When do GCSE exams start in 2027?
GCSE exams will start the week of Monday, 10th May 2027. This is the first week exams will be held.
Exam schedules will be provided by your school ahead of time to help you prepare, and you can find exam dates for core subjects listed below.
Find out more about how GCSEs are graded in our guide.
When do GCSE exams finish in 2027?
This is the date you’ll want to circle on your calendar!
GCSE exams end on Friday, 18th June 2027. This is the last official date that any exams are held; if you’re lucky, your actual exams may end before this.
When is GCSE results day 2027?
GCSE results day will be Thursday, 19th August 2027. It’s set on the third Thursday of August every year.
Key GCSE exam dates for 2027: core subjects
We’ve collated the key dates you need to know for all your core subjects: English Literature, English Language, Maths (Foundation and Higher), and Combined and Triple Science.
Taken from the AQA, OCR and Edexcel exam timetables, here are your exam dates:
Tuesday, 11th May 2027
- AQA, Biology (Separate), Paper 1
- AQA, Combined Science (Triple), Biology
- Edexcel, Biology (Separate), Paper 1
- Edexcel, Combined Science, Biology
- OCR, Combined Science B, Biology (Foundation)
- OCR, Combined Science B, Biology (Higher)
Wednesday, 12th May 2027
- AQA, English Literature, Paper 1
- Edexcel, English Literature, Paper 1
- OCR, English Literature, Paper 1
Friday, 14th May 2027
- AQA, Maths (Foundation and Higher), Paper 1 (Non-Calculator)
- Edexcel, Maths (Foundation and Higher), Paper 1 (Non-Calculator)
- OCR, Maths (Foundation), Paper 1F
- OCR, Maths (Higher), Paper 4H
Monday, 17th May 2027
- AQA, Chemistry (Separate), Paper 1
- AQA, Combined Science, Chemistry
- Edexcel, Chemistry (Separate), Paper 1
- OCR Gateway, Combined Science A (Higher), Chemistry Paper 9
- OCR, Combined Science B (Foundation), Chemistry (Foundation)
- OCR, Combined Science B (Higher), Chemistry (Higher)
Wednesday, 19th May 2027
- AQA, English Literature, Paper 2
- Edexcel, English Literature, Paper 2
- OCR, English Literature, Paper 2
Monday, 24th May 2027
- AQA, English Language, Paper 1
- Edexcel, English Language, Paper 1
- OCR, English Language, Paper 1
Tuesday, 25th May 2027
- AQA, Physics (Separate), Paper 1
- AQA, Combined Science (Trilogy), Physics
- Edexcel, Physics (Separate), Paper 1
- Edexcel, Combined Science, Physics
- OCR Gateway, Combined Science A (Higher), Physics Paper 11
- OCR, Combined Science B (Foundation), Physics
- OCR, Combined Science B (Higher), Physics
Thursday, 27th May 2027
- AQA, Maths (Foundation and Higher), Paper 2 (Calculator)
- Edexcel, Maths (Foundation and Higher), Paper 2 (Calculator)
- OCR, Maths (Foundation), Paper 2F
- OCR, Maths (Higher), Paper 5H
Tuesday, 8th June 2027
- AQA, English Language, Paper 2
- Edexcel, English Language, Paper 2
- OCR, English Language, Paper 2
Thursday, 10th June 2027
- AQA, Biology (Separate), Paper 2
- Edexcel, Biology (Separate), Paper 2
- OCR Gateway, Combined Science A (Higher), Biology Paper 8
- OCR, Combined Science B (Foundation), Combined Science
- OCR, Combined Science B (Higher), Combined Science
Monday, 14th June 2027
- AQA, Maths (Foundation and Higher), Paper 3 (Calculator)
- Edexcel, Maths (Foundation and Higher), Paper 3 (Calculator)
- OCR, Maths (Foundation), Paper 3F
- OCR, Maths (Higher), Paper 4H
Tuesday, 15th June 2027
- AQA, Chemistry (Separate), Paper 2
- Edexcel, Chemistry (Separate), Paper 2
- Edexcel, Combined Science, Chemistry
- OCR Gateway, Combined Science A (Higher), Chemistry Paper 10
Friday, 18th June 2027
- AQA, Physics (Separate), Paper 2
- Edexcel, Physics (Separate), Paper 2
- OCR Gateway, Combined Science A (Higher), Physics Paper 12
Please note that these dates are correct at the time of writing, but may change. Always check with your school and the official exam board for the final dates.
Exam board timetables for GCSEs 2027
To check dates for the rest of your subjects and other GCSE exam boards, take a look at the full exam timetables for each below:
- AQA GCSE exam timetable
- OCR GCSE exam timetable
- Edexcel GCSE exam timetable
- Eduqas GCSE exam timetable
- CCEA GCSE exam timetable
If you don’t know which GCSE exam board you’re studying with, check in with your school teachers for more information or take a look at our guide to exam boards for more advice.
What does the government’s curriculum review mean for your exams?
The government published its response to the Curriculum and Assessment Review in late 2025, and there’s a difference between what’s actually confirmed and what’s still being discussed.
What’s confirmed:
- Exam time is being reduced by an average of 2.5 to 3 hours per pupil across all GCSEs, while keeping standards just as rigorous.
- A few subjects are also getting content updates: English language GCSE will focus more on reading fluency, critical analysis and written communication; computing GCSE will replace computer science GCSE with broader content; and geography, history, music and science GCSEs will get their own content reviews. PE GCSE’s list of activities is being looked at too.
What this means for your 2027 exams:
- Nothing changes for you!
- These updates take effect for first teaching from 2029 onwards, following a wider national curriculum refresh in 2027. If you’re sitting GCSEs in the 2027 series, you’re taking the current specifications.
How to plan your revision around the 2027 exam season
Start with your own timetable, not a generic one.
Once your school confirms your personal exam dates, map out which subjects fall close together so you know where the pressure points are, particularly weeks with more than one paper.
Atom GCSE build your own personalised revision plan around every subject and your specific exam boards, so you always know to revise and when.
Work backwards from your first exam.
Counting back from your earliest paper gives you a realistic sense of how many weekends and half-terms you have left, which makes a plan feel more manageable than an open-ended “revise more.”
Atom’s GCSE courses are structured by exam board, so your countdown maps onto content that matches exactly what you’ll be examined on.
Use your mock results as a signal, not a verdict.
If you’ve already had a mock, our guide to revising for GCSE mocks is worth reading alongside your result.
Atom gives instant, examiner-style feedback showing exactly which topics to prioritise before the real exam.
Practise with real past papers.
Timed practice under realistic conditions is one of the most useful things you can do before the real thing.
Atom brings past papers, practice questions and progress tracking together, so what you practise feeds straight into what you revise next.
Build the routine early, especially if you’re just starting Year 11.
Setting up a sustainable weekly rhythm early in the year, rather than in the spring term, gives you more room to balance coursework deadlines with revision.
Atom fits into a normal school week in short daily sessions, so starting the habit early doesn’t mean finding extra hours you don’t have.
Getting prepared for the 2027 GCSE exams early is always a good idea. With all these dates marked on your calendar, you’re sure to stay on track with your revision and hit your learning goals.
Good luck!
