Ben Price
BBC Wales reporter

Gracie, 16, a pupil at Pen-Y-Dre High School in Merthyr got a set of A*s and As and says she was "so relieved".

"All the hard work has finally paid off," Gracie says.

"I was just in tears to be honest, just pouring it out finally and being able to release all of those emotions."

Sam, 16, a pupil at Pen-Y-Dre High School in Merthyr says: "It was the longest week of my life waiting, it took so long to get to sleep at night so I'm glad it's over."

"I didn't think I was going to pass most of the things I passed, but I was super proud because I got more than a C on most things, so I was just shocked with myself."

Sam is now going to Merthyr College to study Sports Coaching.

Alex Emery
BBC News

Image source, Family photo

Jaydan, from Dudley, is celebrating after he passed six exams including English and Maths.

He is autistic and his stepfather Lew says that he needed to be supported at home to get through his tests.

Lew says Jaydan was predicted all 2s but has defied expectations by revising at home and using BBC Bitesize.

"Today is a sign that Send kids [children with special educational needs and disabilities] who get written off can make it in life with a bit of belief," said stepdad Lew.

"All the years of fighting for the right support and provisions has paid off," he adds.

Jaydan will now focus on completing a T-Level in animal science.

Ben Price
BBC Wales reporter

Top GCSE grades in Wales are up from last year, with 62.5% of pupils achieving A* to C - an increase of 0.3% compared to 2024.

Unlike last week’s A-level results, the highest GCSE grades of A* and A were achieved by 19.5% of candidates – a rise of 0.3% on 2024.

Overall, there were fewer examination entries in 2025 than in the previous year.

A* to C grades were broadly similar in Mathematics and Numeracy, while there was a slight improvement for English Language.

Fewer pupils studying Welsh got A* to C this year, although there was a slight improvement for those studying Welsh second language.

One of the subjects to see the biggest drop in entries this year is Religious Studies and Physical Education.

Meanwhile, GCSE entries for French and Spanish have both risen in popularity this year.

Charlotte O'Regan
Senior Schools Engagement Manager, Sutton Trust

There are several pathways depending on your results and future goals. Many students follow an academic route by studying A-levels at sixth form or college, usually taking three or four subjects. Some sixth forms also offer the International Baccalaureate, a broader programme that is still highly regarded by universities.

For those who prefer a more practical approach, colleges often provide T-Levels - equivalent to three A-levels - which combine classroom study with industry placements. Alternatively, BTecs and Cambridge Nationals focus on coursework and applied learning in areas such as IT, sport, or business.

A smaller number of students may choose to enter the workplace through an apprenticeship, earning while they train.

If you need to resit English or Maths, colleges usually provide more support than sixth forms.

All these routes can lead to secure employment and support social mobility, helping young people succeed regardless of background.

Emily Holt
Reporting from Nottingham

I'm here at Ideagen, in Nottingham, a company that offers an array of apprenticeships in various fields.

Apprentices usually need to pass GCSE Maths and English. However, they also welcome candidates who don't have the grades but display the characteristics they are looking for.

Apprentices then study for these GCSEs whilst on the apprenticeship, says Ideagen's chief people officer Louise Tommasi.

"[The apprentices] bring such a different level of energy, and they bring a new way of innovate thinking," says Louise.

Kya, 20, is a first year marketing apprentice.

She says: "It was so important to get those pass grades in Maths and English GCSE, and I was able to put those grades to good use."

As the Covid lockdown restrictions eased four years ago, teacher Damaris Bateson asked her new intake of Year 7 students to write letters to their future selves.

The group are now getting their GCSE grades, and have been looking back at how their Year 7 selves thought things would turn out.

For then-11-year-old Charlie, there was one key thing he wanted to know: "Do you have a girlfriend yet?"

Now 16, Charlie blushes as he reads his letter back.

David Rowley
Product Manager, NCFE

This depends on whether you are in England, Northern Ireland or Wales, and what you want to do in that year.

Colleges will accept applicants of any age, so will not stop you from applying for a course later.

However, the age of mandatory participation is different in each of the home nations. In England, since 2018, it's compulsory to remain in education or training until the age of 18.

That means you must either:

• stay in full-time education, for example at a college or sixth form
• start an apprenticeship
• spend 20 hours or more a week working or volunteering, while in part-time education or training

So you can't take a "gap year" at the age of 16.

