GCSE results day questions, stories, advice and next steps

[PurplePenOfProgress]

🎓Good luck to everyone receiving GCSE results today!
Results Day can bring all sorts of questions:
• What happens if the grades aren't what we expected?
• Should we appeal or request a review?
• Is this enough for the sixth form or college course they wanted?
• What are the options if they've missed a grade?
• How do GCSE grades translate into their next steps?
• What should we do if we're confused by the results?

Rather than trying to work everything out on your own, ask your question below (and share your stories of the day too!)

I'm hoping this can be a useful space where parents can help other parents, teachers and educational professionals can offer advice, and people can share their experiences.

There are no silly questions. Results Day can be confusing, particularly when you're trying to make decisions quickly.

If you're celebrating, commiserating, or simply not quite sure what happens next, you're welcome here.And whatever the results, one set of grades doesn't define your child or their future. Good luck today!

Hello, just checking in for later - good luck to everyone.

My DD is up showered and ready to go in for 8am. She is very nervous.
Good luck to all 😊

Only a few minutes to go. DD is wondering around trying to get ready for her day while I’m glued to the laptop.

good luck everyone

Oh, DS school doesn’t open for results until 10am!!

I’m really nervous as I’m worried he didn’t do as well as he is expecting and I fear he will be disappointed.

I dont think i was this nervous waiting for my results!!

Good luck to everyone.

I feel physically sick defo wasn’t this nervous for my own results 🤢

School opens at 9, so awaiting her descent then we will head over.

Sat in the car waiting for her to collect results. I feel physically sick. Good luck to everyone

Good luck all. DD is very nervous as am I!

Dc has an unexpected 6 in a subject she was down to for A level (against 9's and 8's for context). They were raging temperature poorly on the day of one exam and it shows.....But the other paper was also a 7.
Thinking of different subjects. But is there any point in getting someone to look at the paper?

DD friends have theirs. Not as good as expected 😩

DD had a surprise result - it was useful to get the paper and to have a look - and then take some advice from her subject teacher and the teacher who will take her A level class. In DDs case, she did not understand how to answer the questions, it should have been picked up on before she got to the exams.

Thanks @ChateauMargaux I don't want it to knock confidence so understanding why might help. The subject is taught by other teachers in the school so it'll be interesting to see any cohort differences. We thought we had a handle on the truly abominable teachers (wrong structures, missed course work deadlines etc) but might be a factor. Of course a bad day (especially with being ill) or just being rubbish at that thing is also an option.

Ds just accessed his online. Do most people go into the school?

Just waiting outside school for ours fingers crossed 🤞

It's called a 'review of marking' in education. Its only 'remarked' if the examiner disgrees with the level awarded for the question, if it's in range it doesn't get changed. A senior examiner checks if the original mark scheme was applied correctly, rather than grading work from scratch. It's worth noting it can go down as well and as a teacher I've seen that happen so you will need to be close to the upper boundary.

A 6 should be enough for entry, what subject is this for? I can give more specific advice then.

@PurplePenOfProgress So having looked at grade boundaries AQA English literature. What is really odd is dc was one mark off getting a 5. This is very unusual as dc has never even got a 6 in anything.
Is there a way of getting the paper so that the teacher can review it before any decisions are made? Ee wouldn't want to request a remark with out seeing it as it could go down to a 5 which would be pretty tricky for dc who until this point was talking about Oxbridge.....

Hi yes, they can request the papers back before making a decision but you should talk to the school to see if they will. Also to talk to the A Level English Lit teacher to see if they will accept them on this grade.

Hello, DD got a 6 in English Lan which was unexpected... other grades all 8s and 9s including high 9 in lit.

She's 1 mark off a 7. Would you request the script first or just go for the review? I realise she doesn't need it but as a high grade student, she's a bit disappointed with a 6. She's also considering doing Lit A level.

ds got a surprise 5 for lit against 7’s and 8’s for other subjects- he seems happy enough though as got what he needed

DD got 9’s and 8’s but a real shock of a 5 in Eng Lang when she was a consistent 7. She got a 8 in Lit. She is 2 marks off a 6 so we are getting her papers checked by her teacher and see what she thinks. She needs a 6 in lang as she is considering medicine. She wants to take lang if she can’t get that 6 which school are happy for her to do.

Two 8s and eight 9s. 🥰

It's a completely personal choice but personally yes, it would be incredibly odd for it to go down a grade that close to the next one!

DD did well overall. But was predicted an 8 in sociology and got a 6. Was told by staff at school her teacher can ask to see paper and advise her. But teacher says just to ask for remark. 4 marks off a 7 I believe. But she had hoped for a 9. 😞

My dd got 1 mark off next grade for 3 exams (music, Spanish, computer science). Not sure if it’s worth remarking? She has really good grades regardless.