GCSE Exam Dates 2027: Full Timetable Guide for All Exam Boards
A clear parent-friendly guide to GCSE exam dates, key subjects, contingency dates and revision planning for 2027.
The first problem with searching for a full GCSE timetable is that no single online table can show every student exactly what they will sit.
One Year 11 student may take AQA Science, Pearson Edexcel Maths and OCR Computer Science. Another may study Eduqas English, WJEC qualifications in Wales or CCEA subjects in Northern Ireland. Their dates, paper codes, tiers and components will not be identical.
This guide brings together the most important GCSE exam dates 2027, with a practical snapshot for Maths, English and Science. Students must still follow the personal timetable issued by their school or exam centre.
Are the GCSE Exam Dates for 2027 Confirmed?
Yes. The main awarding bodies have now published current or final Summer 2027 timetables. Pearson Edexcel, OCR and WJEC/Eduqas explicitly label their documents final, while AQA has published its current Version 1.0 timetable.
This matters because some earlier 2027 PDFs were provisional. A provisional timetable is published for consultation so schools and colleges can identify serious clashes or practical problems before awarding organisations issue the final schedule.
Students should still monitor school updates because schools may update room arrangements, arrival instructions, access arrangements or individual clash plans.
Important Reminder
A general GCSE timetable is useful for planning, but the school-issued personal timetable is the document the student should carry and follow.
- AQA: Version 1.0 timetable published.
- Pearson Edexcel: UK GCSE timetable marked final.
- OCR: GCSE and Cambridge Nationals timetable marked final.
- WJEC and Eduqas: Final Examination Timetable, Version 2.
When Do GCSE Exams Start in 2027?
Most common written GCSE papers begin in the week starting Monday 10 May 2027. However, speaking tests, practical assessments, art examinations and other non-exam components can take place earlier, so some students will have assessed work before the written series begins.
Pearson’s final timetable begins its first examination week on Monday 10 May. OCR also identifies Monday 10 May to Friday 14 May as Week 1. AQA schedules several written papers on 10 May, including Computer Science and Citizenship Studies.
The Most Accurate Answer
- Main written series: from the week beginning 10 May 2027.
- Speaking, practical and non-exam assessment work: potentially earlier.
- Final contingency availability: through 23 June 2027.
- GCSE results for students: 19 August 2027.
What Are the Key GCSE Dates for 2027?
The main written series runs across May and June, with many core papers taking place between 11 May and 18 June. Wednesday 23 June is the contingency day, and GCSE results are scheduled to be available to students on Thursday 19 August 2027.
| Date or Period | What It Means | Student Action |
|---|---|---|
| 12 April–21 May | AQA MFL speaking-test window. | Confirm the individual speaking date with school. |
| Week beginning 10 May | Main written GCSE series begins for common qualifications. | Check first exam, room and arrival time. |
| 11 May | First Biology and many Combined Science Biology papers. | Begin final Biology review well before this week. |
| 12 May | Common English Literature Paper 1 slot. | Confirm text and component for the correct board. |
| 14 May | Common Maths first-paper slot. | Check whether the board’s paper is calculator or non-calculator. |
| 24 May | Common English Language Paper 1 slot. | Practise the correct board’s paper structure. |
| 27 May | Common Maths second-paper slot. | Check calculator rules and required equipment. |
| 31 May–4 June | OCR timetable shows no examinations during spring bank holiday week. | Use the gap carefully without treating it as a revision marathon. |
| 7 June | Written examination schedule resumes. | Prepare for tightly spaced second papers. |
| 8 June | Common English Language Paper 2 slot. | Review timing and writing tasks. |
| 14 June | Common third Maths paper for AQA, Pearson and OCR. | Use the gap after Paper 2 to review errors and remaining content. |
| 18 June | Several Physics and Combined Science Physics 2 papers. | Do not stop Science revision after the first round. |
| 23 June | Contingency day. | Remain available and do not book travel before this date. |
| 18 August | Results sent electronically to schools and colleges. | Follow the school’s collection guidance. |
| 19 August | Results available to students. | Attend or access results as instructed by the centre. |
Where Can You Find Official GCSE Timetables?
