Disappointed with your GCSE grades?
There’s a lot of hard work and pressure that comes with your GCSEs, so if you don’t get the results you were hoping for, it can be really demoralising.
But all is not lost! There are lots of options out there that you could take advantage of – whether it’s retaking a GCSE (or several!), or rethinking what you want to do next.
Here, we’ll explore your options and help you figure out what to do. But remember, whatever happens, life goes on!
What is a bad GCSE grade?
First things first, let’s take a look at what we mean by bad GCSE grades.
When it comes to GCSEs, a grade 4 is a pass for most purposes. But every learner is different and has different goals and dreams.
So, what one learner might be over the moon with could be a disappointing grade for another.
To give you an example, most learners will need at least five GCSEs at grade 9-4 to go onto study A Levels. But some colleges will require higher grades than this.
Similarly, many colleges will require a grade 6 or higher in any subjects you want to study at A Level.
With that in mind, you don’t need to have technically failed a GCSE to be disappointed with your grades.
Instead, for the purposes of this blog, a bad GCSE grade is any grade that you’re disappointed with. Which brings us onto…
What to do if GCSE results are bad
If your GCSE results are bad, you might be wondering what to do next.
There’s no right or wrong.
Rather, the right steps for you will all depend on factors like…
- What your grades were
- What you had planned to do next
- Whether you’ve got the grades you need to take your planned next steps
Here are the main options you can choose between.
1. Apply for a remark
First things first, if you felt that an exam went well and you’re surprised by your grade, it might be worth considering a remark.
This could be especially worthwhile if you’re on the cusp of a grade boundary, as a few marks here or there could make all the difference.
Some exam boards also offer the option of a clinical recheck (where they check that all of the marks on each page were tallied up correctly) as well as a full remark.
Just be aware that there’s usually a deadline to apply for your paper to be remarked.
Normally, you’ll need to apply within 30 days of receiving your results – although the sooner the better, especially if you’re relying on a new grade to get into a sixth form.
Pros
- Chance to change your results without resitting
- Can make a big difference if you’re on the cusp of a grade boundary
Cons
- Costs money (although some exam boards will reimburse you if you go up a grade)
- Your grade could drop instead of going up
- Takes time (around 20 days for a standard remark or 15 for priority)
2. Retake a GCSE (or several)
Anyone can retake a GCSE if they want a chance at improving their grades.
However, if you get less than a grade 4 in some subjects, you’ll have to retake it.
This applies to GCSE Maths and GCSE English (although you only have to pass English language or English literature – not both).
There’s no time limit for retaking a GCSE, so it’s a great option if you need to improve your grades to access new opportunities in your education or career – no matter how much time has passed.
However, bear in mind that most subjects can only be retaken in the summer during normal exam time, which could put your plans on hold while you wait (except English and maths resits, which take place twice a year – once in the autumn and once in the summer).
That said, depending on your grades and what subjects you want to study, you might be able to resit a GCSE or two while you’re studying for your A Levels – so, it’s always worth checking.
If you do decide to resit GCSE exams, just make sure that you invest in hard work and the right support, to give yourself the best chance of improving on your grades this time around.
A GCSE tutor can help you to turn your strengths into weaknesses ahead of exam day!
Pros
- Chance to improve your GCSE grades
- Choose whether to keep your new or old grade
- Usually free if you resit your exams at the same school or college within a year of your first attempt
Cons
- Resits only take place once a year (or twice a year for English and maths)
- Requires hard work and commitment to improve on your grades
- Can cost money (some schools may charge for retakes of some subjects, while sitting a GCSE exam as a private candidate typically costs anywhere from £30 and £100+)
“My advice regarding English resits is to book them as soon as possible and seek appropriate tutor support to fill the gaps where necessary.
“A lot of the English or maths you have learned will still be fresh in your mind so the sooner they are resat – the better!”
– Matthew B, GCSE English tutor
Browse expert, vetted tutors, message free, and book instantly.
3. Talk to your chosen sixth form
If you’ve missed out on the grades you need to get into your chosen sixth form – or onto your chosen course – don’t despair just yet.
We’d always recommend getting in touch and talking to them, to see what your options are.
As we touched upon earlier, there’s no set criteria in the UK for what grades you need to study for your A Levels. Rather, it’s up to each sixth form to decide their own entry requirements.
With that in mind, your chosen sixth form may be able to waive the entry requirements for you – especially if you were very close to getting the grades you needed, or lots of learners missed out on the required grades this year.
Alternatively, they may be able to give you some other options – for instance, they may have lower entry requirements for different A Level subjects, or they may be able to let you study a subject that your results were stronger in.
Similarly, they may be able to arrange for you to retake a GCSE while you study for your A Levels, on the assumption that you’ll meet the entry requirements once you’ve resat the relevant exams.
It’s always worth having the conversation!
Pros
- Don’t lose time resitting exams
- Chance to get into the sixth form you initially wanted
Cons
- Entry may come with additional conditions (eg. changing your A Level subjects or retaking a GCSE alongside your A Level studies)
- If you want to take an A level in a subject where you’ve struggled to achieve a good grade, you might find it hard to work at a higher level without improving your GCSE result first
4. Consider other sixth forms
If you haven’t got into the sixth form you were hoping to attend – and you don’t fancy taking a year out while you retake your GCSEs – why not look into other colleges in your area?
