Jump directly to the content
MAKE THE GRADE

What time are GCSE results released today?

GCSE students will receive their results today, Thursday, August 20, despite the fact they missed exam season and fears that u-turn chaos would cause delays.

Following the decision to scrap the algorithm in favour of teachers' scores, Unions were concerned that correct grades might not arrive on schedule, but exam boards have now confirmed everything will run on time, and GCSE results should be released this morning.

⚠️ Read our GCSE and A-levels live blog for the latest news & updates

GCSE students will receive their results on August 20
2
GCSE students will receive their results on August 20Credit: Getty Images - Getty

What time are GCSE results released?

This year GCSE results day will fall on Thursday, August 20.

Results will be ready from 6am, but it is up to each school to set their own release time.

The majority of students will be able to get their results from 8am.

Despite no exams having taken place, the government didn't want to change results day as it would impact the current cohort's route to further education.

The government said: "This will enable progression to higher and further education to take place in the normal way.

"It will also allow students time to decide whether they wish to sit exams in the autumn, and to prepare for those exams if necessary."

On August 18, JCQ, which represents several GCSE exam boards, said: "Following yesterday’s announcement to allow awarding in England, Northern Ireland and Wales of centre assessed grades, the exam boards are working hard to provide the final Centre Assessment Grades (or calculated grade if higher) GCSE results to schools and colleges.

"JCQ can now confirm that all schools and colleges will receive their results according to the published time of 00:01 on Wednesday 19th August, allowing students to receive their final grades as usual on Thursday."

Factors other than predicted grades will be used to calculate results
2
Factors other than predicted grades will be used to calculate resultsCredit: Alamy

How will the grades work?

No exams could take place this year due to the coronavirus lockdown causing school closures.

The algorithm system that had been used for the AS and A Level results has been ditched with centre assessment and teachers' grades to be used instead.

Exam regulator Ofqual had said that for GCSEs, AS and A levels your school or college will send a centre assessment grade for the student in each of their subjects to the board.

Teachers will then have to order each student from best to worst for their subjects, plus take mock exams, tests, coursework and homework into consideration.

Exam boards will then standardise the information received.

Exam boards will then adjust grades where needed to bring consistency to teacher judgements across all schools and colleges, and to make sure results are comparable with previous years.

However, this has now changed so that the better grade from all the scores will be given out after huge uproar following last week's A Level results day.

Can I take my exams again if I fail?

Officials have been clear that students will not be disadvantaged by these unforeseen circumstances.

However, many teachers in Scotland feel their students were let down by the new system that saw some students receive significantly lower than expected results.

If you're not happy with your result, you can sit an appeal exam in November.

If you get a better result in the appeal exam, you'll be able to carry that result forward instead.

READ MORE SUN STORIES

You can also contact the National Careers Service for independent advice on alternative options on 0800 100 900.

Nicola Sturgeon praises Scotland's pupils on exam results day as 125,000 grades marked down by SQA adjustments

 

Topics