Use the awarding organisation’s official timetable page or PDF, then compare it with the personal timetable issued by the school or examination centre. A general timetable is useful for planning, but the centre-issued document confirms the student’s actual entries and arrangements.
| Exam Board | Where to Check | What to Confirm |
|---|---|---|
| AQA | Current May/June 2027 GCSE timetable. | Specification code, paper, tier, date, session and duration. |
| Pearson Edexcel | Summer 2027 Final UK GCSE timetable. | UK GCSE rather than International GCSE. |
| OCR | June 2027 GCSE and Cambridge Nationals final timetable. | GCSE qualification code and correct OCR specification. |
| WJEC | Summer 2027 final timetable. | Whether the student takes a legacy or new Made for Wales unit. |
| Eduqas | Combined WJEC/Eduqas final timetable. | Eduqas component code and duration. |
| CCEA | CCEA’s official timetable and the centre-issued schedule. | Northern Ireland qualification, unit and local start instructions. |
| JCQ | June 2027 general-qualification key dates and commentary. | Changes, common arrangements and clash guidance. |
| School or exam centre | Personal candidate timetable. | Candidate details, room, seat, arrival time and approved arrangements. |
Which GCSE Exam Boards Are Included?
The main GCSE awarding organisations are AQA, Pearson Edexcel, OCR, WJEC, Eduqas and CCEA. Schools can use different boards for different subjects, which is why students need their precise specification and paper codes before copying dates into a revision calendar.
AQA, Edexcel and OCR
Widely used across England for GCSE subjects including Maths, English and Science.
WJEC and Eduqas
Important for Wales, Eduqas qualifications and new Made for Wales units.
CCEA
The main awarding organisation for many qualifications in Northern Ireland.
GCSE 2027 Exam Dates by Exam Board
Below is a practical summary of the major board information. Students should still check the exact qualification code and school-issued timetable.
AQA GCSE Exam Dates 2027
AQA’s current Version 1.0 timetable schedules most major written GCSE papers from 10 May onward. Core dates include English Literature on 12 and 19 May, Maths on 14 and 27 May and 14 June, and English Language on 24 May and 8 June.
- English Literature Paper 1: 12 May, morning.
- English Literature Paper 2: 19 May, morning.
- English Language Paper 1: 24 May, morning.
- English Language Paper 2: 8 June, morning.
- Maths Paper 1: 14 May, morning, non-calculator.
- Maths Paper 2: 27 May, morning, calculator.
- Maths Paper 3: 14 June, morning, calculator.
Pearson Edexcel GCSE Exam Dates 2027
Pearson Edexcel’s Summer 2027 UK GCSE timetable is final. Its core schedule places English Literature on 12 and 19 May, Maths on 14 and 27 May and 14 June, and English Language on 24 May and 8 June.
- Maths Paper 1: 14 May, morning, non-calculator.
- Maths Paper 2: 27 May, morning, calculator.
- Maths Paper 3: 14 June, morning, calculator.
- English Literature Paper 1: 12 May, morning.
- English Literature Paper 2: 19 May, morning.
- English Language Paper 1: 24 May, morning.
- English Language Paper 2: 8 June, morning.
OCR GCSE Exam Dates 2027
OCR’s June 2027 GCSE and Cambridge Nationals timetable is final. Core English dates match the common 12, 19 and 24 May and 8 June slots, while OCR Maths uses 14 May, 27 May and 14 June with a different calculator order.
- Foundation Paper 1 / Higher Paper 4: 14 May, morning, calculator.
- Foundation Paper 2 / Higher Paper 5: 27 May, morning, non-calculator.
- Foundation Paper 3 / Higher Paper 6: 14 June, morning, calculator.
- OCR shows no examinations during 31 May to 4 June.
- Students must remain available until the contingency session on 23 June.
