GCSE exam results 2017

We would like to wish all our tutees the best of luck today as they receive their GCSE exam results. Our tutors no doubt will also be anxious to hear from parents and students with their good news - hopefully!

The team at First Tutors love watching the amazing feedback pouring in from students and parents, whilst many tutors update their tutor profiles with their pupil's results. In a few days time we will be posting some of the best summer feedback comments from happy students this year.

Due to the changes in this year's GCSE grading system, this year's results can't be compared with those of previous years according to headteachers. There are now three top grades - 7, 8 and 9 - compared to two under the old system - A* and A - with A* results now split into 8s and 9s. This needs to be taken into consideration when interpreting this year's GCSE national data which reveal:

• The proportion of GCSE entries receiving grade A/7 or above has fallen 0.5% to 20% compared with last year.
• Overall in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, passes (grades C/4 and above) dropped 0.6 percentage points to 66.3%.
• In England, the English literature pass-rate fell 2.5 percentage points to 72%, but in maths it rose from 61.5% to 68.9%. Both are the new, tougher exams.
• Exam boards revealed that 2,000 extremely able candidates got a 9 in all three new exams. There were 50,000 grade 9s overall - two-thirds of which were girls.

For those of you who haven't received the grades they were hoping for, we advise being at the school on results day so that you can talk to your teachers for the best advice. If you need to resit GCSE maths or English these exams are available in November but if you need to resit several subjects you may have to wait until June 2018.

If you don't get into sixth form or college perhaps studying A-levels isn't for you but there are other types of qualifications available such as BTECs or City & Guilds.

If you are thinking of finding a private tutor we are here to help. Now, it's easier than ever to register and create a request to contact as many tutors you wish within in few minutes.