How my GCSE results day went
GCSE results day is looming, so we thought we’d catch up with some young people who have already been through it, to share some stories about how their days went, and any advice they want to share for the people collecting them soon. Here’s what they had to say…
5 min read
Your GCSE results don’t define you, by Mia
It has been nearly a year since I received my GCSE results – a day which feels like it could be yesterday. I turned up at school, where I was given a brown envelope. I was too impatient to wait for my mum, who was still parking the car, so I found a quiet corner in the school field and tore it open.
I remember it taking a while for the numbers to properly sink in, as at first my eyes didn’t know where to settle. I achieved slightly better results than I was expecting and was absolutely delighted. To celebrate I went for a picnic in the park with my friends, who were all equally happy.
On that day the sheet of paper seemed so precious to me; I put it somewhere safe the minute I got home. But it’s funny, until writing this, my GCSE results haven’t crossed my mind in the last year. The individual numbers no longer seem important, only that they enabled me passage into the next stage of my life – sixth form.
Whilst doing my GCSEs, the older years would often say that the grades didn’t really matter, but at the time I never truly believed them. But a year later, I can now say that whilst they can feel like the most important things in the world, as life continues, they are quickly put into perspective. Whilst the day remains special to me, my GCSE results definitely don’t define me.
Everything happens for a reason, by Natalia
It’s hard to imagine five years of your life reduced to a set of numbers on a piece of paper. There’s so much emphasis placed on those nine or ten ‘one to nines’ and the ominous results day that comes with them, that the wait can feel a bit all-consuming. If I’m completely honest, results day terrified me. It felt like this huge concrete wall that someone had built in my back garden – shadowy and scary, always there and impossible to see over. I was frustrated because I felt like I’d already climbed enough concrete walls.
Fast forward and I was accepted into my first choice sixth form. My GCSE’s had got me where I wanted to be, but I didn’t quite make it, ending up having to take a year out of college for health reasons. Again, it wasn’t what I had imagined. However, that year out became one of the best things to ever happen to me.
I learned a lot, had the opportunity to do some really worthwhile things and in the process, realised that one of my A Level choices wasn’t right for me. I was able to change my options restart sixth form again.
As I said, not really what I imagined, but I wouldn’t change it for anything. If your results, the day itself, or your choices afterwards aren’t what you imagined, just remember that there are always options. If the path on the other side of this concrete wall doesn’t resemble the one you were planning to walk, don’t panic.
There are other paths. Walk for a bit and you might even end up back on the one you originally wanted to take. You’re not lost, your direction has just changed. One thing the year after GCSE’s has taught me is that everything happens for a reason and there is definitely more to life than those nine or ten numbers.
Reaching significant milestones, by Vania
After my GCSEs, I felt much more relaxed and comfortable with myself. My GCSE results day was definitely very different from what I expected. My sister had recently received her A level results and I could feel the pressure from my household to obtain such high grades as well. The night before, I was overwhelmed and confused about what this all meant as I started the next chapter in life. I woke up, well I was awoken by my lively and overly excited mother. My results were here! Then it hit me and I got nauseated and sick – it was a similar feeling to getting on a rollercoaster; a mixture of fear and excitement.
After opening the email, I was actually shocked, especially with the subjects I had felt weaker at. I was so relieved that it was over, all the tutoring, webinars and revision did not go to waste. I never had to sit through a physics lesson again, but above all else I was proud of myself.
For me, GCSE results day meant I had done it, I had reached and completed a significant milestone in my life. I believe my GCSEs played a part in choosing my current subjects and helped build confidence as I work towards attending university.
I doubt my results make or change me as a person, however, it would be ignorant of me to say they are not important, especially for university as there are some A level and GCSE entry requirements. I am wishing the current candidates the best of luck and, if you don’t feel that confident, there are always apprenticeships, internships and A levels to back you up for the future. There are many roads that can lead you to one destination.
Treat the day as a celebration for yourself, by Emily
School opened at nine in the morning on results day, and I remember planning to meet my friends at half-past, once the initial crush had died down, so we could open our envelopes together. I arrived at the agreed time, only to discover that all bar one of my friends had been there since ten to nine, and after opening their results as soon as they could, they were on their way home again to celebrate.
It was pretty nerve-wracking holding the envelope, especially as all around me people were so excited, and I was tempted just to stick it in my pocket and ignore it for as long as physically possible. Eventually, after much coercion, my friend and I opened our results together. She squealed, and I picked up the wrong sheet of paper and started panicking that my grades were so awful the school had refused to print them.
When I found the right piece of paper, I fell into a bush! It was not the most graceful of moments, but I remember being too relieved to be embarrassed, happy that my hard work had paid off. Now I was able to properly look at my parents, and tears were shed.
I would recommend to anyone doing what we did next: making the most of the results day meal deals! First off it was free churros with chocolate at Las Iguanas, and then it was meant to be free pizza at Frankie and Benny’s. When my friend and I arrived there, so many people had claimed free pizzas already that they said we could have anything on the menu for free. It was pretty awesome.
And all we had to do was show them the ID and envelope of results! (Not the actual grades, don’t worry.) If you’re scouting for deals, Nando’s and Pizza Express had offers last year as well, but make sure to check this year before going.
So yes, it was a bit nerve-wracking in the morning, but spending the day around supportive people, whether that’s friends or family, definitely helped. Treat the day not about the numbers on paper, but as a celebration of all your hard work for the past few years. You deserve to enjoy it!
Want to do something fun after your results? Celebrate over summer in style? Why not sign up for an NCS away from home experience! Make some new mates, take on exciting challenges together, and find out exactly what you’re made it. Check it out and sign up today!