WJEC and Eduqas GCSE Exam Dates 2027
WJEC and Eduqas have published a combined Summer 2027 Final Examination Timetable, Version 2. It contains Eduqas components, legacy WJEC qualifications and new Made for Wales units, so students must match their exact paper code.
- Eduqas English Literature Component 1: 12 May, morning.
- Eduqas English Literature Component 2: 19 May, morning.
- Eduqas English Language Component 1: 24 May, morning.
- Eduqas English Language Component 2: 8 June, morning.
- Eduqas Mathematics Component 1: 14 May, morning.
- Eduqas Mathematics Component 2: 27 May, morning.
GCSE Maths, English and Science Exam Dates 2027
Core subjects often share common slots, but paper structure, calculator order, component codes and duration can differ by exam board.
GCSE Maths 2027
For AQA, Pearson Edexcel and OCR, the main Maths dates are 14 May, 27 May and 14 June 2027, all in morning sessions. Eduqas Mathematics uses two components on 14 and 27 May.
- AQA Paper 1: 14 May, morning, non-calculator.
- AQA Paper 2: 27 May, morning, calculator.
- AQA Paper 3: 14 June, morning, calculator.
- OCR uses a different calculator order.
Students should not treat Paper 1 as the point when all Maths revision stops. Later papers can still test any permitted content.
GCSE English 2027
AQA, Pearson Edexcel, OCR and Eduqas place English Literature components on 12 and 19 May, followed by English Language papers on 24 May and 8 June.
- English Literature first paper: 12 May.
- English Literature second paper: 19 May.
- English Language first paper: 24 May.
- English Language second paper: 8 June.
GCSE Science 2027
Many AQA, Pearson and OCR Science qualifications use common morning slots across 11, 17 and 25 May and 10, 15 and 18 June.
- Biology 1: 11 May.
- Chemistry 1: 17 May.
- Physics 1: 25 May.
- Biology 2: 10 June.
- Chemistry 2: 15 June.
- Physics 2: 18 June.
GCSE Maths Timetable Snapshot
These dates come from the current or final AQA, Pearson, OCR and WJEC/Eduqas documents. Students should still confirm paper codes, tier and calculator rules with school.
| Exam Board | Paper or Component | Date | Session | Important Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AQA | Paper 1 | 14 May | Morning | Non-calculator. |
| AQA | Paper 2 | 27 May | Morning | Calculator. |
| AQA | Paper 3 | 14 June | Morning | Calculator. |
| Pearson Edexcel | Paper 1 | 14 May | Morning | Non-calculator. |
| Pearson Edexcel | Paper 2 | 27 May | Morning | Calculator. |
| Pearson Edexcel | Paper 3 | 14 June | Morning | Calculator. |
| OCR | Foundation P1 / Higher P4 | 14 May | Morning | Calculator. |
| OCR | Foundation P2 / Higher P5 | 27 May | Morning | Non-calculator. |
| OCR | Foundation P3 / Higher P6 | 14 June | Morning | Calculator. |
| Eduqas | Component 1 | 14 May | Morning | Check component rules with school. |
| Eduqas | Component 2 | 27 May | Morning | Check component rules with school. |
GCSE English Timetable Snapshot
The shared dates do not mean the papers are interchangeable. AQA English Language Paper 1 has a different structure and timing from OCR or Pearson. Eduqas also uses its own component format.
| Subject | Paper or Component | Date | Session |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Literature | First paper/component | 12 May | Morning |
| English Literature | Second paper/component | 19 May | Morning |
| English Language | First paper/component | 24 May | Morning |
| English Language | Second paper/component | 8 June | Morning |
English Literature
Paper: First paper/component
Date: 12 May
Session: Morning
English Literature
Paper: Second paper/component
Date: 19 May
Session: Morning
English Language
Paper: First paper/component
Date: 24 May
Session: Morning
English Language
Paper: Second paper/component
Date: 8 June
Session: Morning
Common Science Date Pattern
AQA Combined Science: Trilogy and Pearson Combined Science follow a six-paper Biology, Chemistry and Physics pattern. OCR and WJEC/Eduqas routes must be checked carefully.
