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Naomi Larsson on our community team has been gathering reaction from our readers.

Disha Hedge, 16, from Milton Keynes, has just received her results from the Royal Latin School in Buckinghamshire. She is “over the moon”, achieving 10 grade 9s and one grade 8, but she says it was very stressful adapting to the new system.

“Not only did we have a lack of resources and past papers, but also there are very big differences between marks awarded from different examiners, especially in essay subjects such as English and history, which are obviously quite subjective.



“It was extremely nerve-wracking to have the thought that I might miss my targets due to inconsistency within the new system. The new grade 9, which is higher than an A * definitely added to the pressure.”

Disha Hedge collecting her GCSE results. Photograph: Disha Hegde/Guardian Community

Syeda Tasnia Tahsin, 16, is at Connaught School for Girls in London’s Leytonstone. She achieved above her predicted grades, and got 9 in English language.



Syeda came to the UK from Bangladesh aged seven and spoke no English. She says she’s gained confidence over time and has become more outspoken. Syeda is now a spoken word artist and in early August she had a week-long run at the Edinburgh Fringe about the impact of media perceptions on young people, terrorism and grooming.



She hopes to study PPE at Oxford and will be doing A-levels in Economics, Politics and Sociology.



“I am so proud of myself to see how far I have come, considering how overwhelming and challenging the new exam system was.I am exhilarated and so proud of the results I have achieved.”

Syeda Tasnia Tahsin with her GCSE results. Photograph: Syeda Tasnia Tahsin/Guardian Community

Joe Lena studies in Kings Heath, Birmingham. He achieved grade 9 in film studies, grade 8 in product design, combined science and food tech, grade 7 maths and grade 6 English.



He plans to go to college and continue studying, and is relieved that his GCSEs are now over: “I’ve seen all around me that people feel more pressured with now having two ‘pass grades’ with a grade 4 being seen as less significant than a 5. There is a lot of pressure on higher achieving students too to get the top grade now being much harder than an A*. AQA as an exam board (especially in English) seem very harsh, I haven’t seen anyone get higher than a 6.



“This entire season has been incredibly stressful and I’m so glad to see the end of it. Michael Gove doesn’t understand what he has done to the pupils sitting these exams.”