What to know before GCSE results day

GCSE results day lands this Thursday, and for hundreds of thousands of young people across England and Wales it will be one of the biggest mornings of the year so far. For some it will bring relief and celebration. For others it will bring disappointment, worry or a mix of both at once. Wherever you land, it helps to know this now, before you open that envelope or log in to check your results: your grades are one piece of information about one set of exams. They are not a verdict on who you are or what you’re capable of.

Health bodies and mental health charities have been reminding families of exactly this in the run up to results week. Exam results are important, but they’re not the be all and end all, and whatever the outcome on the day, there are still plenty of opportunities to move forward into further education, training or a career.

What is normal to feel on results day?

Feeling anxious in the days beforehand, or flat, tearful or even angry on the day itself, is a completely normal reaction to a moment that’s been built up for a long time. It doesn’t mean something is wrong with you, and it isn’t a sign you’ve failed at anything beyond one exam. Some people want company when they open their results, others want a quiet moment first. Both are fine. Try to get a proper night’s sleep the night before if you can, and if your mind is racing, a short walk, some music or time with a friend usually helps more than replaying the exams over and over in your head.

What if the results aren’t what I wanted?

Give yourself permission to feel disappointed. Trying to push the feeling away or pretend you’re fine often makes it harder to move on from. Try to avoid making any big decisions in the first hour or two. Talk to a teacher, a trusted adult or a careers adviser at your school or college before ruling anything out, because resits, remarks, appeals, apprenticeships, college courses and other routes into sixth form all remain open to you.

It’s also worth being kind to yourself around social media this week. Seeing other people’s results online can sting, and it’s OK to log off for a bit if it’s making things harder.

Where can I get support if I’m struggling with how I feel?

You don’t have to sit with this alone, and you don’t need a diagnosis or a big problem to reach out. These services are free, confidential and used by thousands of young people every week:

• Text SHOUT to 85258 to reach Shout’s textline
• Call Childline on 0800 1111 or use their 1-2-1 chat if you’re under 19
• Call HOPELINEUK on 0800 068 4141, or NHS 111 and select option 2
• Explore YoungMinds or Mind’s resources for under-18s for tips on looking after your mental health this week
• Contact NHS Talking Therapies for free psychological support with anxiety or low mood

If you feel like you may try to attempt suicide, or you or someone else is seriously hurt, this is an emergency. You should:

• Call 999 and ask for an ambulance
• Call Samaritans free on 116 123, any time, day or night
• Tell an adult you trust and ask them to call 999 for help

How can parents and carers help on the day?

Watching your child open results they’re not happy with is hard too, and it’s easy to want to fix it immediately with advice, plans or reassurance. Often the most useful thing you can offer in the first few minutes is simply presence: a calm reaction, a hug if they want one and permission for them to feel however they feel. Young people pick up on disappointment or panic in a parent’s face faster than in their words, so it helps to take a breath before you respond and to try to separate the grade from the person.

A comment meant as motivation can land as judgement on a day like this. Asking what they need right now, whether that’s talking it through or having some space first, tends to work better than jumping straight to next steps. And if you’re finding the week stressful yourself, the helplines above are there for adults supporting a young person too, or your GP can refer you to local talking therapies if you need it.

What happens next if results aren’t what I hoped?

Whatever the grades, there are genuine next steps available. Your school or college is the best place to start, as teachers and careers advisers can talk you through resits, remarks and appeals and what your results mean for your original plans. Many colleges also hold places for students who didn’t get the exact grades they expected, in a similar way to the clearing process used for university.

Apprenticeships are another route worth exploring, combining paid work with training from GCSE level upwards, in industries from health and social care to construction, digital and hospitality.

You can read more in our guide to everything you need to know about apprenticeships, or speak to the National Careers Service for free, impartial guidance on courses and job options.

YMCA is here if you need us

YMCA works with young people across England and Wales every day, supporting their mental health, wellbeing, education and future plans, whatever their results look like this week.

If you’d like to talk to someone, explore training options or simply find out what support is available near you, our Support & Advice and Training & Education teams are here to help, and you can find your nearest YMCA to get started.