Remember, although most sixth forms will want you to get at least five GCSEs at grades 9-4, every sixth form will decide its own entry requirements.
So, just because you’ve missed out on the grades you need for your preferred college, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you can’t still study your chosen A Level options elsewhere.
That way, you will still learn the same skills.
Plus, you might find another college is a better fit for your needs overall – sometimes, having to shift our plans can be a blessing in disguise!
Pros
- Don’t lose time resitting exams
- Study the course you initially wanted
Cons
- May not be your top choice (eg. you may need to travel further or adapt to a different culture)
5. Consider other routes and qualifications
Last but not least, don’t fall into the trap of thinking that A Levels are the be-all and end-all.
If you don’t have the grades you need and you’re not convinced you want to take a year out while you resit your GCSEs, there are still plenty of other options available to you.
In particular, vocational qualifications can be a great alternative to A Levels for people who are seeking something a little different to the school-like classroom experience.
They are also less heavily reliant on exams, so great for those who don’t test well.
Alternatively, you may meet the entry requirements for an apprenticeship. Or, you could even go straight into work if you want to get started building up your hands-on experience.
Ultimately, there are lots of different routes to get where you want to be, and not all will necessarily need you to have A Levels under your belt!
Pros
- Over 2,000 vocational subjects to choose from
- Often have lower entry requirements than A Levels
- Often closely linked to specific career paths and opportunities
Cons
- Depending on your future ambitions, you may need A Levels (or an equivalent academic qualification)
How to improve your GCSE grades
Decided to resit your GCSEs? Or recently received bad GCSE mock results?
Then you’re probably wondering how to improve your GCSE grades and turn those weaknesses into strengths.
Here’s what to do.
1. Identify what went wrong
You might want to put your bad GCSE grades behind you. Don’t!
Instead, use them as a valuable learning tool.
Ask for your exam paper and go through it with a fine-toothed comb to identify your areas of weakness.
As well as working out which subjects and topics you need to spend more time on, make sure to pinpoint any other internal and external factors that may have contributed to your bad grades.
For instance…
- Loss of interest in a subject
- Lack of motivation
- Not leaving enough time
- Distractions (like phone notifications)
- Ineffective GCSE revision techniques
- Large class sizes
Once you know what went wrong, you can make a plan to improve. Which brings us onto…
2. Make a plan
Decide how you’re going to address the various elements that let you down last time.
Make a revision timetable, and allocate the most time to the subjects and topics that you struggled with the most.
But don’t stop there.
You’ll also need to address those internal and external factors that may have contributed towards your downfall.
For instance, if you feel like your mobile phone was distracting you during revision, you could make your study space a phone-free zone.
Likewise, if large class sizes have prevented you from getting the one-on-one attention you need to wrap your head around complex topics, consider investing in a GCSE tutor.
Our handpicked tutors are experts at bringing their subjects to life and will be able to plan bespoke revision sessions that take into account your strengths, weaknesses and learning style to help you make the biggest improvements before exam day rolls around.
3. Put your plan into action
Now it’s time to take your plan and run with it.
Don’t put it off until tomorrow (or the next day, or the next!).
Instead, there’s no better time to start than now.
As you work through your revision, make sure to regularly attempt past papers so that you can track your progress and see where you’re at in your learning – you can download hundreds of past papers right here on the Tutorful website.
Each time you complete a past paper, comb through it to see which areas you’ve improved in and which still need work.
Then, tweak your revision timetable accordingly so that you’re focusing on turning those weaknesses into strengths.
Our guides on how to revise for your GCSEs and the best ways to study for GCSE will have you covered.
Get a tutor’s help with bad GCSE results
If you’re looking to turn those bad GCSE grades into results you can be proud of, you don’t have to do it alone.
A GCSE tutor will give you one-on-one attention and design bespoke lesson plans that take into account your strengths, weaknesses and learning style to give you the best chance of turning your grades around.
The perfect cross between a mentor and a teacher, they’re experts in their subjects and know how to get the best out of learners at every turn.
Browse expert, vetted tutors, message free, and book instantly.
FAQs
What is the lowest GCSE score?
The lowest GCSE score is a U, which stands for ungraded. Meanwhile, a 1 indicates very poor performance.
At the other end of the scale, the highest GCSE grade you can achieve is a 9.
Is a 3 at GCSE a fail?
Technically, a 3 isn’t a fail – just below the standard pass level. However, for most purposes, a 3 tends to count as a fail.
For instance, if a learner doesn’t get at least a 4 in GCSE Maths or English, they’re forced to retake the subjects.
Is a 7 at GCSE bad?
No, a 7 at GCSE isn’t considered bad – in fact, it generally indicates strong performance and is roughly equivalent to an A grade (based on the old letter grade equivalent).
That said, a student who is aiming for all 9s may still be disappointed with a grade 7. So, ‘good’ and ‘bad’ are subjective.
