When do GCSE exams start in 2026?

GCSE exams for Summer 2026 begin the week of Monday, May 4, 2026. The first exams are on Thursday, May 7, 2026 (German Listening & Reading), with most students sitting English Literature Paper 1 on Monday, May 11. Exams continue through to Friday, June 26, 2026.

When is GCSE Results Day in 2026?

GCSE Results Day 2026 is Thursday, August 20, 2026. Results are typically available from schools between 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM, with online results portal access from 6:00 AM through exam board websites.

When do GCSE exams finish in 2026?

The main GCSE examination period ends on Friday, June 26, 2026. The contingency day is Wednesday, June 24, 2026, in case of national or significant local disruptions. The last exams for core subjects finish by mid-June for most students.

What time do GCSE exams start?

Morning GCSE exams typically begin at 9:00 AM, while afternoon exams start at 1:30 PM. Students should arrive at least 15 minutes before the exam starts. Exact timings may vary slightly by school, so check your individual timetable.

Are the exam dates the same for all exam boards?

Yes, for most subjects, the major exam boards (AQA, Edexcel, and OCR) coordinate their timetables so that exams for the same subject occur on the same day. This prevents students taking multiple specifications from having exam clashes.

When do mock GCSE exams take place?

Mock GCSE exams are typically held in late autumn or early spring (November to January). Individual schools set their own mock exam schedules, so check with your teachers for specific dates.

What if I miss a GCSE exam?

If you miss an exam due to illness, you must provide medical evidence to your school immediately. Your school may be able to apply for special consideration, or in some cases, your grade can be calculated from your other papers. Missing an exam due to misreading the timetable will result in zero marks for that paper.

Summer 2026 Examination Period

GCSE Exam Timetable 2026

Q: When are MFL speaking exams?

Modern Foreign Language (MFL) speaking exams for French, Spanish, and German are typically conducted before the main exam period. Your school will schedule these between January and May 2026. These are non-exam assessments (NEAs) and dates vary by school.

Complete exam dates for all subjects and exam boards. Plan your revision with our comprehensive guide.

First Exam

Thursday, May 7, 2026

Last Exam

Wednesday, June 17, 2026

Results Day

Thursday, August 20, 2026 →

Core Subjects

Essential exams for Maths, English, and Science

📐 Mathematics
AQA, Edexcel, OCR

Three papers: one non-calculator, two calculator

Paper 1 (Non-Calculator)

Foundation & Higher

Thursday, May 14

Morning (9am)

Paper 2 (Calculator)

Foundation & Higher

Wednesday, June 3

Morning (9am)

Paper 3 (Calculator)

Foundation & Higher

Wednesday, June 10

Morning (9am)

Mathematics Past Papers →

📝 English Language
AQA, Edexcel, OCR

Reading comprehension and creative writing

Paper 1

Thursday, May 21

Morning (9am)

Paper 2

Friday, June 5

Morning (9am)

English Language Past Papers →

📚 English Literature
AQA, Edexcel, OCR

Shakespeare, poetry, and modern texts

Paper 1

Monday, May 11

Morning (9am)

Paper 2

Tuesday, May 19

Morning (9am)

English Literature Past Papers →

🔬 Science (Combined & Separate)
AQA, Edexcel, OCR

Biology, Chemistry, and Physics papers

Biology Paper 1

Combined & Separate Science

Tuesday, May 12

Afternoon (1:30pm)

Chemistry Paper 1

Combined & Separate Science

Monday, May 18

Morning (9am)

Physics Paper 1

Combined & Separate Science

Tuesday, June 2

Morning (9am)

Biology Paper 2

Combined & Separate Science

Monday, June 8

Morning (9am)

Chemistry Paper 2

Combined & Separate Science

Friday, June 12

Morning (9am)

Physics Paper 2

Combined & Separate Science

Monday, June 15

Morning (9am)

Biology Past Papers →Chemistry Past Papers →Physics Past Papers →

Complete Exam Timetable

All subjects organised by date

German

•Listening & Reading

AQA

•View German papers →

Thursday, May 7

Afternoon (1:30pm)

German

•Listening

GCSE Exam Timetable 2026

📅 Get Your Free 2026 Exam Timetable

Core Subjects

📐 MathematicsAQA, Edexcel, OCR

📝 English LanguageAQA, Edexcel, OCR

📚 English LiteratureAQA, Edexcel, OCR

🔬 Science (Combined & Separate)AQA, Edexcel, OCR

📅 Get Your Free 2026 Exam Timetable

Complete Exam Timetable

German

German

English Literature

Business Studies

Biology

Religious Studies

Geography

Computer Science

Mathematics

German

German

History

Chemistry

English Literature

Computer Science

French

French

Religious Studies

English Language

Business Studies

German

Religious Studies

Physics

Mathematics

Geography

History

French

French

English Language

Biology

French

History

Spanish

Spanish

Mathematics

Geography

Chemistry

Physics

Spanish

Spanish

Spanish

Official Exam Board Timetables

AQA Timetable

Edexcel Timetable

OCR Timetable

📅 Get Your Free 2026 Exam Timetable

Frequently Asked Questions

When do GCSE exams start in 2026?

When is GCSE Results Day in 2026?

When do GCSE exams finish in 2026?

What time do GCSE exams start?

Are the exam dates the same for all exam boards?

When do mock GCSE exams take place?

What if I miss a GCSE exam?

When are MFL speaking exams?

What happens after the exams? GCSE Results Day is Thursday 20th August 2026

📅 Get Your Free 2026 Exam Timetable

Important Information

Ready to start your revision?

📐 Mathematics
AQA, Edexcel, OCR

📝 English Language
AQA, Edexcel, OCR

📚 English Literature
AQA, Edexcel, OCR

🔬 Science (Combined & Separate)
AQA, Edexcel, OCR