Knowing when important school assessments, GCSE and A-level exams, results days and university application deadlines are coming up can make it much easier to plan revision and avoid unnecessary last-minute pressure.

Whether your child is preparing for their KS2 SATs, GCSEs or A-levels, or getting ready to apply to university, having the key dates in one place can help you plan ahead.

This guide covers the important education and exam dates for the 2026–2027 academic year, including SATs, GCSEs, A-levels, university assessments and UCAS deadlines.

Important: Individual schools, colleges, exam boards and universities may have different dates. Always check the relevant school, college, university or awarding body for the final timetable.

Primary School Assessment Dates 2027

Primary school assessments take place at different stages throughout the academic year.

Reception Baseline Assessment

The Reception Baseline Assessment takes place within the first six weeks of a child starting Reception.

EYFS Profile

The Early Years Foundation Stage Profile is completed between April and June 2027.

Year 2 Optional KS1 Tests

Optional Key Stage 1 tests for Year 2 pupils take place in May 2027.

KS2 SATs Dates 2027

For Year 6 pupils, the KS2 SATs take place in May 2027.

KS2 SATs results are due on Tuesday 6 July 2027.

Year 4 Multiplication Tables Check

The Year 4 Multiplication Tables Check takes place between 7 and 18 June 2027.

Year 1 Phonics Screening Check

The Year 1 Phonics Screening Check takes place between 14 and 18 June 2027.

Primary School Holidays 2026–2027

There is no single national school holiday calendar for every school in England. Local authorities, academies and individual schools can set different dates.

As a general guide, families can expect:

• Autumn half-term: usually late October
• Christmas holiday: usually late December to early January
• Spring half-term: usually February
• Easter holiday: usually late March or early April
• Summer half-term: usually late May or early June
• Summer holiday: usually late July to early September

Always check your child's individual school calendar before planning holidays or additional tutoring around specific dates.

GCSE Exam Dates 2027

GCSE examinations are an important milestone for students and families. The national JCQ common timetable begins on Monday 10 May 2027.

The final GCSE examination on the common timetable is scheduled for Friday 18 June 2027.

There is also a national contingency day on Wednesday 23 June 2027 in case examinations are affected by significant national or local disruption.

It is important to remember that these dates represent the overall GCSE examination window. Individual GCSE subjects will have their own examination dates.

GCSE Results Day 2027

GCSE results will be released to students on:

Thursday 19 August 2027

For students approaching their GCSEs, it is worth starting revision planning well before the examination period. The October and February half-terms can provide useful opportunities to address knowledge gaps, while the Easter holiday is particularly valuable for focused GCSE revision.

A-Level Exam Dates 2027

A-level examinations also begin on the national common timetable on:

Monday 10 May 2027

The final A-level examination on the common timetable is scheduled for:

Tuesday 22 June 2027

The national contingency day is:

Wednesday 23 June 2027

As with GCSEs, individual subjects will have their own examination dates, so students should check their school or college timetable and the relevant exam board.

A-Level Results Day 2027

A-level results will be released to students on:

Thursday 12 August 2027

For students preparing for A-levels, revision should ideally be planned well before the summer examination period. Easter and the weeks immediately before exams can be particularly important for consolidating knowledge, practising exam technique and addressing remaining gaps.

GCSE and A-Level Revision Planning

The official examination window may not begin until May, but effective preparation starts much earlier.

Students do not necessarily need to spend every evening revising. A structured plan that identifies weaker subjects, prioritises important topics and includes regular exam practice can be much more effective than last-minute cramming.

Online tutoring can also provide targeted support where a student is struggling with a particular subject or needs help developing their exam technique.

For parents, the key question is often not simply whether their child is revising, but whether their revision is actually addressing the areas where they could gain the most marks.

University Exam Dates 2027

Unlike GCSEs and A-levels, there is no single England-wide university examination timetable.

Each university sets its own academic calendar, and examination dates can also vary between courses.

