Support for centres affected by the conflict in the Middle East

AS and A levels, International AS/A levels, Advanced Extension Award and Level 3 Core Maths results will be sent to schools on 12 August. Results can be released to students on 13 August. 

GCSE, International GCSE and Level 1 & 2 Extended Project  results will be sent to school on 19 August. Results can be released to student on 20 August.  

You will receive your results through Edexcel Online as normal. You will be able to download each results report with your student’s overall qualification grade.  

Please note that if you had regulated GCE qualifications that have now been moved to the international equivalent qualifications these will now appear in the IAL drop down on Edexcel Online and Results Reports.   

Results are also able to be sent via EDI if you made your initial entries via this method.  

If you plan to receive results via EDI, you’ll need updated basedata. We’ve created new basedata you can use with the international contingency entry codes. 

To request your updated basedata file, email eprocessing@pearson.com with the subject line “Middle East Basedata”.  

Once you have your basedata, you'll need to complete a few steps to ensure your results file imports correctly on results day, including making your entries on your MIS.  We’ll guide you through these steps when we send your basedata, so you know exactly what to do. 

International A Level and International GCSE (modular) — all assessment methods: 
You can find individual UMS marks at unit and qualification level in the broadsheet, statement of results, component results and contributing units report. 

International A Level and International GCSE (linear, including students moved from GCE and GCSE) — exam, non-examined assessment and calculated grades:
You can find subject marks at qualification and component level in the component results report and statement of results. 

International A Level and International GCSE (linear, including students moved from GCE and GCSE) — portfolio of evidence grades:
Portfolios of evidence have been graded for the whole qualification rather than marked, so subject marks will appear as a zero on the statement of results and component results reports. 

Broadsheet
This report shows the learners' overall qualification grades. This also includes the grades and UMS marks for modular qualifications. It does not show any component marks for linear qualifications. 

Statement of results
A PDF statement of results document, one page per learner, showing their overall grades. Depending on the qualification and contingency route, this will also show:

• for modular qualifications, the unit and total UMS used
• for linear qualifications where exams, NEA or calculated grades were used, the overall grade and the subject mark of each component
• for linear qualifications with portfolio grades, an overall grade and a subject mark of zero for each component. This is because these have been graded rather than marked.

Component results
This report will show a breakdown of any assessment components for qualifications where exams, NEA, portfolios of evidence or calculated grades were used.

For linear qualifications with portfolio grades, this report will show a subject mark of zero for each component. This is because these have been graded rather than marked. 

Portfolio and calculated grades will be flagged as “aegrotat” on the Excel version of the component result report and “spec con” on the PDF version of this report, respectively. 

Contributing units results 
This report shows grades and uniform marks for modular qualifications, both at unit and cash-in level. 

Students will be able to see their overall grade in Results Plus Direct, and any marks awarded for assessed and calculated grades. For modular qualifications assessed via portfolio of evidence, UMS marks will also show. Marks will not be visible for linear qualifications awarded through a portfolio of evidence.

You’ll see the same in Results Plus, but as students have not sat exams, there won't be any detailed analysis down to question level.

Examiners assessed each student’s portfolio against a set of grade descriptors and awarded the grade that best reflected the evidence provided. As the grade descriptors are linked to the midpoint UMS mark for each grade, all students awarded the same grade receive the same UMS mark. This ensures learners are assessed consistently and fairly against the same standard. 

You will be able to access, view and download submitted portfolios via Learner Work Transfer (LWT) after results day. You should also ensure that you retain your own copies of all submitted evidence.

Where grades have been awarded on the basis of a portfolio of evidence, you’ll be able to request a review of the grading that's been awarded to a student. A senior examiner will review the original grade along with the portfolio of evidence submitted.  

This service will be available to apply for on Edexcel Online as an EAR4.  

Where grades have been awarded through a calculated grade using a completed or partially completed NEA/speaking component from May/June 2026, you'll be able to request a review of marking or moderation for that component. 

We will only review the actual component, and not how the grade was calculated.  We won’t be able to review banked units from previous sessions. 

