Thousands of pupils receive their GCSE results

About 32,000 students in Northern Ireland have received their GCSE and some vocational qualification results.

Pupils in Northern Ireland cannot get their GCSE results online so will go to school to get their grades.

Results are expected to be similar to those in 2025, when around one third of GCSE entries got the top A* and A grades.

Some BTEC results will also be awarded on Thursday.

Precious Olukanni is from Integrated College Glengormley and she achieved two A*s, six As and one B.

"I'm very very happy," she said. "I was really nervous last night but my mum was more nervous."

Olukanni hopes to go on to do her A-levels and is considering studying software engineering or cyber security at university.

Her mother added she knew her daughter "was going to smash it" adding that she was "so super proud".

Oliver Montgomery also said was also happy with his results.

"It's been a nervous wait, but I'm really happy to have gotten my results," he said.

"It's not completely what I expected - I've exceeded my expectations."

He achieved five A*s and five As and is hoping to do A-levels in maths, chemistry, biology and geography.

The vast majority of GCSEs in Northern Ireland - almost 97% - are taken by pupils through the Northern Ireland exam board, the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA).

The remainder are taken through English and Welsh exam boards, so some pupils in Northern Ireland will receive results in the form of numbers as well as letters.

That is because GCSEs in England are graded numerically from 9 to 1, whereas in Northern Ireland they are graded from A* to G.

The Education Minister Paul Givan recently decided to retain the A* to G grades at GCSE in Northern Ireland.

Though there will be other changes in future, as most GCSEs will be linear with two exams taken at the end of the course deciding a pupils grade.

That will also mean less coursework, though in some GCSEs, pupils will have to study fewer topics in future years.

CCEA has also decided to stop offering a number of GCSEs from the end of the decade, including German and Economics.

The most popular GCSE subjects in Northern Ireland in 2025 were English Language and Maths, which all pupils have to sit.

Other subjects with relatively high numbers of students included Further Maths, Art and Design, Business Studies, English Literature, Double Award Science, Religious Studies, Geography, and History.

Pupils use their GCSE and results of other qualifications like BTECs to progress to A-levels, courses in Further Education, training or employment.

CCEA is operating a results helpline for students until 26 August on 028 9026 1260 or via email on helpline@ccea.org.uk

The Department for the Economy's careers service is also providing advice and support on 0300 200 7820 or online.