| Date | Common Paper Focus | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| 11 May | Biology Paper 1 / Combined Biology 1 | AQA, Pearson and OCR specifications. |
| 17 May | Chemistry Paper 1 / Combined Chemistry 1 | AQA, Pearson and OCR specifications. |
| 25 May | Physics Paper 1 / Combined Physics 1 | AQA, Pearson and OCR specifications. |
| 10 June | Biology Paper 2 / later Combined Science paper | Qualification-dependent. |
| 15 June | Chemistry Paper 2 / later Combined Science paper | Qualification-dependent. |
| 18 June | Physics Paper 2 / final Combined Science paper | Qualification-dependent. |
11 May
Focus: Biology Paper 1 / Combined Biology 1
Examples: AQA, Pearson and OCR specifications.
17 May
Focus: Chemistry Paper 1 / Combined Chemistry 1
Examples: AQA, Pearson and OCR specifications.
25 May
Focus: Physics Paper 1 / Combined Physics 1
Examples: AQA, Pearson and OCR specifications.
10 June
Focus: Biology Paper 2 / later Combined Science paper
Examples: Qualification-dependent.
15 June
Focus: Chemistry Paper 2 / later Combined Science paper
Examples: Qualification-dependent.
18 June
Focus: Physics Paper 2 / final Combined Science paper
Examples: Qualification-dependent.
What Are the GCSE Contingency Arrangements for 2027?
Wednesday 23 June 2027 is the designated contingency day, with morning and afternoon sessions reserved for examinations disrupted nationally or by a significant local incident. This forms part of standard national contingency planning.
Students must remain available until that date, even if their scheduled papers finish earlier.
- Do not book holidays before the end of 23 June.
- The contingency day is not a spare resit date.
- It is for serious disruption affecting examination delivery.
What Happens If Two GCSE Exams Clash?
A clash happens when a candidate is entered for two or more examinations scheduled in the same session. The school or exam centre normally manages it under JCQ rules.
- Sitting papers consecutively.
- Having a supervised break.
- Moving one paper to another session on the same day.
- Remaining under supervision between papers.
- Using overnight supervision in exceptional cases.
How Should Students Use the 2027 Timetable for Revision?
Start with the personal timetable, then plan backwards from each paper. Give earlier examinations priority without abandoning later ones, build review time between papers and reserve the final days for retrieval, timed practice and correcting known mistakes rather than relearning everything.
If your child needs help turning the timetable into a workable subject plan, structured online GCSE tutoring can provide focused support without adding travel during a busy examination term. GCSE Online Tutoring.uk offers support across GCSE subjects at £30 per lesson.
Build a Personal Exam Calendar
Record subject, exam board, specification code, tier, paper, date, session, duration, arrival time, room and equipment.
Work Backwards
Give each paper a final timed-paper session, correction session, weak-topic review and several shorter retrieval sessions.
Use Gaps Carefully
After Paper 1, review difficult areas but keep revising the wider specification. Do not treat gaps as holidays or exhausted cramming.
Revision Planning by Month
A realistic revision plan should build gradually, using mocks and feedback to repair weak topics before the main exam season.
| Month | Revision Focus | Parent Support Tip |
|---|---|---|
| September–December 2026 | Secure current content and identify recurring gaps. | Ask about understanding, not just homework completion. |
| January–February 2027 | Use mocks and school assessments diagnostically. | Review papers and teacher feedback rather than focusing only on grades. |
| March 2027 | Repair weak topics and begin regular timed sections. | Help protect consistent weekly study time. |
| April 2027 | Increase past-paper work; prepare speaking and practical assessments. | Confirm oral, practical and non-exam dates. |
| Early May 2027 | Prioritise first papers and final recall. | Keep routines calm; avoid introducing an unrealistic timetable. |
| Late May 2027 | Review first-paper lessons and prepare remaining components. | Watch fatigue and protect sleep. |
| June 2027 | Focus on second papers, timing and high-value corrections. | Do not let the student mentally finish before the last paper. |
| After final scheduled exam | Remain available through 23 June. | Avoid booking travel before the contingency period ends. |
What Should Parents Check Before GCSE Exam Season?