You'll need to request a review via our customer services teams. Once the component has been reviewed, if the marks change, we will recalculate the affected grades and overall award. 

The fees for our standard post-results services are on our website.

Fees for post-results services

The cost of an EAR4 service is £88. 

An EAR4 can take up to 20 calendar days to complete, although many reviews are completed much sooner. We'll let you know the outcome as soon as it's completed.

Yes, appeals can be submitted by the head of centre (or by private candidates) only. 

A two-stage appeals process is available: a preliminary appeal followed by an appeal hearing, if required.

Submit appeal applications using our web form:

Application for an appeal form

Before you appeal 

1. Make sure you have the learner's consent, as grades can go up, stay the same or go down at appeal.
2. Make sure you've completed the relevant review before submitting an appeal:

• If you received a portfolio-based grade, you must complete the review process before submitting an appeal.
• Where grades have been awarded through a calculated grade (using a May/June 2026 completed or partially completed NEA/speaking component), you'll be able to request a review of marking or moderation for that component. You must complete the review process before you apply for an appeal.  
• If you received a calculated for a grade and want to appeal only the calculation, the head of centre (or private candidate) can submit an appeal without completing a pre-appeal review process.

Calculated grades

If you believe an error was made in the calculation, you can submit an appeal and we'll check the calculation to make sure it's correct. In your appeal application, clearly explain why you believe an error has occurred in the calculation.

Grades awarded through a calculated grade (using a May/June 2026 completed or partially completed NEA/speaking component) 

If you wish to appeal the marking of the May/June 2026 completed or partially completed NEA/speaking component, you must complete the review process before you apply for an appeal. In your appeal application, clearly explain why you believe there is an error that has not been corrected at the review stage.

Portfolio-based grades

• Academic judgement appeal: if you believe a grading error has occurred and the grade awarded is not reflective of the standard of evidence provided, you can submit an appeal, and we will have the reasonableness of the grade checked. In your appeal application, clearly state why you believe the grade awarded does not reflect the standard of work provided in the learner’s portfolio. 
• Procedural appeal: if you believe Pearson did not apply its procedures consistently, properly or fairly when determining the grade, you can submit an appeal, and we will check that our procedures have been followed correctly. In your appeal application, clearly state why you believe Pearson has not applied its procedures consistently, properly or fairly. 

1. You must be the head of centre (or their representative) or a private candidate. We won’t accept applications made by other people.
2. Make sure you are within the deadline (see the next section). We won’t accept applications made outside of these deadlines.
3. Make sure you've completed the review stage before you submit an appeal, otherwise we won’t accept your appeal application.
4. Obtain learner consent before submitting an appeal. This is essential because the grade may go down, stay the same or go up as a result of an appeal. Once a grade has been changed in an appeal, you cannot withdraw the appeal or seek the reinstatement of the original grade.
5. Prepare your appeal application and supporting evidence. Clearly state that the international contingency process was used. Be clear and concise in your application. For linear qualifications, the appeal should be made on a per qualification basis. For unitised qualifications such as IALs, appeals should be submitted on a per unit basis.
6. Submit your appeal using our web form:
   
   Application for an appeal form
   
   
   You’ll receive an automatic acknowledgement as soon as the appeal has been submitted, which will include your case reference number. We don't accept appeal applications that are submitted by email or post.
7. Only submit an appeal hearing application once a preliminary appeal has been concluded.

Calculated grades
Submit a preliminary appeal application within 14 calendar days of the grade being issued if you want to appeal the accuracy of the calculation.

May/June 2026 components used for calculated grades
Submit an appeal within 30 calendar days of the review of marking/moderation outcome.

Portfolio-based grades
Submit a preliminary appeal application within 30 calendar days of the review of grading outcome.

All appeals (only once a preliminary appeal has been concluded)
Submit a hearing application within 14 calendar days of the preliminary appeal outcome.

Our service level is 42 calendar days for preliminary appeals and 70 calendar days for appeal hearings.

You can find information on appeals fees under the 'appeals' tab on our post-results services page:

Post-results services

Make sure you're aware of the fees before you submit an appeal.

