If a school or employer asks for a PDF of your SEC results, first confirm which official record it accepts. If SEAB makes your result available as an OpenCert, check whether the recipient also needs the original file for verification.
SEAB’s GCE FAQ points to a MySkillsFuture guide for saving an OpenCert as a PDF. SEAB also directs recipients to OpenCerts to verify original digitised results. Check the SEC release instructions for when and where the record for your cohort is available.
- Check which file format the application accepts.
- Keep the original OpenCert file if one is available.
- Use the official download guide if you also need a PDF.
Which file should you send?
If the recipient requests a verifiable OpenCert, send the original file through the channel it specifies. If a portal accepts PDF uploads only, ask whether it accepts a PDF copy and where you should send the original if it needs to verify your results. Keep both files with clear filenames so you can find the correct one when asked.
Where to find the PDF instructions
SEAB links to MySkillsFuture’s guide on downloading an OpenCert as a PDF under the Careers and Skills Passport resources. Follow the guide for a record you can access. If your SEC result has just been released, check the cohort notice for available formats rather than relying on the publication timing for older GCE records.
Frequently asked questions
Will a PDF work in the OpenCerts verifier?
For OpenCerts verification, share the original digitised file. Ask the recipient whether a PDF will satisfy its own upload requirement.
Can I rename the file?
Keep its original extension and contents so the recipient can open and verify it. A folder labelled with your exam and year can help you keep versions organised.