In Wales and Northern Ireland, the age at which you can leave education is still set at 16, so you can take a break before going back to college.

Niki Mckenna
Head of the 14+ Academies at Leeds City College

Here's another question from one of our followers on Instagram.

First of all, try not to panic, you still have plenty of options! If you don't get a grade 4 (a standard pass), especially in English or Maths, you'll have the chance to resit those subjects. Most colleges will support you through this.

Depending on your next steps, you might also want to look into alternative qualifications like Functional Skills, or consider an apprenticeship, which allows you to earn and learn at the same time.

There's no one-size-fits-all path. Talk to your school or college for advice that's right for you. Finally, remember grades alone do not define your success.

Hayley Clarke
Education reporter

We know today will be nerve-wracking for many of you - especially so if you are neurodivergent.

That's the word used to describe people whose brains work differently to others, sometimes as a result of conditions like autism or ADHD.

Looking back now as an adult, I remember the lead up to the big day – but I didn't know I had ADHD at the time.

I had a huge amount of panic and worry that I wouldn't get the grades I needed to get into university, which resulted in migraines, vomiting and insomnia.

Luckily it all worked out for me, but I've been wondering what could have made it easier for me if I had my time again.

I spoke to three brilliant young people - Paddy, Lotte and Stefano - about their top tips for how to handle results day.

They say it's important to keep things in perspective, be kind to yourself and be around the people you love.

You can read my story to hear more from Paddy, Lotte and Stefano, as well as for some tips on how parents can make today as easy as possible too.

Freya Scott-Turner
Live reporter

It's been a difficult year for Lilli, who opened her GCSE results alongside her friends at her school in Devonport today.

Over the past 12 months, Lilli has dealt with the loss of her father, grandmother, grandfather and cousin in quick succession.

"It's been really full on," she says. "Every time I started to get back to normal, something else would happen – it all started to feel really unreal."

She says revising was worse than the exams themselves as she "wasn't always in the right headspace".

In spite of everything, Lilli has achieved the grades she needs to go to sixth form where she will study drama, sociology and criminology.

She hopes to one day help people just like her: "I'd really like to work with young people and help them when they're going through tough times."

Jo Fellowes
Careers Adviser, National Careers Service

This question came via our BBC News Instagram account

At 16, you're required to stay in some form of education or training until you're 18.

This doesn’t mean staying full-time in school – you could do a college course or an apprenticeship. You can also combine part-time work with part-time study, which is a great way to earn money, gain experience and keep learning at the same time.

Doing this can help you figure out what you enjoy and what you’re good at, while still meeting the legal education requirements.

The key is finding a path that allows you to keep developing skills and experience, so you're in a stronger position for future opportunities, whether that's further study, apprenticeships or a career.

Niki Mckenna
Head of the 14+ Academies at Leeds City College

If you think one of your grades is wrong, you can ask for a review or appeal.

The process and deadlines can vary depending on your exam board and school or college, so the best thing to do is speak to your teacher or exams officer as soon as possible.

They'll explain your options and help you decide if it's the right step for you.

Image source, PA

After a flurry of envelope opening this morning, let's take a moment to recap what we've learned today:

• The overall GCSE pass rate has fallen - that's people getting a grade 4/C or higher - has fallen by 0.2%, with 67.4% of students hitting the mark
• We've seen the narrowest gender gap on record, though girls are still outperforming boys, with a pass rate difference of 6.1 percentage points
• Though still higher than it was pre-Covid, the regional pass rate gap is shrinking too - with London achieving the highest pass rate (71.6%) and the West Midlands getting the lowest (62.9%)
• Spanish has overtaken French for the first time ever - with 136,871 entries for GCSE this year, compared to 132,808 for French
• The head of exam body OCR is warning of a "resit crisis" after national data showed nearly a quarter of GCSE Maths and English entries were resits

Hazel Shearing
Education correspondent

Nearly a quarter of maths and English GCSEs were taken by people aged 17 and older this year.

They made up 23.4% of Maths and English grades – compared to 20.9% last year.

Some will be mature students sitting exams for the first time, but most will be young people who are resitting.

In England, pupils who don't get at least a grade 4 in GCSE English and maths are required to continue studying for it alongside their next course - whether that’s A-levels, a T-level, or something else.