University students commonly have assessments or examinations around:

• December to January: first-semester assessments and examinations
• April to June: main summer examination and assessment period
• Additional assessments may take place in January, March, April or May
• Dissertation and project deadlines vary significantly by university and course

Students should therefore check their university and individual course timetable for exact dates.

University Holidays 2026–2027

University holiday periods also vary between institutions. A typical academic year may include:

• Christmas vacation: December to January
• Easter vacation: March or April
• Summer vacation: June or July to September
• Reading weeks: some universities include a reading week during each semester

Students should check their university's academic calendar rather than relying on general holiday dates.

UCAS Deadlines for 2027 University Entry

Students applying to university for 2027 entry should keep several UCAS deadlines in mind.

15 October 2026 at 18:00

This is the deadline for applications to the universities of Oxford and Cambridge and most courses in medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine or veterinary science.

13 January 2027 at 18:00

This is the main UCAS equal consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses.

25 February 2027

UCAS Extra opens. This can provide another option for students who have used all five choices and do not hold an offer.

30 June 2027 at 18:00

Applications received after this date are automatically entered into Clearing.

2 July 2027

UCAS Clearing opens for eligible applicants and vacancies become available through the UCAS search tool.

23 September 2027 at 18:00

This is the final deadline for 2027 undergraduate and conservatoire applications.

Education Calendar 2026–2027: Key Dates at a Glance

September 2026

• New academic year begins
• GCSE and A-level students start the new academic year
• University students begin preparing for the new academic year
• UCAS applications for 2027 entry can be submitted from 1 September

October 2026

• Autumn half-term
• GCSE and A-level revision begins to become more important
• 15 October: Oxford, Cambridge and most medicine, dentistry and veterinary application deadline

November and December 2026

• GCSE and A-level mock preparation
• First-semester university assessments may begin
• Christmas holiday period

January 2027

• University January assessments and examinations
• GCSE and A-level mock examinations
• 13 January: main UCAS equal consideration deadline

February 2027

• Spring half-term
• GCSE and A-level revision
• 25 February: UCAS Extra opens

March and April 2027

• Easter holiday period
• GCSE and A-level revision becomes increasingly important
• University assessments and examinations may take place

May 2027

• 10–13 May: KS2 SATs
• 10 May: GCSE and A-level examination period begins
• Optional KS1 tests take place during May
• GCSE and A-level students begin their main examination period

June 2027

• GCSE examinations continue
• A-level examinations continue
• 7–18 June: Year 4 Multiplication Tables Check
• 14–18 June: Year 1 Phonics Screening Check
• 18 June: final GCSE examination on the common timetable
• 22 June: final A-level examination on the common timetable
• 23 June: national contingency day

July 2027

• 2 July: UCAS Clearing opens
• 6 July: KS2 SATs results
• Summer holidays begin at different times depending on the school

August 2027

• 12 August: A-level results day
• 19 August: GCSE results day
• University Clearing continues

September 2027

• New academic year begins
• University places are finalised
• 23 September: final UCAS deadline for 2027 entry

When Should Students Start Preparing for Exams?

There is no single revision start date that works for every student.

The right time depends on the student's current level, the number of subjects they are studying, their confidence and whether they have any gaps in their knowledge.

However, leaving revision until a few weeks before exams can make it much harder to cover everything effectively.

Starting earlier gives students more time to identify weaker areas, practise exam questions and build confidence without relying on last-minute revision.

For GCSE and A-level students who are struggling with a particular subject, one-to-one online tutoring can provide targeted support alongside their normal school or college education.

How TutorsValley Can Support Students

TutorsValley provides online tutoring for students across the UK, including support for primary education, 11+, GCSE and A-level subjects.

One-to-one online tuition can help students focus on the areas where they need the most support, whether that means strengthening subject knowledge, improving exam technique or preparing for an upcoming assessment.

If your child has an important exam or assessment approaching, getting support early can give them more time to make meaningful progress.

Explore online tutoring with TutorsValley and find support tailored to your child's subject, level and learning needs.