25 April 2026
The GCSE exam window for 2026 runs from Monday 11 May to Friday 19 June. Specific subject dates vary by exam board, but all major boards (AQA, Edexcel, OCR, WJEC) share the same broad calendar. Here's what to expect and how to plan revision.
Key dates
Provisional 2026 exam dates (always verify the final timetable on your exam board's site):
- Monday 11 May 2026 — exam window opens (first papers)
- Mid-May — English Literature, Geography, History Paper 1s
- Late May — Maths Paper 1 (non-calculator), most Sciences
- Half-term break is usually included in the window — exams continue both sides
- Early–mid June — Maths Papers 2 & 3, MFL, additional sciences
- Friday 19 June 2026 — last paper
- Wednesday 24 June 2026 — contingency day for major disruption
- Thursday 21 August 2026 — results day
How to use the timetable
Get your final timetable from your school in March — they print individual student schedules. Mark every paper, plus the gap-days between papers (these are your final-cram opportunities).
Easter is the critical window
The Easter holiday (typically early-mid April) is the highest-leverage revision window. By then you've sat mocks, you know your weak areas, and you have two clear weeks before the exam pressure mounts. See our Easter revision strategy for how to use it well.
Contingency day — what it's for
The contingency day on Wednesday 24 June 2026 is held in case of major disruption (e.g. national emergencies, exam leaks). It's not a routine resit day. Schools don't use it unless instructed by the exam boards.
Final-week planning
In the last week before each paper, switch from learning to consolidation. Focus on past papers under timed conditions, mark-scheme phrasing, and exam-day routines (sleep, food, getting to the exam early). Don't try to learn new content in the last 48 hours — it rarely lands and crowds out what's already there.
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