Exam Results Gifts

Exam results gifts, good and bad

Results day cuts both ways, and the harder gift to buy is the one for the results that didn't land.

For good news, something to keep. For bad news, something that makes it clear nobody thinks less of them — and a promise not to mention grades again.

Pin badges and prints work for both, which is why they're the bulk of this page.

When the results are good

  • A pin badge for the day itself.
  • A print for the new room at uni.
  • A card that names what they actually did, not just the grades.
  • Something small now, the bigger thing at graduation.
  • A candle for the halls of residence they're about to move into.
  • Cash in a card, honestly, is the teenage favourite.

When the results aren't

  • Send something anyway, and send it on the day.
  • No mention of grades, resits or plans.
  • A funny print or pin badge that treats them as themselves.
  • "Nobody has ever asked me about my A-levels. Not once."
  • A card that says you're proud of the year, not the paper.
  • Take them out. That's the actual gift.

What to spend

  • £5–£10 is plenty. Cheer-up gifts work on timing, not on price.
  • Two small things a fortnight apart beat one big parcel.
  • Anything over £30 starts to feel like an obligation to reply.
  • A card on its own is a real gift, not a cop-out.
  • Group chipping in? £3–£5 a head and one card everybody signs.
  • Spend the effort on the message, not the object.

Coasters and desk pieces

Small, funny, and in front of them every day.

Prints for the wall

Something cheerful for the kitchen, the hallway or the desk.

Pin badges

A pound or two, posted in an envelope, and worn for years.

Cards to send with it

Add the card and it all arrives in one UK parcel.

Where to shop next

Frequently asked questions

What do you buy for results day?

Something small and keepable — a pin badge, a print or a card — with cash inside if they're heading to university. Save the big gift for graduation.

What do you send if the results were bad?

The same gift, on the same day, with a card that doesn't mention grades at all. Turning up is the message.

How much do people spend on results day?

£10–£25 is the usual range for GCSEs and A-levels, often as cash in a card.