Parents should confirm the personal timetable, transport, arrival instructions, required equipment, access arrangements and contingency availability. The most useful support is often practical: reducing last-minute uncertainty, protecting sleep and helping the student follow a realistic plan without taking control of every revision session.
- Print or save the latest school-issued timetable.
- Check each subject’s exam board and paper code.
- Mark morning and afternoon sessions clearly.
- Record the school’s required arrival time.
- Check transport for early-morning papers.
- Confirm approved access arrangements.
- Prepare black pens and permitted equipment.
- Check calculator rules for each Maths paper.
- Keep phones and prohibited devices away from the examination room.
- Confirm clash arrangements in writing.
- Avoid holidays before the contingency day.
- Follow the school’s results-day instructions.
Need Help Planning GCSE Revision?
Tell us your child’s year group, subjects, exam board and weak areas. We can help recommend online GCSE tutoring support around the 2027 timetable.
When Is GCSE Results Day 2027?
GCSE results are scheduled to be available to students on Thursday 19 August 2027. Schools and colleges are due to receive results electronically on Wednesday 18 August.
Individual schools decide how students receive their results. This may involve collecting them in person, accessing a secure online portal, receiving an authorised email or arranging collection by a nominated person.
Results Day May Involve Decisions About
- Sixth-form entry.
- College courses.
- Apprenticeships.
- English or Maths resits.
- Reviews of marking.
- Alternative course options.
GCSE Exam Dates 2027 FAQs
Are the GCSE exam dates for 2027 confirmed?
Yes. Pearson Edexcel, OCR and WJEC/Eduqas now publish final Summer 2027 GCSE timetables, and AQA has issued its current Version 1.0 timetable. Students must still check their school-issued timetable for individual entries and arrangements.
When do GCSE exams start in 2027?
Most common written GCSE examinations begin in the week starting Monday 10 May 2027. Speaking tests, practical assessments and non-exam components may take place earlier, depending on the subject, board and school.
Where can I find the official GCSE timetable for 2027?
Use the official timetable published by the student’s exam board, then compare it with the personal candidate timetable issued by the school or examination centre. JCQ also provides central June 2027 timetable information and change commentary.
Are AQA, Edexcel and OCR GCSE dates the same?
Some common subject slots are the same, but paper structures can differ. AQA, Pearson and OCR use the same three main Maths dates, for example, but OCR places its non-calculator paper second rather than first.
What are GCSE contingency days?
Contingency sessions are reserved for examinations affected by serious national or local disruption. Wednesday 23 June 2027 is the designated contingency day, and candidates must remain available until then.
What happens if two GCSE examinations clash?
The school or examination centre manages the clash under JCQ rules. The student may sit papers consecutively, receive a supervised break or follow another approved arrangement. Students should contact their examinations officer if their personal timetable shows an unresolved clash.
When is GCSE results day 2027?
GCSE results are scheduled to be available to students on Thursday 19 August 2027. Schools and colleges are due to receive results electronically on Wednesday 18 August.
How early should students start revising for the 2027 exams?
Students should build knowledge throughout Year 11 and begin structured examination revision well before the written series. By March, most students should be identifying weak topics and using exam questions regularly rather than trying to begin the whole course again.
Can GCSE exam dates change?
Final timetables are much more stable than provisional versions, but students should continue checking communications from their school and exam board. Room, arrival and individual arrangements may also be updated even when the national paper date remains unchanged.
Should students follow their school timetable or the exam-board timetable?
Students should follow the personal timetable issued by their school or examination centre. The exam-board timetable confirms national paper dates, but the school document includes the student’s actual entries, arrival instructions, room, seat, access arrangements and clash plan.
Need Focused GCSE Support Before the 2027 Exams?
If the timetable reveals that your child needs focused help before a cluster of Maths, English or Science papers, online tutoring can help organise the remaining preparation around the correct dates.