For linear qualifications, each component you want to appeal must be submitted as a separate appeal and the appeal fee will apply to each component. The fee will be payable once the appeal is in process.

Private candidates need to pay the applicable fee in advance; we’ll provide advice on how to do this on receipt of a valid application.  

Portfolios of evidence are reviewed and graded by trained examiners using grade descriptors for each qualification. These descriptors set out what performance looks like at each grade, allowing examiners to match the student’s work to the most appropriate grade.

International contingency qualification grade descriptors

A robust quality assurance process sits alongside this, ensuring grades are applied consistently and reflect the evidence submitted. 

For linear qualifications, this leads to an overall qualification grade. For modular qualifications, each unit is graded individually, with a mid-point UMS mark awarded. Once all units are complete, we carry out further checks to identify students close to a qualification grade boundary. Where appropriate, an additional review is completed, which may result in an adjustment to the overall grade. 

For calculated grades, Pearson follows the established JCQ process for estimating a missing mark for a unit or component. 

This uses the student’s available evidence, such as: 

• Banked unit results, and/or 
• NEA or speaking assessments completed in Summer 2026.

These existing results are used to estimate the missing mark in a consistent way, in line with the JCQ guidance. 

The overall calculation is a statistical one based on relative candidate performance across the whole cohort of candidates that have sat each particular qualification. While candidates may receive the same overall grade as awarded in the assessed component, they may receive a grade that is either higher or lower than the assessed component.

Students can use their results to progress to their next steps, including applying to university. 

We’ve put in place a clear, fair and evidence-based route to a qualification this year. Results are based on the work students were able to complete, whether through a calculated grade or a portfolio of evidence. 

We’re working closely with universities in the UK through UCAS, and sharing information more widely, so institutions understand these arrangements and the context behind students’ results. 

We’ve not contacted every international university, so if an institution needs more information about students results, we’re happy to speak to them directly to support progression.

Ofqual has confirmed that special consideration is the primary route for a student receiving a result wherever there is at least one assessed component available.

Therefore, if a student has already completed part of a qualification (such as coursework or a speaking assessment), this can be used to award a grade.

This means alternative evidence such as mock exams cannot be used for Ofqual‑regulated qualifications.

If students have already been entered for May/June 2026, and their qualification doesn’t have a coursework or speaking component, they have two options available. 

Option 1: Defer exams

Students can choose to defer and take their exams in the next available series.

Option 2: International qualification equivalents (exceptional measure)

For regulated qualifications where there is no NEA or speaking assessment, we will offer students who already have a summer 2026 exam entry an exceptional route to certification through a Pearson International GCSE or International A level equivalent for this summer series.

Grades will be awarded using a portfolio of evidence, which may include mock exams and other relevant evidence drawn from the student’s course of study. This allows students to be assessed against content, structure and demand aligned to the regulated qualification.

You can find detailed guidance on what evidence to submit, how to submit it and key dates and deadlines in the international contingency grading centre portfolio submission guidance document.

This route is entirely optional for students, and they can of course choose to defer to the next available series. This will be the next available summer series for most regulated qualifications, or the next available November series for GCSE mathematics and GCSE English Language.

Read our full guidance document for details on the portfolio of evidence, including information on how you'll submit them and the type of evidence needed.

You'll need to complete a centre evidence confirmation form alongside your students' portfolios so we can see what evidence has been collated, where assessments have been derived from and to confirm theconditions in which they were completed.

24 April: we've updated the centre declaration section of the form, so make sure you've downloaded the latest version to use with your students' portfolios before you submit them.

Uploading learner evidence

If you haven’t used Learner Work Transfer before, please refer to our Learner Work Transfer guide, which explains how to access the system and upload learner work step by step.

Learner Work Transfer user guide

You may notice a grade grid in the administration section of Learner Work Transfer. There’s no need to take any action; it’s there intentionally and will be used during the grading process. Please leave it in place so everything runs smoothly.

Arranging and labelling learner evidence

Files must be uploaded as an acceptable file format.

