GCSE Exam Dates 2025: Full Timetable & Key Information

Planning for GCSE exams starts with one simple question: when do they actually happen? The 2025 exam period stretched from late April to late June, but exact dates vary by exam board and subject. This guide uses official timetables from AQA (the largest GCSE exam board in the UK) and Pearson Edexcel (a major exam board) to help you understand what to expect.

GCSE exam period 2025 (AQA): 28 April – 20 June 2025 ·
Sample maths exam (Pearson Edexcel): 15 May 2025 ·
Contingency date (Durrington High School): 25 June 2025

What are the dates for GCSE exams in 2025?

When do GCSE exams start and end?

• According to AQA (the largest GCSE exam board in the UK), their GCSE exam components were scheduled from Monday 28 April to Friday 20 June 2025.
• The MyTutor (online tutoring platform) guide reports a general start of 5 May and end of 20 June 2025 for most students.
• Some schools, like Durrington High School (a UK secondary school), included a contingency date of 25 June for any interruptions.

The implication: no single calendar covers all boards, so checking your specific board’s document is non-negotiable.

How to find your board-specific timetable

• AQA’s timetable page provides a searchable PDF.
• Pearson Edexcel’s final 2025 timetable lists every exam date and time (9:00am or 1:30pm sessions).
• Your school will also give you a personalised timetable – cross-reference it with the board’s PDF.

What is the first day of GCSE exams?

Is there a single fixed first day?

No. The UK does not have a uniform start date. AQA’s earliest exam components began on 28 April 2025 (AQA), while other boards and most schools kicked off the main written exam period on 5 May 2025, as reported by MyTutor.

First exam dates in 2025

• Durrington High School’s timetable shows Digital Information Technology on Thursday 1 May 2025 at 1:00pm (Durrington High School).
• Pearson Edexcel’s timetable includes Computer Science Paper 2 on Tuesday 20 May 2025 (Pearson Edexcel).

The pattern: check your school’s own schedule – it may have earlier practical or digital exams before the main written period.

What date is the GCSE maths exam?

GCSE maths exam dates by board

• For Pearson Edexcel, Mathematics Paper 1 (Non-Calculator) Higher Tier was on Thursday 15 May 2025.
• Durrington High School’s timetable shows Maths Paper 2 on Wednesday 4 June 2025 at 9:00am (likely following AQA or OCR).

Non-calculator and calculator paper schedules

Maths GCSEs are split into multiple papers – typically a non-calculator paper first, followed by calculator papers. The order and dates differ by board. Always refer to your board’s official timetable for exact days.

What is the pass mark for GCSE in 2025?

Understanding grade 4 and grade 5

In the GCSE grading system, grade 4 is a standard pass and grade 5 is a strong pass. These thresholds are set by the exams regulator Ofqual and the exam boards after each exam series. The exact boundaries for 2025 have not yet been published – they typically arrive on results day.

How grade boundaries are determined

• Boundaries are based on paper difficulty and the overall performance of the cohort, meaning they can shift year to year.
• AQA’s timetable also links to a grading explanation page that outlines the process.
• Past boundaries are available on exam board websites for reference, but 2025’s numbers remain unknown until results day.

What are the hardest GCSE subjects?

List of commonly cited hardest subjects

• Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and English Literature often top lists of hardest GCSEs.
• Historical pass rates show that Maths and English Language have higher failure rates than many other subjects.
• Difficulty is subjective – a subject that challenges one student may suit another.

Why certain subjects are considered harder

Subjects with abstract concepts (like Further Mathematics) or heavy content loads (like History) tend to be perceived as more demanding. The MyTutor guide notes that students often find STEM subjects and English Literature tougher, but there is no official government ranking.

GCSE exam timeline 2025

• 28 April 2025: AQA exam components begin
• 5 May 2025: Main exam period start (MyTutor estimate)
• 15 May 2025: Pearson Edexcel Maths Paper 1
• 4 June 2025: Durrington High School Maths Paper 2
• 20 June 2025: Last written exams (AQA/MyTutor)
• 25 June 2025: Contingency day (Durrington)
• 21 August 2025: Likely GCSE results day (MyTutor)

What we know vs what’s unclear

Confirmed facts

• AQA and Pearson Edexcel have published final 2025 timetables.
• GCSE exams are scheduled in common exam slots agreed by all boards under the Joint Council for Qualifications (AQA).
• Pearson Edexcel requires candidates with multiple exams in one session to take them consecutively with a supervised break (Pearson Edexcel).
• Durrington High School’s timetable includes a contingency date of 25 June 2025.

What’s unclear

• Exact first and last exam dates for all exam boards.
• Specific GCSE maths exam dates for AQA, OCR, and WJEC.
• 2025 grade boundaries (not yet released).
• Official results day date – MyTutor reports 21 August, but this has not been confirmed by JCQ.

“GCSE exams are timetabled in common exam slots agreed by all exam boards under the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ).”

AQA (the largest GCSE exam board in the UK)

“Candidates with more than one examination in a session should take them consecutively, with a supervised break allowed between consecutive exams.”

Pearson Edexcel (a major exam board)

For students in the UK, knowing your board’s specific timetable is the single most important step. Without it, you risk missing an exam or conflicting paper slots. The pattern is clear: don’t rely on a single national calendar; always check your school and board.

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For those looking to compare scheduling patterns, the GCSE exam dates 2024 timetable provides a useful reference for how exam boards structure their sessions year to year.

Frequently asked questions