My child's GCSE mock results were disappointing. What should we do next?

Mock results can be a shock, for parents and for children. A grade 3 or 4 when you hoped for a 6 feels like bad news. But mocks are designed to show problems early, while there is still time to fix them.

What do GCSE mock results actually tell you?

Mocks show how your child does on exam-style papers at one moment in time. They are a useful warning light, not a final verdict.

Keep in mind:

• Mocks are often taken before the course is finished. Some topics may not have been taught yet.
• Schools mark and grade mocks in different ways. Some use last year's grade boundaries, some are stricter on purpose.
• Exam technique counts. Running out of time or misreading questions can cost a grade, and both can be fixed.

The real GCSE grade comes from the summer exams, with boundaries set after marking (AQA on grade boundaries). Our guide to GCSE grade boundaries explains how that works.

Why do mock results matter?

Mocks matter because schools use them for important decisions. The main ones are:

The deadline for schools to enter students for summer 2027 exams is 21 February 2027 (JCQ key dates). Tier decisions are often made around the time of winter mocks, so talk to teachers early.

For sixth forms, timing also matters. For example, the London Academy of Excellence asks for predicted grades for the final Year 11 exams, not Year 10 mocks, and gives teachers a deadline in late February to submit them. If your child is applying to a selective sixth form, see our guide to selective sixth forms in East London.

Step 1: Stay calm and talk to your child

Start by listening, not lecturing. Most children already feel bad about a poor result.

Ask them:

• "Which paper felt hardest, and why?"
• "Did you run out of time anywhere?"
• "Which topics did you know you didn't know?"

Their answers tell you whether the problem is knowledge, technique or nerves. Each needs a different fix.

Step 2: Get the papers back and go through them

The paper is far more useful than the grade. Ask the school if your child can bring the marked papers home, or at least go through them in class.

For each lost mark, write down:

1. The topic.
2. The reason: did not know it, careless mistake, ran out of time, or misread the question.

After one or two papers, a pattern appears. You might find that half the lost marks in maths come from algebra, or that most lost marks in English come from one long question.

Step 3: Ask the school the right questions

A short conversation with teachers can save weeks. Useful questions:

• "What tier is my child entered for, and could it change?"
• "What predicted grade will you give for sixth form applications?"
• "What are the three topics they most need to work on?"
• "Is there any extra support, such as revision sessions?"

Write the answers down and keep them with the revision plan.

Step 4: Make a plan for the next 10 to 15 weeks

Turn the list of lost marks into a weekly plan. Fix the biggest gaps first, in the subjects with the most papers.

Our Year 11 revision timetable gives a week-by-week plan up to the summer 2027 exams. For maths in particular, see how to go from grade 4 to 7.

Step 5: Check progress every month

Do one timed past paper per main subject every three to four weeks. Mark it with the official mark scheme and compare it with recent grade boundaries for your child's exam board.

A rise of a few marks each time is real progress. Share it with your child. Seeing the score move is often the best motivation.

What if the results were good?

Good mock results are great news, but they are not a reason to stop. Grade boundaries change, and summer papers may feel harder. Use the mocks to find the few topics that still lose marks, and push for the next grade up.

How much can grades change after mocks?

It varies a lot from child to child. Some students improve by one grade or more between mocks and the real exams when they work steadily. Others stay level. What makes the difference is a clear plan, regular practice and fixing the right gaps.

How can LCB help?

After mocks is one of the most common times parents contact us. We start with a free 30-minute assessment, in Barking or online. We look at what the mocks show, find the gaps and recommend a plan.

Lessons are in small groups of 3 to 5 with the same tutor each week, taught to your child's exam board, with a monthly progress report. Parents rate us 4.9 out of 5. One Barking parent told us: "Both my kids improved — one went from 4s to 7s across the board." See GCSE tutoring, or book a free assessment.