GCSE exam dates 2026: Full timetable & key changes

Number of GCSE exam weeks in 2026: 8 weeks (4 May – 26 June) ·
First exam date (most boards): 4 May 2026 ·
Last exam date (most boards): 26 June 2026 ·
GCSE results day 2026: 27 August 2026 ·
Boards with published 2026 timetables: 4 (AQA, Edexcel, CCEA, OCR) ·
Percentage of GCSE entries graded 9 (2024): 4.9% (England)

Here are the key dates at a glance.

What date are GCSE exams in 2026?

First exam date: 4 May 2026

• The GCSE exam period for most boards begins on Monday 4 May 2026 (OCR final timetable).
• The UK’s exams regulator Ofqual (government regulator for qualifications) confirms the overall summer window runs from 7 May to 23 June 2026 for GCSE, AS and A level exams.
• CCEA’s music performance period opens earlier, from 23 March to 8 May 2026 (CCEA).

Last exam date: 26 June 2026

• The final GCSE exams are scheduled for Friday 26 June 2026 (OCR final timetable).
• A contingency day on 24 June 2026 is reserved nationally for any exam that could not take place as planned — but it cannot be used for exams a student simply missed (Ofqual student guide).
• CCEA lists 24 June 2026 as its contingency date as well.

GCSE results day: 27 August 2026

• Results for GCSE students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will be issued on Thursday 27 August 2026 (TES).
• This follows the same late-August pattern as previous years, giving students their grades before the new school term begins.

The pattern: the 2026 window is nearly identical in length to 2025, with the contingency day giving exam boards a safety net for national disruptions. For students, that means the same planning rhythm applies — start revision early, because the first exam arrives in the first week of May.

What is the 2026 GCSE exam timetable?

AQA GCSE timetable 2026

• AQA has published its confirmed May/June 2026 timetable on its official dates page (AQA dates and timetables).
• All AQA examinations must be taken on the day and at the time stated — timetables are definitive.
• English language papers are typically scheduled from late May to early June.

Edexcel GCSE timetable 2026

• Pearson Edexcel released its final summer 2026 timetable, with published start times of 9:00am or 1:30pm for UK centres (Pearson Edexcel GCSE Summer 2026 final timetable).
• Each exam must be sat on the day and at the time shown — no swapping sessions.
• Maths exams tend to fall in the first two weeks of the window.

CCEA GCSE timetable 2026

• CCEA’s final timetable includes a music performance period from 23 March to 8 May 2026, plus a contingency date of 24 June 2026 (CCEA).
• Students taking CCEA qualifications in Northern Ireland should check the separate timetables for GCSE and GCE exams.

Other boards (OCR, WJEC)

• OCR’s June 2026 final timetable covers GCSE and Cambridge Nationals from 4 May to 26 June 2026, with all exams starting at 9:00am or 1:30pm (OCR final timetable).
• WJEC (Wales) typically publishes its timetable closer to the exam period; candidates should monitor the WJEC website for updates.

The takeaway: no single PDF covers all boards, so you need to download the correct timetable for each subject you’re sitting. The dates across boards are closely aligned, but start times and specific paper dates differ — double-check, don’t assume.

Is 2026 GCSE going to be hard?

Grade boundaries and difficulty trends

• Ofqual has confirmed no planned change to grading standards for 2026 (Ofqual student guide).
• Grade boundaries are expected to remain similar to 2024 and 2025 levels.
• Exact boundaries are not published until after the exams, based on cohort performance and paper difficulty.

Changes for 2026 exams

• AQA has updated its English literature texts, adding new titles to the set-text list.
• Edexcel revised its foundation-tier maths content, adjusting some topic weightings.
• CCEA introduced new practical requirements in science subjects.
• These changes affect content, not grade standard — the bar for each grade remains consistent with recent years.

The implication: “harder” is the wrong word. The 2026 exams test the same standard, but some syllabuses have shifted. Students using outdated revision guides risk missing new topics — check your board’s latest specification before you start.

What are the changes for GCSE 2026?

Subject syllabus revisions

• AQA English Literature: new set texts added to the prescribed list (AQA dates and timetables).
• Edexcel Maths (Foundation): revised topic weightings and content adjustments (Pearson Edexcel final timetable).
• CCEA Science: updated practical assessment requirements for 2026 (CCEA).

Exam board adjustments

• Ofqual’s guidance reiterates that the contingency day (24 June 2026) exists for national-level disruption only — individual absence does not qualify (Ofqual student guide).
• All boards have reaffirmed that timetables are final once published; no ad-hoc schedule changes are permitted.

The catch: syllabus updates mean students can’t simply reuse a 2024 revision plan. The structural changes are modest, but each one affects at least one core subject for a significant number of candidates.

How rare is a 9 in GCSE?

Grade 9 percentage by subject

• In 2024, 4.9% of all GCSE entries in England received a grade 9 (JCQ (Joint Council for Qualifications) data).
• The grade 9 is awarded to the top 20% of students who achieve grade 8 or above (Ofqual).
• This means roughly one in twenty entries earns the highest grade — a highly selective threshold.

Top 3 hardest GCSEs

• By grade 9 attainment rate, the hardest GCSEs are Further Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry (JCQ data).
• These subjects consistently have the lowest percentage of entries scoring a 9, reflecting both the depth of content and the precision required in exam responses.

The trade-off: a grade 9 in any subject is an elite outcome, but in Further Maths, Physics and Chemistry it’s rarer still. For students targeting top grades in these subjects, targeted revision and past-paper practice are essential — the data shows the competition is genuinely stiff.

For students and parents, the 2026 GCSE exam calendar is now clear enough to act on. The first exams begin on 4 May, the window closes on 26 June, and results arrive on 27 August. With confirmed timetables from AQA, Edexcel, OCR and CCEA, there is no reason to wait — download the correct timetable for each subject, cross-reference start times, and build a revision plan around the dates that matter for you. For the student who prepares now, the summer of 2026 holds no surprises.

Frequently asked questions