View our list of acceptable file formats

Although we don’t require files to be named in a specific way, and this won’t prevent your upload, we recommend using the following naming convention to help ensure files are easy to identify and process.

Use one continuous filename that includes centre number, candidate number, candidate surname, first initial, tier (F or H where applicable), past-paper code/title (where relevant).
For example: 12345_7890_Smith_J_H_2406_4MA1_1H

Multiple files for the same student

If you upload more than one document for a student, keep the filename the same and add a short descriptor at the end. This helps keep files aligned and easy to track. There's no need to zip your files.

For example: 12345_7890_Smith_J_H_2406_4MA1_1Hmock and 12345_7890_Smith_J_H_2406_4MA1_2Hmock.

We have also updated our portfolio of evidence submission guide to include this information.

Pearson will transfer existing entries to the international equivalent qualification automatically. These will appear on Edexcel Online as paper number 99 under the relevant specification. If any students do not wish to transfer to an international qualification, you should withdraw their entry by 21 April. 

It’s important that you discuss these options with students and they understand that International GCSEs and International A Levels are not regulated by Ofqual. Their certificate will clearly state that it is an international qualification and will not include the Ofqual logo.

If students have a university offer that specifically requires a GCE A Level, they must check with their university whether an International A Level is acceptable.

Pearson International qualifications are widely recognised worldwide and we’re working with UCAS and Higher Education Institutions to make universities aware of these arrangements.

Depending on a student’s circumstances, grades will be awarded in one of two ways:

• Calculated grades, using existing assessment results that have already been completed and banked.
• International contingency grading, based on a portfolio of evidence submitted by the centre, or

If students aren’t expecting to complete in May/June 2026, they should be deferred to the next available series.

Students on linear qualifications who:

• have an entry for the summer 2026 series, and 
  
• have not completed any NEA components for summer 2026.
  

Students on modular qualifications who:

• have unit entries and a cash‑in entry for summer 2026, and
• do not have any banked results from a previous series, or only resit entries in summer 2026 for previously banked units.

Only students who meet these criteria are eligible. 

Read our full guidance document for details on the portfolio of evidence, including information on how you'll submit them and the type of evidence needed.

You'll need to complete a centre evidence confirmation form alongside your students' portfolios so we can see what evidence has been collated, where assessments have been derived from and to confirm theconditions in which they were completed.

Uploading learner evidence

If you haven’t used Learner Work Transfer before, please refer to our Learner Work Transfer guide, which explains how to access the system and upload learner work step by step.

Learner Work Transfer user guide

You may notice a grade grid in the administration section of Learner Work Transfer. There’s no need to take any action; it’s there intentionally and will be used during the grading process. Please leave it in place so everything runs smoothly.

Arranging and labelling learner evidence

Files must be uploaded as an acceptable file format.

View our list of acceptable file formats

Although we don’t require files to be named in a specific way, and this won’t prevent your upload, we recommend using the following naming convention to help ensure files are easy to identify and process.

Use one continuous filename that includes centre number, candidate number, candidate surname, first initial, tier (F or H where applicable), past-paper code/title (where relevant).
For example: 12345_7890_Smith_J_H_2406_4MA1_1H

Multiple files for the same student

If you upload more than one document for a student, keep the filename the same and add a short descriptor at the end. This helps keep files aligned and easy to track. There's no need to zip your files.

For example: 12345_7890_Smith_J_H_2406_4MA1_1Hmock and 12345_7890_Smith_J_H_2406_4MA1_2Hmock.

We have also updated our portfolio of evidence submission guide to include this information.

No. To be eligible for a calculated IAL grade, students must have completed at least one IA2 unit.

Candidates entered for the full IAL who have only IAS units banked will need to submit portfolios of evidence for the IA2 units they were due to sit in the summer series.

Transferred candidates process

If you have concerns around this, please reach out to your local Regional Development Manager or our customer support teams.  

Any withdrawals made before April 21 will trigger an automatic credit of the standard entry fee. If you need to make withdrawals after this date, please get in touch with your regional contact or customer services team and we'll review these on a case-by-case basis.