The Department for Education (DfE) says pupils should retake the exam when they - and their school or college - think they are ready. Although it has been described as a requirement in the past.

The pass rate for people resitting is far lower than it is for Year 11s.

In England, just 20.9% of English entries and 17.1% of maths entries from people aged 17 and over were marked at grade 4 or higher.

Jill Duffy, the head of the OCR exam board, said there was a "resit crisis" this year.

The Association of School and College Leaders said called the policy "demoralising", while the Association of Colleges said resits “can undermine confidence and motivation”.

They are waiting for the DfE to publish its Curriculum and Assessment review this year, which will examine the policy.

Adam Laver
BBC News in Bradford

Image source, BBC/Adam Laver

Mohammad Zeeshan at Oasis Academy Lister Park in Bradford says he's "very proud" of his results.

"I was predicted very low grades, like barely passes - 4s and 5s," he says. "I was messing about a lot in year 10 and then from year 11 onwards I decided to get my head down."

Today, he's celebrating getting all 7s, 8s and 9s, as well as a distinction in his construction BTec.

Mohammad describes the start of secondary school during Covid as a "rough beginning", which had a "social and mental health impact" on the students.

He plans to go on to study maths, further maths, physics and history A-Levels next year.

Jules Millar, the principal at Mohammad's school, says that attendance is beginning to get back to pre-Covid levels at the school, but has still not fully recovered.

Attendance at her school was usually upwards of 90% before Covid, she says. This year's has been around the 86% mark, up from 81% the year before.

Elliot Deady
Reporting from Harlow

Image source, BBC/Elliot Deady

I never thought I would be starstruck by a teacher, but this morning has proved me wrong.

Stephen Drew - who starred in the Channel 4 documentary series Educating Essex - has been welcoming pupils to Stewards Academy in Harlow since just before 08:00 BST.

He tells me the series was filmed 15 years ago, making it as old as another reality TV show – The Only Way is Essex.

Drew, who is finishing his first year as head teacher here, has a huge smile on his face as the school celebrates its best GCSE results in a decade.

"We've got so many young people who have done fantastically," he says.

Emily Doughty
Reporting from Scarborough

We've been hearing about how Spanish has overtaken French this year - in terms of the number of people taking it at GCSE - for the first time since records began.

French teacher Natalie Collins says the change is not unexpected, though equal amounts of people take French and Spanish at her school in Scarborough.

"Spanish is more appealing as students often associate it with sunshine and holiday," she says.

"They say they are more likely to use it when they go away."

She says Spanish is also a popular GCSE among teenagers who "look at footballers and want to speak the same language".

Natalie says it doesn’t matter which language students speak, though, as long as they are learning.

"It's important kids learn languages, they grow their cultural horizons," she says.

"I would want them to learn both."

Hazel Shearing
Education correspondent

It's au revoir French… and hola Spanish.

French has been a staple of British secondary education for years, but it's been overtaken by Spanish in popularity for the first time ever.

There were 136,871 entries for Spanish GCSE this year, compared to 132,808 for French.

Jill Duffy, head of the OCR exam board, said it could be because Spanish was a "massive global language, so lots of people around the world speak it".

"Also, as we know, Spain is a popular holiday destination for Brits, so that might have contributed," she added.

The Association of School and College Leaders said it was "great to see" Spanish becoming so popular, but the decline in entries to French and German was a "source of concern".

Emily Holt
Reporting from Nottingham

Sevante, 16, passed both Maths and English and has secured the grades needed for his apprenticeship.

"I'm really happy right now. I'm so glad my hard work paid off. I'm proud of my mum for supporting me and I'm glad I had her there to get me through it," he says.

His mum Nicky was delighted with his results.

"It's been very challenging the past year but he has managed to keep up with his studies, I am so proud."

Sevante is going on to do an apprenticeship in electrical engineering.

"These results will take me further, if I can do this I feel like I can do anything," he says.

Rachel Flynn
Live reporter

Results day is full of emotions – from nervousness and dread to relief, joy and even disappointment, it's a lot to go through.

Earlier today we asked you how you've been feeling about your results in an online vote at the top of the page. It's by no means accurately representative of everyone, but for those who voted:

• 40% of you said "I'm buzzing!"
• 20% said "I'm happy"
• 40% voted "could've gone better"

However today went, give yourself a pat on the back for getting through it, and remember – GCSEs are not the be-all and end-all. Far from it.