Unhappy with your SQA or GCSE results 2025? Here are your options

This article was last updated on 8 August 2025.

GCSE results day in England, Wales and Northern Ireland was on Thursday 21 August 2025. Results day for National Qualifications in Scotland was on Tuesday 5 August 2025.

If you’re disappointed with your results you may have lots of questions about what you can do next, our guide below will help explain some options.

Results day for SQAs in Scotland was on Tuesday 5 August 2025 and GCSE results day in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is on Thursday 21 August 2025.

For GCSEs in England, this Ofqual guide explains what happens after you've taken your exams or assessments.

Information on the grading process for Welsh students can be found on this page.

For students in Northern Ireland, you can find information from CCEA on their post results service

For information on SQAs in Scotland, this guide will help answer your questions.

If you think your grades are correct, but you didn’t get the ones you need for your next steps, don’t panic. There are always options and other paths you can take.

First up, discuss your options with the teachers at your school. You can then contact the sixth form or college you want to go to and discuss your grades with them. They may still accept you with lower grades or advise you on other options.

If you're not accepted – again, don't panic. Another college or sixth form may accept you onto your chosen course with the grades you have.

If you still want the chance to improve your grades, you may be able to take your exams again. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland you can resit your English Language or Maths exam in the November 2025 exam series, for other subjects it's best to speak to your school to see what your options are.

If you didn’t get the grades you need to progress to A-Level, you could consider taking an alternative qualification for your next step. Check out this Bitesize resource for some ideas:

What should I do after getting my grades? Your options at 15/16

You’re not alone if you didn’t get the grades you need. A lot of people in this situation go on to succeed in their chosen career.

Check out this page for inspiration:

I didn’t get the GCSE/Nationals grades I wanted, but look at me now.

In England, Northern Ireland and Wales

Students who fail to achieve at least a grade four in either English Language or English Literature, and/or Maths must continue studying these subjects whilst on a 16 to 19 study programme. Students have the opportunity to resit their exams in these subjects during the November exam series.

You may be eligible to take a functional skills qualification in English or Maths instead of a resit, you should check with your school or college whether this option is available to you.

Resits for other subjects aren't compulsory, but can be taken in the next year's summer exam series. You should discuss with your school or college about how you can resit these exams. You need to check:

• If topics covered will stay the same next year.
• Whether you will improve your grade the second time around.
• If any university you want to apply for will accept resit marks.

What if you pass English Literature, but not English Language?

A student must pass – that is, be awarded at least a grade four, in either GCSE English Literature or GCSE English Language to progress with their education. If they do not pass either then they will have to resit GCSE English Language again in November.

In Scotland

There are no exam re-sits in Scotland, so you will need to repeat the course again the following year. You will need to re-sit all components of the course assessment.

Schools, colleges and exam centres have to pay per exam entry. Students who attend state schools and further education colleges do not pay for resits, but private candidates at exam centres do pay and some providers may charge additional fees. Independent schools may also charge additional fees.

If you think something has gone wrong in the process of working out your grades, the first step is to speak to your school. It is important to consider that your marks and grades could be lowered, stay the same or increase, so you need to make sure you take appropriate advice before asking for an appeal. The appeals process and deadlines for appeals are different depending on where you live in the UK. Check out the links below for information for each nation.

In England, you can appeal from when you get your results. You must appeal via your school to have the grade or grades checked, unless you are a private candidate solely home-schooled. You can get more information on the process from your school or exam board and you can check out this guide for an overview.

You can find information about how to lodge an appeal against your exam results in Wales here

In Northern Ireland, CCEA has published details for how to contact them should you need help with your results.

You can find out more about the appeals process in Scotland here.

Your school or college is best-placed to advise you on this, so make sure they’re aware of your concerns, plans and deadlines. Don't shy away from communication – you're more likely to find a solution by keeping them up to date with your situation.

If you’re based in England, you can contact the National Careers Service whatever your results, if you want to find out more and get help to explore your choices. You can also speak to a professional careers adviser for free and impartial information and advice via the webchat, or by calling the National Careers Service on 0800 100 900, open weekdays 8am-8pm and from 10am-5pm on Saturdays and Bank Holidays. Calls are free from landlines and most mobiles.

For careers advice and guidance in Wales, you can contact Careers Wales on 0800 028 4844. Lines are open Monday to Thursday: 8am – 6pm and Friday: 9am – 4:30pm. It's advised to consider what you want to talk about before you make the call, and to have a pen and paper handy to write down any advice that you receive. Careers Wales also has a webchat service.

Skills Development Scotland are also available with support for, and around, results day.

• The SDS Helpline number is 0800 917 8000 and is available Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm. You can call this number all year.
• If you prefer to speak to someone in person, SDS career centres are now open for face-to-face appointments. Contact your local centre to make an appointment with an adviser.
• The SDS Results Helpline goes live at 8am on results day – Tuesday 5 August. The number is 0808 100 8000.

• Help is also available on the My World of Work website

For students in Northern Ireland, NI Direct have an online advice chat function here.

For more information and advice on next steps, you can browse the Bitesize Careers Next Steps collection here.

England:

You can find more information on the appeals process in England here.

Wales:

Wales’ largest awarding body, WJEC has published detailed information here.

Northern Ireland:

CCEA’s FAQs for students can be found here.

Scotland:

A list of FAQs for Scottish qualifications can be found here.

Visit this Bitesize Careers article where you can find out more about an apprenticeships or vocational options.

Results day can be stressful and it’s really important that you look after your wellbeing at this time. You might find it useful to check out some of our other results day and wellbeing articles and videos:

GCSE and Nationals results day 2024: looking after your wellbeing

I didn’t get the GCSE/Nationals grades I wanted, but look at me now

Tips for coping when you’re overwhelmed

For more awesome advice and top tips for before, during and after results day, check out our results day section of our Exams and Revision page.

If you need support

You should always tell someone about the things you’re worried about. You can tell a friend, parent, guardian, teacher, or another trusted adult. If you're struggling with your mental health, going to your GP can be a good place to start to find help. Your GP can let you know what support is available to you, suggest different types of treatment and offer regular check-ups to see how you’re doing.

If you’re in need of in-the-moment support you can contact Childline, where you can speak to a counsellor. Their lines are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

There are more links to helpful organisations on the BBC Bitesize Action Line page for young people.