSE grades (5-9) and a lower proportion of lower grades (1-4) in comparison to 2019.

GCSE results 2022

The GCSE results 2022 saw lower results for young people than the previous two years, as expected. However, these figures remained higher than the pre-pandemic 2019 results. 2022 results were deemed a ‘midpoint’ between 2019 and 2021.

For sixteen-year-olds sitting the exams, 75.3% of all GCSEs across all subjects and ages were awarded a grade 4 (pass mark) or above. 

GCSE results 2021

In 2021, teachers awarded grades as opposed to examiners, based on what grade they believe a student would have earned if they had sat the exam. Teachers used mock exams, in-class tests and other non-exam teacher assessments to assess students’ performance.

Exam results in 2021 were even higher than in 2020, with the rate of students achieving 7 and above rising to 28.9% in 2021, from 26.2% in 2020. The rate of those who earned a 4 and above rose to 77.1% in 2021 up from 76.3% in 2020.

GCSE results 2020

In 2020, Ofqual developed an algorithm designed to assign GCSE grades. Centre assessments were to be put through the model which used schools’ past performance and expected national outcomes to ‘standardise’ grades. The exams regulator offered protection to students that accounted for disruption to their learning.

In response to controversy over how a similar model had down-graded A-Level results, the government scrapped this plan three days before announcing GCSE results. Instead, results instead came from students’ centre assessment grade or calculated grade, whichever was higher.

In 2020, the proportion of GCSE candidates receiving the highest three grades rose from 21.9% in 2019 to 27.6% in 2020. Students achieving a 4 or above rose from 70% to 79% in England. In maths, the proportion of students who gained a 7 and above rose from 20% to 24%, and those who gained a 4 and above rose from 71.5% to just above 77%.

Read a more in-depth analysis of the 2017-2024 GCSE maths results for foundation papers and analysis of the 2017-2024 GCSE maths results for higher papers from secondary maths expert, Christine Norledge.

When are GCSE resits?

A grade of 4 is considered a standard pass, while a grade of 5 is regarded as a strong pass. Students who did not achieve at least a grade 4 or 5 in their maths and English GCSEs must resit these exams. There is a possibility to resit maths and English GCSE exams in November 2025. Retakes for other exams are during the 2026 summer exam season.

This is not a review of marking against the GCSE maths mark scheme; students who meet entry requirements for resits will retake the required GCSE exams.

Achieving at least five GCSEs at grade 4-9, including English and maths, significantly improves chances of accessing higher education and can lead to better job opportunities.

Concerned about GCSE results in 2026?

You don’t need to be. Third Space Learning is here to help you deliver the best outcomes for your students, whatever your resources.

The most effective way to do this is with our online, one-to-one GCSE revision tuition with AI maths tutor, Skye. Students spend time with a dedicated tutor to develop the skills needed to answer GCSE exam questions.

Programmes are personalised to each student and designed to help individuals working toward grade 7 to grade 3 in maths.

Free GCSE maths revision resources

For a wider, whole-school approach, explore the extensive library of free secondary maths resources. Download GCSE maths worksheets, GCSE maths past papers, GCSE maths questions and GCSE maths revision lessons to help familiarise students with the type of materials covered in the exams.

For those worried about the impact of GCSE exams on students’ mental health, take a look at the advice for dealing with exam anxiety.

GCSE results 2026 frequently asked questions