GCSE exam dates 2027
GCSE exams in 2027 run from Monday 10 May 2027 to Friday 18 June 2027, with Wednesday 23 June 2027 held back as the contingency day. Maths papers are on 14 May, 27 May and 14 June, and English Language papers on 24 May and 8 June. Results go to candidates on Thursday 19 August 2027. These are the dates in JCQ's final June 2027 key dates, read on Sunday 18 October 2026 and matched against the final AQA and Pearson Edexcel timetables.
Key dates for the June 2027 series
| Milestone | Date | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Entries deadline | Sunday 21 February 2027 | Schools and colleges enter candidates; internal deadlines are earlier |
| First exam | Monday 10 May 2027 | The common timetable opens for GCSE and A-level |
| Last GCSE exam | Friday 18 June 2027 | Last paper on the GCSE common timetable |
| Last A-level exam | Tuesday 22 June 2027 | A-levels run four days longer than GCSEs |
| Contingency day | Wednesday 23 June 2027 | Stay available: it is used if exams are disrupted nationally |
| A-level results day | Thursday 12 August 2027 | Results released to candidates |
| GCSE results day | Thursday 19 August 2027 | Results released to candidates |
A dated snapshot of JCQ's final key dates for the June 2027 series, read on Sunday 18 October 2026, not a live feed.
Maths, English and science paper dates
These are the common slots for the core subjects. Every paper below falls on the same date, in the morning session, on AQA's and Pearson Edexcel's final 2027 timetables. Tier and paper length are on your board's timetable, and your school issues a personal timetable that is the one to work from.
| Subject | Paper | Date, 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Maths | Paper 1 (non-calculator) | 14 May |
| Maths | Paper 2 (calculator) | 27 May |
| Maths | Paper 3 (calculator) | 14 June |
| English Literature | Paper 1 | 12 May |
| English Literature | Paper 2 | 19 May |
| English Language | Paper 1 | 24 May |
| English Language | Paper 2 | 8 June |
| Biology | Paper 1 | 11 May |
| Biology | Paper 2 | 10 June |
| Chemistry | Paper 1 | 17 May |
| Chemistry | Paper 2 | 15 June |
| Physics | Paper 1 | 25 May |
| Physics | Paper 2 | 18 June |
Combined Science papers sit in the same slots as the separate sciences: Biology 1 on 11 May, Chemistry 1 on 17 May, Physics 1 on 25 May, Biology 2 on 10 June, Chemistry 2 on 15 June and Physics 2 on 18 June 2027.
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What the dates mean for revision
- The gap between papers is the plan. Maths Paper 1 is on 14 May and Paper 3 is a month later on 14 June, so topics can still be fixed after the series starts.
- Science splits across the window. Every science Paper 1 sits in May and every Paper 2 in June, which is why content for the second papers is worth leaving warm.
- Work back from 10 May. Mocks land in the winter, and schools submit entries by 21 February, so tier choices are normally settled with your school before then.
- One-to-one help works best early. A tutor has the most effect in the months before the series, not the fortnight inside it.
Mock results: what next
A mock grade is the school's estimate, not a result. Ofqual's guidance for England says teachers plan the mock assessments and when they take place, that the centre must keep each student's work, and that mocks taken in exam conditions are evidence of last resort if the summer exams cannot go ahead (gov.uk, updated 4 March 2025). Ask the school for the marked paper, find the topics and question types where marks were lost, and fix those first, because the first GCSE paper is on Monday 10 May 2027. The full guide is bad mock results: what to do next.
Frequently asked questions
When do GCSE exams start in 2027?
The June 2027 series opens on Monday 10 May 2027. That is the first date on the common timetable every exam board shares, so it applies whichever board your school uses.
When do GCSE exams finish in 2027?
The last GCSE paper on the common timetable is Friday 18 June 2027. A-levels run to Tuesday 22 June 2027. Keep Wednesday 23 June 2027 free as well: it is the contingency day.
When is GCSE results day 2027?
Thursday 19 August 2027. Schools and colleges receive the results the day before, on Wednesday 18 August 2027. A-level results come a week earlier, on Thursday 12 August 2027. Source: JCQ's final June 2027 key dates, read on Sunday 18 October 2026.
When are the GCSE maths exams in 2027?
Paper 1, the non-calculator paper, is on Friday 14 May 2027. Paper 2 is on Thursday 27 May 2027 and Paper 3 on Monday 14 June 2027. AQA and Edexcel sit these papers on the same dates, all in the morning.
Are the dates the same for every exam board?
For GCSE, the main papers sit in common slots agreed by the boards through JCQ, and the core subject dates below are identical on AQA's and Pearson Edexcel's published timetables. Minority subjects can move, so check your own board's timetable and the personal timetable your school issues.
What is the contingency day for?
Wednesday 23 June 2027 is set aside across the country in case exams are disrupted. Candidates must stay available until the end of that day, so do not book travel before it.
Sitting maths or English again this autumn instead? GCSE resits 2026 has the November dates and results day.
Sources
- JCQ, Key dates in the examination cycle, June 2027 examination series (FINAL, May 2026). Entries deadline, first and last exam dates, contingency day and results dates are taken verbatim from this document.
- Pearson Edexcel, GCSE Summer 2027 Examination Timetable (FINAL). Per-paper dates for the core subjects, all morning sessions.
- AQA, Exam timetable May/June 2027 (version 1.2, confirmed and definitive). Cross-check: all 13 core papers below fall on the same dates as the Pearson final timetable, which is what JCQ's common-slot rule requires.
- Ofqual, Guidance on collecting evidence of student performance (GOV.UK, updated 4 March 2025). Mock exams: teachers plan them, centres keep student work, and they are evidence if exams cannot go ahead.
Read on Sunday 18 October 2026. Exam boards can move papers, so confirm against your board and your school before making plans around a date.