How important are your GCSE grades?

Find out how GCSEs affect your future choices and studies, and what to do if they don't go to plan.

While it's important to realise that your GCSE results won't completely define your future, theycould impact the following:

The sixth form you go to
The qualifications you take next
Your eligibility for a universitycourse
The universities you can apply to
Your career prospects

What are GCSEs?

GCSEs (General Certificate of Secondary Education) are subject-based academic qualifications that students study across year 10 and 11 at secondary school in England and Wales.

The grading scale is from 9-1, with 9 being the highest grade.

Beginning to think about which A-levels to take? Use our A-level explorer tool to see where your choices could take you.

How will GCSEs affect my future studies?

1. GCSEs can determine the sixth form you go to

Entry requirements for school and college sixth forms vary–ranging from four to fivegrade 5-4s, with6-5sin the subjects you want to study, through to at least six GCSEs at 7 or abovefor the most selective colleges.

Your GCSEs are used as anindicator of how well you could do at A-level.Many sixth forms use them in a scoring system to predict how well you’re likely to do on their course.

2. GCSEs determine the qualifications you take next

Some sixth forms may say you can’t do a particular subject unless you’ve got at leasta 6 or 7in that subject at GCSE.

If your grades are mostly 4s or 5s, studying A-levels or Advanced Highers could be off limits altogether; a sixth form may offer you a vocational course (which is more hands-on)such as aBtec Level 3 qualification instead. Most universities accept Btec qualifications.

Read more:A-levels and AS-levels explained

3. GCSEs could be used to assess eligibilityfor a uni course

Regardless of the subjectyou want to study, the majority of university courses look for at least a grade 4 or 5 in English and maths.

Some university coursesask for specific subjectswith certain gradesat GCSE,so check directly withuniversities if you're in doubt.

But don't let your GCSEs put you off applying to the university course you really want– strong A-levelscanoutweighweaker GCSE results, particularly if you expand on this in your personal statement.

4. GCSEs may limit the universities you can apply to

Some of the top academic universities (often belonging to theRussell Group) will askfor very high A-level grades – AAB or higher – for most courses.

Because of the assumed connection between your GCSE and A-level results, it'll be down to you to prove you’re able to achieve top grades. Grades4 to 6at GCSE suggest Cs and Ds at A-level–which might not be enough to get into some universities.

Read more: what are university entry requirements?

5. GCSEs can affect the career you end up doing

A career-related degree may also have subject-specific entry requirements:

Engineering courses such aschemical engineering: you'll usually need A-levels or equivalent in chemistry and maths, and physics for other engineering courses, which in turn means you’ll need to have good GCSE grades in science and maths.
Medicine: competitive courses like medicine may ask fortop GCSEs across the board forEnglish, maths and science subjects.
Social workandsecondary school teaching: grade 4 or 5 in GCSE English Language and maths.
Nursingandprimary school teaching: grade4 or 5in GCSE English, maths and science.

You can also put your grades on your CV when you're applying to part-time jobs at college or uni.

What you can do if your results don't go to plan?

Don't panic if you think oneof your grades might hold you back –speak to teachers or a careers adviser about your options.

Resits

GCSE Englishand maths resits take place in November, so you could study for these alongside your A-levels. But you may need to wait until next summer if you need to resit more subjects.

Some universities might not accept GCSE retakes forcompetitive degrees likemedicine;if you have an idea of what you want to study at university,researchthe entry requirementsto see what's open to you.

Remarks

Talk to your school or college if you're not happy with an exam result. Students can’t make direct inquiries with their examboard, so it will be up to them to decide if you've got a strong case or not.

Our sister site The Student Room has a comprehensive guide to all your post-GCSE options.

Beginning A-levels soon? See into the future...

Find out where your A-levels could take youwith our A-level Explorer. Discover all the relevant degrees based on your choices, plus the careers which might follow.

Also, take a look at what you should be thinking about whenpicking your A-level subjects.

Worried about GCSE exams or the step-up to A-levels? Pick up some brand-new positive study habitsin our revision help advice.

Our partnership with the University of East Anglia

The Student Room is proud to work with UEA, a UK top-25 university (Complete University Guide 2025) and UK top-30 university (The Times/Sunday Times 2024), as the official partner of our student life section.

Located on the edge of Norwich, a lively city full of secret gems just waiting to be discovered.

Visit their profile page to learn more or join the conversation on The Student Room's UEA forum.

How important are your GCSE grades? - The Uni Guide (2024)