Exam certificates

The records will be in archives somewhere.

Honestly, find them. I was a teacher , still needed every certificate when I was 55 because HR had a big reorganisation. It's an awful job but it's worth getting those you can. I helped a cousin who'd been living in the U.S. track his certificates down (he was in the U.S. at the time of the search). Both his school and 6th form college had closed and the records were in archives somewhere. He wasn't able to get a job he wanted as he had no paperwork. We found them in the end! If your school still exists, it may have records of the boards but many have amalgamated anyway. Good luck.

If you are still in contact with old school friends they might know what board you did. They will probably have theirs.
My husband and I still have ours and we took our school exams in the late sixties/early seventies.
We also have our children’s and they know they are here.

Havent RTWT but I’ve always had to show all my certificates including English GCSE. I was the first year of GCSEs so a very long time ago.

Otherwise, if a job sets those GCSE passes as a benchmark, how do they know you meet them?

I’ve got a maths degree so that trumps the need for the GCSE cert. In my organisation the only thing that negates the need for maths and English GCSE certs is a higher level qualification in that subject.

I'm 32, have had five different jobs and never needed to show exam certificates or proof of degree.

Yes. O and A levels, degree, post grads all in a folder. I’m long retired so nearly burnt them all a while back. They might go in the next purge.

My old school doesn't exist any more. It closed in 1985 due to the falling birth rate.

In recruitment over the years, we've learned that an A-B at English has been essential as the colleagues not achieving this at age 16 don't have the standard of literacy we need, even if they have a degree. It's proven to be a useful indicator (amongst other things).

I’ve always had to show these. I’m 42 and had to show them 2 years ago to do a uni course through work too.

I've never been asked to show my certificates.

I have been asked for my GCSE ones once, many years ago. Not sure where they are now. I never collected my A level ones and thankfully no one has ever asked to see them, I think because once you have a degree no one is really interested.

I do sometimes think about getting copies of my certificates though. I might need them at some point.

I never collected my A level certificate but needed it when I joined the Civil Service. However, I got a letter from my school confirming all my exam results which they accepted as evidence.

If you can't find them in your parents' attic, this is your next step:

https://www.gov.uk/replacement-exam-certificate

Yes I have mine (somewhere!). I keep better track of my degree certificates as that’s what is requested. They’re in my study in a locked cabinet with other important documents. I also have certified copies of each. I’ve never been asked for GCSE or AL. I also have scanned copies of all saved on my laptop - most places ask for soft copies.

Mine where lost not long after I passed my exams. I've since done an admin NVQ and then a degree and some post graduate certificates. If I was job hunting now it might be an issue.

My school actually still had a record not that long ago.

Of course they need evidence of what you're claiming, especially if you've nothing above 'A' level! Does your former school not have information such as the exam board?
Mid 90s there weren't too many Boards, maybe contact Edexel, AQA and OCR to see if they can help, names may have changed but they are still the same Boards.

I have never had to show my certificates for any job, but I still have my O level certificates from 1975 and A level certificates from 1977.

I work in a job where you have to show your certificates: probably about 1/3 of people don't have them, and out of that third I'd say only 1/3 manage to find the right exam board, etc.

But we do accept evidence in your personal learner record, which you all have online!

Yeah, I have all mine from GCSE onwards, in a box in the cupboard. DH left school after GCSE's but still has his certificates.

Yes. I always had to show them even the gcses. They in a folder ready to be taken to any interview. It's a standard request at any interview.

I know roughly where they are, there's a couple of document boxes I'd need to look through but I could locate it fairly quickly. They're from 25 years ago.

I'm shocked at the number of people who have lost their certificates. For those who are married do you still have that certificate or has that gone too?

Yep, got mine in a folder, all apart from my English A level. Have needed them roughly 5 times in the last 15 years

I have all mine, GCSE’s 97, A Level / BTEC 99, Degree 2002.

Had to show at most of my jobs.

It’s a probity thing. Did you put them on the application form/CV? Even if not essential for the job, they can expect you to be able to prove anything you have claimed during the application. If it turned out that you had lied about them, they would likely withdraw the offer on dishonesty grounds, even if not specifically needed for the role.