General Qualifications Bulletin International Issue 69
Welcome to the October qualifications bulletin. I hope this term is going well for you.
This edition provides information on our live online subject insight events providing feedback on the May/June exam series, November 2025 exam series timetables, an update on the moderation sample size for internally assessed work from January 2026, support for Exams Officers, details on our modified papers cases studies and more.
Date |
Exam series | Description |
|---|---|---|
17 Oct |
Jan 2026 | Entry deadline for Edexcel Award and Project qualifications |
21 Oct |
Jan 2026 | Deadline to submit applications for access arrangments for Edexcel Award and Project qualifications |
| 1 Nov | Nov 2025 | Deadline to submit access arrangments applications for GCSE English Language and Mathematics |
| 1 Nov | Nov 2025 | Deadline to submit applications for access arrangements for International GCSE |
Download a spreadsheet with all the key dates for the 2025/26 academic year
You can also take a look at our interactive Qualifications Key Dates Calendar. It can also be downloaded and syncronised seamlessly with your own personal calendar, such as MS Outlook.
Join us for our online May/June 2025 subject insight events where we’ll present key themes on how students performed in the 2025 summer series and give teachers the opportunity to explore this feedback. We’ll also share ideas on how to make the most of the post-results support available and how this can be used to help prepare students for future exam series.
You can find these courses and many more on our Professional Development Academy – our platform that supports teachers in their continuous professional development. From sessions designed to inform about specification changes to learning strategies and everything in between, you can browse by subject to find the right courses and events to suit your requirements.
Just visit the PD Academy and search for your subject to find out more about the events, dates and how to sign up.
November 2025 exam series
With the November 2025 exam series coming up, we'd like to wish your students well.
Do take a look at the resit rules for GCSE English Language
Please also take a look at the exam timetables for the November series:
Update on moderation sample size for internally assessed work from 2026
From the January 2026 series, we’ll be asking for a larger sample size when moderating internally assessed work for Project qualifications.
From June 2026 onwards this approach will apply to GCSE, International GCSE, A level, Entry Level Certificate and Project qualifications.
We’re making this change because, from time to time, moderators need to request additional samples to complete their moderation. When these requests come later in the year, we know it can be challenging for you to manage alongside the demands of a busy series.
By asking for a slightly larger sample upfront, we aim to make the process smoother and reduce the likelihood of additional requests later on. This should help us complete moderation more efficiently and give you and your students greater clarity and confidence in the outcomes. This process will not affect the way in which moderators currently review the sample, and they will only look at additional samples of work where needed.
Cohort size |
Sample size* |
|---|---|
1-15 |
All |
16-100 |
15 |
101-200 |
20 |
>200 |
25 |
We’ll be in touch ahead of your mark submission deadline to provide more guidance on submitting your marks and samples. But if you have any questions, you can reach us through our customer support portal.
Pearson customer support portal
*You must also include the highest and lowest marked students, if they have not already been selected in your sample.
The new EO Support: New Academic Year Essential Information article covers important topics, including:
- October/November exam series
- Timetables and JCQ guidance
- Entry key dates and guidance
- And much more.
Download the new EO Support: New Academic Year Essential Information
October/November exam series
View the full October/November series timetables
Download the stationery and materials spreadsheet for the autumn series
Modified papers case studies
Have you read our research on modified papers?
We’re always looking for ways to improve our qualifications, services, and support for schools and colleges, making our qualifications and assessments accessible to all students. From the first half of 2022 to the end of 2024, we investigated the access and use of modified exam papers since 2016.
Do read our Modified Exam Papers Project (MPP) findings to discover how you and your students can benefit and make a real difference in the future of modified exam papers. You can also learn more about how we've supported students using modified papers in our case studies.
Introducing the Let's Talk English mini-series
Over the past year, thousands of teachers, students and sector leaders have joined the Let's Talk English conversation to discuss the future of the subject.
This autumn, we're bringing everything together in a five-part mini series, each summarising the key insights and questions raised so far.
The first edition arrives this month and rounds up what we've heard on Oracy: putting speaking and listening at the heart of English.
Meet Jaclyn Wiid, your Subject Advisor for Art and Design.
Jaclyn is your go-to person for all questions about our Art and Design qualifications. Along with providing a range of support materials and training videos, Jaclyn also sends out a monthly link to her Art and Design newsletter. If you’re not already receiving it, sign up today.
- Green Skills in GCSE Art and Design – a practical guide packed with ideas to help learners explore eco-conscious creativity. From material choices to mindful making, this resource connects green thinking with artistic practice in ways that feel relevant, inspiring and doable.
- Information on the exciting announcement about our fully remote delivery option for International GCSE Art and Design - making creative learning more accessible. You can book your spot on a live training event on 3 December.
- Have your say on two important surveys. One that gathers your thoughts on how you choose between General Qualifications (such as GCSE and A level) and Vocational Qualifications (such as BTEC) - especially for subjects with lots of coursework. A second that asks you and your students to share their aspirations for the future of the GCSE qualification.
How do you stay up to date with all the news and information about the subjects you teach?
By signing up to receive a monthly newsletter from your Subject Advisor you’ll be kept informed of all the key information you need to know throughout the year.
Follow us on Facebook
In September 2024 we launched our Pearson Edexcel Facebook page, designed to help and support you with the teaching and delivery of our qualifications.
We now have 18 Pearson Edexcel subject groups, run by our Subject Advisors. Thanks to all the group members, these have proved to be very successful in facilitating discussions, providing support and enabling teachers to share ideas and resources.
The latest subject groups to launch are Citizenship, History and Physical Education.
Join the Pearson Edexcel Citizenship Facebook group, run by Jenna Wyatt
Join the Pearson Edexcel History Facebook group, run by Mark Battye
Join the Pearson Edexcel Physical Education Facebook group, run by Penny Lewis
Find your Facebook subject group under 'About', 'Groups' and join today.