Who? You! Students, friends, and families coming together to celebrate your hard work building up to GCSE Results Day 2022. What’s different this year compared to previous years and what’s the impact? When is GCSE Results day 2022? Where can you get your GCSE Results? Why should you keep reading? To find out all of the above.
GCSE Results Day 2022 will be on Thursday 25th August, a week after A-Level results day on Thursday 18th August. This quick guide will help you best prepare for the day, and plan for after receiving your results, and this is the first year since the pandemic began that national exams are going ahead across the UK.
With both results days just around the corner, many parents may be concerned as to how they can support their child on the day. That’s why the National Careers Service are hosting online webinars with everything you need to know as a parent/carer.
To reduce the spread of COVID, students received marks based on assessments from teachers rather than sitting exams in 2020 and 2021. This was called the ‘safety net’ system. Teacher assessments led to more students passing their exams and achieving higher marks, which included record breaking numbers across the UK.
That’s last year but…
Although students have returned to exams, the grade boundaries will be more lenient than pre-pandemic. Set at a “mid-point” between pre-pandemic boundaries and the grade levels used in teacher assessments.
This is part of Ofqual’s multiyear plan to return back to the pre-pandemic standards, determining that a transition is would be fairer on the students rather than an immediate return to pre-pandemic grading.
On Thursday 25th August, students can collect results from their school or Exam Centre in person. Usually from 10am onwards, although this may vary from school to school, so make sure to confirm directly with your school, college or exam centre.
This is an opportunity for students to come together and share their joy, sorrow, and support for one another. Though this isn’t always the case for everyone. Some students may be unable to attend in person. If this applies to you, you may be asking the following questions:
Some schools will share your GCSE results with you online – however, this is dependent on your school and the exam board you took the exam with. GCSE results might be sent out in an email in addition to your physical copy and sometimes you’ll have to wait a while. Whereas other schools may only offer to deliver your results online if you have a genuine reason to not pick up your results in person. For example:
So don’t worry! You should be able to receive your results online if necessary, just reach out to your school ahead of time. Open up the communication channel between you and your school to see how results can and will be shared with you.
If you can’t pick up your GCSE results in person most schools will allow a friend, guardian, or family member to act as a proxy and pick them up for you. Just make sure to plan ahead and let the school know. You will need to provide your school with a signed document letting them know that you consent to someone else collecting your results and who you consent to pick them up.
Make sure whoever it is brings some form of identification with them to prove who they are (photo ID). Schools will not give your results out to anyone who cannot be identified as your chosen proxy. So if you’ve ever thought “Oh no, what if someone else takes my results?!”, you don’t need to worry as your results will not be given to anyone else without your consent.
Many schools, but not all schools, will post your GCSE results to you so long as you can provide a genuine reason to do so. Remembering that every school and exam board will make different decisions, it’s important you get in touch as soon as possible to see if they will.
If your school agrees to post your results, they might not arrive on your door step the morning of GCSE results day, so be prepared to be patient.
Amendments can and should be made to how you receive your GCSE results if you have a genuine reason. But you should reach out to your school, college or exam centre ahead of time. Open the communication channel between you both. See how results can be shared with you, whether it be online, posted, in person to yourself or to a proxy.
GCSE results day is a day of celebration, not always of the grades you’ve achieved, but of the hard work you’ve put into the results you’ve achieved. Sometimes you don’t get the grades you want but that’s okay, you still have many options. If you’d like support exploring your next steps, why not call a results day helpline?
By speaking to a qualified adviser, you’ll get support to explore your options such as:
The National Careers Service Exam helpline (0800 100 900) will be open from 08:00 to 20:00 Monday to Friday and 10:00 to 17:00 on Saturday for two weeks from 18th August to 2nd September 2022.
Your Parents, carers and older siblings will be used to the old letter grading system. But now, for the fifth year, most results will use the new number system.
At a glance the change can look confusing. However, using the table below you can map out roughly how your grade compares to the old grading system.
The new grading system is the future and should be embraced. However, the table above can be used as a tool to get an idea of what your grade means.
GCSE results day 2022 is on the 25th of August (whilst A-Level results day is on the 18th of August). This is the first year since the pandemic began that exams have gone ahead across the whole of the UK.
If you can’t attend GCSE results day in person, reach out to your school. Check if they can support you in receiving your results another way.
But most of all, don’t worry! GCSE results day 2022 is your chance to come together with your friends and families to celebrate the hard work you’ve put in, no matter the outcome.
Once you have your GCSE results, if you still feel like you need support you can call the National Careers Service GCSE Results Day Helpline.
Good luck!
George Gallagher, CXK
