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So you got your GCSE results… now what?

GCSE results (AS-level and A-level, too!) are right around the corner. Here’s what to do on results day and what to do with the results you’ve gotten.

Take time to celebrate

You worked hard, studied a lot, and it paid off. Take some time to celebrate with friends or family by going to a restaurant (some have discounts for GCSE students) or doing something else you enjoy. Even if you’re not quite happy with your grades, take the time to relax because you put in a lot of hard work.

Check your offers

Another important thing to do is to check whether your GCSE results fulfill the terms of any conditional offers you have from sixth forms. If they do, then you’re good to go! If not, then consider appealing your grades and contact the college to see what your options are. It’ll likely be the case that you’ll still be allowed to attend if you were only one grade away from your offer or if you had extenuating circumstances. Also, check whether your GCSE results allow you to take the A-levels you planned for, and if not, re-consider your sixth form plans.

If you’re disappointed:

If you didn’t get the grades you wanted, then remember that they don’t define you. In 5 years, you won’t remember what you got on your GCSEs, and you’ll probably never be asked about it. This is one moment of your life, one of millions. Trust me, it sucks, but you won’t care about this soon enough. Here’s another post about dealing with bad exam results that might help you out in this situation.

Should I appeal?

Appealing your grade can be quite expensive, so only do so in the following situation:

  • you can afford the cost AND EITHER:
  • you’re 1-3 marks away from the higher grade AND you’re 10-15 marks away from the lower grade
  • OR there is a glaring error (e.g. you were predicted a 8 and got a 3)

How to appeal

If you’re sure you want to appeal, ask your school to send you your paper. Then, ask your teacher to read over it to see whether they think it’s worth appealing. If they say yes, then contact your school to go through the appeal process. Remember that you can gain OR lose marks! Again, there is a risk that you’ll lose marks and go down a grade, so make sure you’re prepared for this.

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