When Do GCSEs Start in 2026?

GCSE exams are a rite of passage for young people across the United Kingdom. Parents and students often ask “When do GCSEs start in 2026?” because knowing the exam window helps you plan revision, book any necessary accommodation, and avoid accidentally scheduling a family holiday during exam week. This guide answers that question comprehensively and compares the timetables of AQA, Edexcel, OCR, WJEC/Eduqas and CCEA. We also shared advice for exam travel, offered a realistic revision timetable, and answered frequently asked questions about GCSEs in 2026.

Key takeaways: GCSE exams in England, Wales and Northern Ireland begin in early May 2026 and continue until the end of June. The provisional timetables released by the major exam boards show that the first mainstream GCSEs start during the week beginning Monday 4 May 2026, with some BTEC or vocational exams starting earlier (BTEC Travel & Tourism on 1 May). The season ends after Friday 26 June 2026, although students must be available until the contingency day on 24 June in case an exam is moved. All boards follow national standards, so the difference lies only in the dates of particular papers and their formats.

Overview of the 2026 GCSE exam season

The awarding bodies that set GCSEs are AQA, Pearson Edexcel, OCR, WJEC/Eduqas and CCEA are regulated by Ofqual, so the exam window is broadly synchronised. The BBC’s 2026 exam guide states that GCSE exams start during the week commencing Monday 4 May 2026 and finish on Friday 26 June 2026. Atom Learning confirms this, noting that “GCSE exams will start the week of Monday, 4th May 2026” and end on 26 June 2026. Within this window, individual subjects follow their own timetables, for instance, mathematics papers are held on 14 May, 3 June and 10 June.

Early BTEC and vocational papers

The provisional timetables show that some vocational or BTEC qualifications begin slightly earlier than the main GCSE season. A timetable issued by a secondary academy lists BTEC Travel & Tourism on 1 May 2026 and BTEC Sport on 7 May 2026, both before the first GCSE paper. However, the first mainstream GCSE subject in that timetable like Drama appears on 8 May 2026, and major subjects such as English Literature and Business commence on 11 May 2026.

Edexcel’s official timetable also shows its earliest GCSE papers (Biblical Hebrew, Psychology and Turkish listening) on Thursday 7 May 2026. OCR’s provisional timetable lists Studies and applications in psychology on 7 May am and Citizenship in action on 7 May pm. These early exams mean students may have to sit formal papers even before the main exam week begins.

Contingency days

Ofqual requires all students to remain available until the end of the exam series in case national or local disruption necessitates moving an exam. The OCR timetable describes Wednesday 24 June 2026 as a contingency day. This day is reserved for any rescheduled exams. Parents should avoid booking travel or holidays before Friday 26 June, ensuring children can attend any rearranged exams.

GCSE exam dates by board

Each exam board publishes a provisional and then a final timetable. Schools typically decide which board to use for each subject, so your personal timetable depends on your school’s choices. Here is a summary of the 2026 start dates and key exam windows for each board.

AQA

AQA’s final 2026 GCSE timetable was not available for text parsing while writing this guide. However, AQA follows the same exam window as other boards. AQA’s first mathematics paper (non‑calculator) takes place on Thursday 14 May 2026, and subsequent papers occur on 3 June and 10 June. Because AQA tends to schedule some language or niche subject exams a week earlier, students should check the official timetable once it is published.

Key points for AQA candidates

• First week: expect any optional subjects to start around 7 – 11 May.
• Maths papers: 14 May (Paper 1, non‑calculator), 3 June (Paper 2, calculator) and 10 June (Paper 3, calculator).
• English Language & Literature: dates vary but generally fall in mid‑May and mid‑June.
• Science: separate sciences usually start mid‑May (e.g., Biology paper 1 around 21 May), with combined science papers interspersed.

Pearson Edexcel

The final Edexcel timetable lists the first GCSE papers on Thursday 7 May 2026. These include Biblical Hebrew, Psychology and Turkish listening. Drama follows on Friday 8 May. High‑entry subjects such as English Literature and Business are scheduled for Monday 11 May. Maths Paper 1 for both Foundation and Higher Tiers occurs on 14 May, Paper 2 on 3 June, and Paper 3 on 10 June.

Key points for Edexcel candidates

• Earliest exams: Thursday 7 May 2026 (languages/psychology).
• Major subjects: English Literature & Business on 11 May, with other subjects scattered through May and June.
• Maths papers: as summarised above.
• Science: Combined science and separate science papers occur between 21 May and 12 June.

OCR (Oxford Cambridge and RSA)

OCR’s June 2026 provisional timetable indicates that the first GCSE exams are on Thursday 7 May. Students taking Studies and applications in psychology have a paper that morning, and those studying Citizenship sit the “Citizenship in action” paper that afternoon. Other subjects such as Biology, Business and Classical Civilisation begin during the week of 11 May. OCR maths papers mirror AQA and Edexcel: Papers 1 & 4 (Foundation & Higher non‑calculator) on 14 May, Papers 2 & 5 on 3 June, and Papers 3 & 6 on 10 June.

Key points for OCR candidates

• Earliest exam: 7 May (Psychology & Citizenship).
• Core subjects: Most start around 11 May and continue through June.
• Maths schedule: identical to AQA/Edexcel.
• Contingency day: Wednesday 24 June 2026 is reserved for any rescheduled exams.

WJEC/Eduqas

WJEC (Wales) and Eduqas publish separate timetables. WJEC mathematics numeracy unit 1 exams are on Thursday 7 May, coinciding with AQA, Edexcel and OCR’s maths schedule. WJEC/Eduqas english and science papers generally occur on the same days as the English and science papers for other boards. Schools in Wales often use WJEC for many subjects but may opt for AQA or Edexcel for certain courses. Because of devolved education policy, Welsh schools should refer to the WJEC/Eduqas timetable for exact dates.

