Need help obtaining lost exam certicates

Savvy_Sue

dbs wrote:

Thanks for all the replies.

I have been to my local Library gone through the archives of my local newspaper and obtained all of my results assuming they were printed correctly back in 1978.

This cost me nothing so will only buy my results if I am requested them.

That is VERY enterprising! I am sure it would never have occurred to me to do this! Mind you I don't know which paper my results would ever have been printed in, if any ... wasn't aware they did it in my day, anyway!

Good luck with the job-hunting. With that kind of initiative, you deserve to succeed!

kelloggs36

The only time I have ever been asked for evidence of my academic achievements is when I applied to University as a mature student. This was in order to prove that I had the correct qualifications in maths and English which were required. However, had I taken English as part of my Access course, I would not have needed to provide any evidence as the Access course is evidence enough. Clearly this only applies if you take maths and English for Access which is not compulsory if you already have an O level grades A-C, or CSE grade 1 or GCSE (not sure what grades are acceptable) but this is where evidence is required so that other subjects can be taken instead to make up the credits needed to get into uni.

Keeping_Motivated

I know this is an old thread but I thought I would post a question on here as its kind of related rather than start a new thread.

I have fudged my exam results on an application form. I left school more than 20 years ago and couldn't remember my O'level results so I made them up as I was rushing to the the application in

I have since done years of study to get a profession and this is what the job was for.

I got the job

BUT they have asked for my original certificates on my first day. Will they just want the certificates for my profession or will they also want my school exam reults I would have to leave before I start if they do because I couldn't even remember what subjects I took so I have probably completed lied :rolleyes: :mad: I'm so annoyed with myself now but I have never been asked for my results before and I am NOT lying about my ability or qualifications to do the actual job so I just rushed it through and made the exam results from school up!!! Aaarrr

What do people think will they just want my professional certificates?

LittleVoice

They will ask for all the qualification certificates. (I was about 25 years after I left school.)

However, take your professional qualification certificates in on the first day. If the person to whom you have to supply them mentions the GCSEs, explain you no longer have school-earned certificates and that it would be expensive and slow to get the copies. If really it is the professional qualifications which are important (and some would indicate achievement at an appropriate general education level too), that should satisfy them.

Keeping_Motivated

Thanks for that. This could really mess things up for me I'm really annoyed with myself.

No qualifications were required for the position other than being qualified and trained for the role I have applied for so I will keep my fingers crossed that they do not ask for the school exam results.

dmg24

You need to check this with HR.

Surprisingly, some employers/ trainers are more interested in seeing GCSE/ O Level certificates than a degree or certificate of professional standing (I am in the same boat as you, and although I have my degree and A Level certificates, am having to apply for confirmation of my GCSE results).

I would not leave it until the day that you start, as it could leave you looking very unprofessional.

Best of luck with the new role, and welcome to MSE x

Keeping_Motivated

I start this week so no time to sort out obtaining my results and even if I do I couldn't even remember if I took history or geography so I guessed!! How bad i s that! So if I applied for my results it would then be completely wrong what I put on my application form and that would look COMPLETELY unprofessional. Oh no!!!!! Think I'm going to be leaving my dream job before I have even started.

Savvy_Sue

Don't be so dispirited. Take in your professional qualifications. See what they say - if you're lucky they won't mention the 'O' levels. IF they do, explain ... you were trying to remember, you're not quite sure, it's all a long time ago. And it will take a while to get the originals!

I'm sure I'd be in the same boat. Personally I wouldn't see it as a problem unless you'd conveniently forgotten that you failed the lot, or if it's absolutely essential to have the basics in maths and English Language (as it is in teaching, for example). But I'm sure you'd remember the vital things like that, wouldn't you?

BTW, I've recently realised that DS2 never went and collected his GCSE certificates from main school last year: he's now in Year 13 of a linked 6th form, but they said they'd be sending certificates back to the exam boards if not collected. He's been once to try and find out whether that's happened, but they told him to go back at lunch or break time, and of course he hasn't managed that yet. I can see that it WILL be a problem if he doesn't get them, because universities may very well want to see them next autumn. And I'm quite sure it's going to cost money - need to make sure it's HIS money not mine!

Why do they read messages saying "Come and collect your certificates or we'll have to send them back to the exam boards" and think it doesn't apply to them?

LittleVoice

Well, I was asked for my English and Maths certificates a couple of years ago. As mentioned in an earlier post, I think, this is required for teaching and I was on a PGCE course. In fact (though I could have produced a curled up GCE certificate), I used the Level 2 (ie same Level as GCSE A*-C) Certificates in Adult Literature and Adult Numeracy which I had obtained in the current millennium instead.

As a money saving tip - for anyone who just needs to provide evidence of GCSE equivalence English and Maths certificates, it could be a cheaper option to obtain those than to pay for the searches.

studentphil

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

Don't be so dispirited. Take in your professional qualifications. See what they say - if you're lucky they won't mention the 'O' levels. IF they do, explain ... you were trying to remember, you're not quite sure, it's all a long time ago. And it will take a while to get the originals!

I'm sure I'd be in the same boat. Personally I wouldn't see it as a problem unless you'd conveniently forgotten that you failed the lot, or if it's absolutely essential to have the basics in maths and English Language (as it is in teaching, for example). But I'm sure you'd remember the vital things like that, wouldn't you?

BTW, I've recently realised that DS2 never went and collected his GCSE certificates from main school last year: he's now in Year 13 of a linked 6th form, but they said they'd be sending certificates back to the exam boards if not collected. He's been once to try and find out whether that's happened, but they told him to go back at lunch or break time, and of course he hasn't managed that yet. I can see that it WILL be a problem if he doesn't get them, because universities may very well want to see them next autumn. And I'm quite sure it's going to cost money - need to make sure it's HIS money not mine!

Why do they read messages saying "Come and collect your certificates or we'll have to send them back to the exam boards" and think it doesn't apply to them?

I don't think universities will ask to see GCSE certs. Maybe if he asked the school nicely they could do him a letter of achievement, which employers will often accept instead.