Due to current centre closures, we are granting a two-week extension to the published deadlines for completing these activities.

If centre closures mean you may still struggle to complete these activities by the new deadline, please contact your Regional Development Manager or our customer support teams as soon as possible. 

If your non-examined components have been disrupted, please contact your Regional Development Manager or our customer support team as soon as possible. 

All upcoming moderation visits for GCSE and A level practical subjects have been moved online because it is unsafe or impractical to complete them in person. You should refer to the subject-specific guidance document for these qualifications to opt for the digital submission option. If you require extra support or an extension to provide this submission, please get in touch via our support portal.

If we need to make any changes to your scheduled visit, we’ll let you know as soon as possible so you have time to prepare. 

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Centres in Bahrain, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE can allow teachers to conduct these remotely over a video call. An audio recording must be uploaded to Learner Work Transfer. This applies to both Ofqual regulated and international qualifications. 

If you need this arrangement, please follow these instructions:

Candidates who have completed a component or unit in the summer series should submit their work as normal. These candidates will be eligible for a calculated grade and don't need to submit a portfolio of evidence.

Where it is safe and possible for your students to attend the centre, you should continue to complete the Art Component 2 assignment and submit it in the usual way. 

We recognise that some centres may be unable to complete Component 2. In these circumstances, you should continue to work on Component 1 instead. 

Where Component 1 has been completed but Component 2 can't be completed, students will be eligible for a calculated grade.

Yes. Although these are practical exams, they appear on the exam timetable and require hard copy exam papers to be sent to centres. For that reason, these exams are also cancelled.

You should follow the process set out in the contingency arrangements guidance document. If you have any specific queries for this subject, please contact us through the Pearson support portal. 

You can submit evidence from any point during the course. Wherever possible, you should select evidence for submission that best reflects the student's level of performance. Where a student's performance has been impacted over a longer period of time (for example by long term illness or bereavement) and this has adversely affected their performance in the portfolio evidence, you may apply for special consideration in the normal way, using the JCQ Form 10. 

At this time, our usual guidance on special consideration applies. 

Where candidates are present for assessments but have been disadvantaged
Centres may apply for special consideration if they believe that there has been a material and detrimental effect on candidate examination performance or in the production of coursework or non-examination assessment. 

In these cases, special consideration will normally be given by applying an allowance of additional marks to each component affected within a specification. 

Where grades have been awarded through international contingency grading (portfolio of evidence), you’ll be able to request a review of grading if you disagree with the grade that's been awarded to a candidate. A senior examiner will review the original grade along with the portfolio of evidence submitted. 

Where grades have been awarded through a calculated grade (using a completed or partially completed NEA/speaking component), you'll be able to request a review of marking for that component. You'll need to request a review of marking on Edexcel Online, as you would normally. Once the component as been reviewed, we'll then review the awarded grade.

Making an appeal

If you’re not satisfied with the outcome of a review of grading request, you’ll have the option to appeal the decision. All appeals will need valid grounds to be considered.

You can find details of relevant grounds for appeal on our post-results and appeals page, which includes additional information for centres who may wish to appeal a decision. You must have already requested a review of grading in order to request an appeal.

Post-results services and appeals

If local conditions mean face-to-face training can’t go ahead safely, we’ll offer an online alternative. We’ll get in touch if anything needs to change for your booking.

Yes, as a general principle and in any examination series, it is considered good practice to keep past paper mocks, sat under exam conditions, until after the live examinations have been completed and results released.

For Ofqual-regulated qualifications, this approach is aligned with Ofqual’s guidance on collecting evidence of student performance, which emphasises the need to protect the integrity and resilience of the qualifications system.

Guidance on collecting evidence of student performance to ensure resilience in the qualifications system

Certificates are being dispatched as normal and you can expect the usual timeframe for physical certificates to arrive (up to 20 working days). 

If you have any students that are waiting for a certificate, and they need this to progress to further education, we can provide proof of their qualification directly to institutions. Please get in touch with us through the Pearson support portal, and we’ll be able to arrange this for you. 

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