CCEA (Northern Ireland)

CCEA (Council for the Curriculum, Examinations & Assessment) serves Northern Ireland. According to BBC Bitesize, CCEA maths units 1-4 (foundation & higher) are scheduled for 14 May, aligning with other boards. CCEA English and science papers follow a similar pattern, though some non‑core subjects appear at slightly different times. CCEA candidates should consult the board’s final timetable for details.

GCSE subject Exam timetables at a glance

Below is a consolidated overview of the major subjects, highlighting the first paper for each board. Note that each paper lasts 1 hour 30 minutes unless stated otherwise and that separate science papers may have slightly different durations.

Subject	Board	First paper date (Morning unless stated)	Notes
Mathematics	AQA, Edexcel, OCR, WJEC/Eduqas, CCEA	14 May 2026	Non‑calculator paper 1 (foundation & higher). Paper 2 on 3 June and paper 3 on 10 June.
English Literature	Edexcel, AQA, OCR, WJEC/Eduqas, CCEA	11 May 2026 for Edexcel; AQA/OCR around 14 May; WJEC/Eduqas similar	Usually two papers (Paper 1 focusing on Shakespeare & modern texts; Paper 2 on poetry & modern prose).
English Language	Edexcel & AQA	Edexcel Paper 1 on [approx. 5 June]; Paper 2 on 5 June	AQA tends to schedule language papers later in June.
Biology (separate)	OCR	22 May (Paper 1) & 12 May (Paper 2); further papers in June	Edexcel & AQA typically schedule biology papers on 21 May, 10 June and 17 June.
Chemistry (separate)	OCR	21 May & 18 May	Edexcel & AQA follow similar pattern.
Physics (separate)	OCR	2 June & 15 June	Edexcel & AQA schedule physics around early June and mid‑June.
Combined Science	All boards	Spread across May & June; each paper counts towards two GCSE grades; final paper often on 12 June	Students receive two equal or adjacent grades (e.g., 9-9, 9-8).
Drama	Edexcel, AQA	8 May 2026	Usually a single written exam plus coursework/practical assessment.
Business Studies	Edexcel	11 May 2026	Other boards schedule business exams between mid‑May and early June.

Note: The above dates are based on final and provisional timetables published by boards. Schools may occasionally alter the start time of an exam within the morning or afternoon session, but the day remains fixed. Always consult your school for the confirmed timetable.

Revision planning and preparation

Start early and build a revision timetable

To hit a grade 4 or above, plan your study timetable well before spring 2026. Many exam boards release their provisional timetables a year in advance, so you can map out your revision around the subjects’ order. For example:

• Autumn 2025 (September to December): Focus on understanding the syllabus and completing classwork. Start summarising notes and identifying weak topics. London days are shorter and colder, so use the longer evenings for study.
• Spring 2026 (January to March): Begin regular past‑paper practice. Many schools hold mock exams in February; treat these as if they were the real thing. The weather gradually improves in London, but avoid excessive outdoor distractions.
• April 2026: Finalise your revision timetable around the exam dates. Prioritise subjects scheduled for early May, like drama and language papers. Use the Easter break for intensive revision.
• May to June 2026: Follow a structured schedule that mirrors the exam timetable. If your first exam is 7 May, allocate the preceding week for high‑priority revision. Use early morning study sessions when London’s roads and buses are quieter.

Travel and exam day tips

• Plan your route: London’s public transport network can be unpredictable. Check National Rail and Transport for London (TfL) updates daily. Aim to arrive at your exam centre at least 30 minutes before the start time. Remember that exams start at 9 am or 1.30 pm.
• Avoid peak travel: Morning rush hour (7–9 am) and evening rush hour (4.30–6 pm) can delay you. Consider leaving earlier or staying near the centre if you have exams on consecutive days.
• Pack essentials: Bring pens, pencils, a calculator with fresh batteries, and any allowed equipment such as a protractor or compass. Do not rely on borrowing from others, as exam regulations may prohibit this.
• Stay hydrated and nourished: London weather can be unpredictable; May often sees mild temperatures (~15 °C) while June may reach 20 °C. Bring water and light snacks to keep energy levels steady.

Revision resources

• Past papers and mark schemes: Practising past papers under timed conditions is one of the most effective ways to prepare. Each exam board provides downloadable papers; make sure you work through the set corresponding to your board (e.g., AQA, Edexcel, OCR).
• Formula and equation sheets: Some boards provide formula sheets for mathematics and science. For example, Edexcel publishes formulae and equations sheets for students to access before exams. However, these may not include all formulas, so memorise those not listed.
• Study groups: London offers many libraries and revision centres. Studying with peers can help you stay accountable. Choose quiet, comfortable venues like the British Library, your local borough library or school study rooms.

FAQs about GCSE exam dates 2026

Below are frequently asked questions that people search for. Each question is a standalone section so it can rank independently on Google.

Final thoughts and pro tips

• Stay updated: Exam timetables can change. Follow your school’s communications and check the official exam board websites regularly for updates.
• Balance revision and wellbeing: While it’s essential to work hard, taking regular breaks, exercising and maintaining social contact helps prevent burnout. London offers numerous parks and green spaces where you can unwind between study sessions.
• Use professional support: If you feel overwhelmed, consider working with a tutor or attending revision workshops. Local tutors understand the specific exam boards your school uses and can tailor sessions accordingly.
• Plan for results day: GCSE results are typically released on the third Thursday in August. Ensure you have a plan for next steps, whether that’s enrolling in A‑levels, BTECs, apprenticeships or sixth‑form college.