General Qualifications Bulletin UK Issue 76
Welcome to the January qualifications bulletin. I’d like to wish you all a happy new year and hope you had some time to take a well-earned break over the festive season.
As the new term begins, we’ll be providing you and your students with lots of support as you start to prepare for the summer exam series. On our general qualifications assessment support page you’ll find information on Ofqual updates, professional development opportunities and a link to our fantastic team of Subject Advisors who are available to support you all year round.
In this months update:
- Key dates
- January series post-results support
- Ofqual consultation on its proposed approach to the regulation of on-screen assessment in GCSEs, AS and A levels
- Modified papers deadline
- Reminder about moderation sample size for internally assessed work from 2026
- Support and training for Exams Officers this autumn and winter
- New languages Digital Sequencing Tool (Demo) for speaking exams
- Subject spotlight
- Join our new Pearson Edexcel Facebook group
Date |
Exam Series |
Description |
|---|---|---|
21 January |
November 2025
|
Restricted results day: International GCSE November 2025 results released to centres |
22 January |
November 2025
|
Results day: International GCSE November 2025 results released to learners
|
31 January |
June 2026
|
Deadline to request modified papers for International GCSE, GCSE, AS/A level, PLSC, Mathematics in Context, Level 2 Extended Mathematics Certificate |
21 February |
June 2026
|
Entry deadline for AS/A level, GCSE, AEA, ELC(A), Mathematics in Context, Level 2 Extended Mathematics Certificate
|
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.
January post-results support
Whether your students have received their GCSE English Language and GCSE Maths results, or are waiting for their International GCSE results, we hope their results are want they want.
Our regular post-results support services will be available from results day. You can also use our ResultsPlus service to get a detailed breakdown of your students’ results, and our Access to Scripts where you can view your candidates’ marked scripts online or download as a PDF, using our Access to Scripts service.
Post-results support for teachers and Exams Officers
Ofqual consultation for on-screen assessment
Ofqual has launched a consultation on proposals for how on-screen assessment should be regulated in GCSEs, AS and A levels in England. Whilst they propose a controlled introduction of on-screen assessment, pen-and-paper will remain central to most exams.
As teachers working directly with students, you understand their needs and the challenges this proposal may present.
Your opinion counts. The consultation closes on 5 March 2026.
Modified papers deadline
We understand each learner is unique and we’re committed to supporting all learners and enabling them to access exam materials in the way that suits many diverse needs.
That’s why we offer a variety of different formats of modified papers to accommodate a range of difficulties and special requirements.
Ensure your students’ exam experience is as inclusive and accessible as possible
Talk to us about how we can help your students access the exam materials needed to accurately assess their skills and knowledge by contacting: additional_requirements@pearson.com.
The deadline for ordering modified formats for all qualifications for the summer exam series is 31 January 2026. It’s really important that you place your orders by the deadline so we can create the exam materials your students need to give them a positive exam experience.
Find out more about the different types of modified papers we can offer
You can also read our modified papers research findings and case studies that highlight just how important it is that we enable as many students as possible to take their assessments in ways that suit their requirements.
Read our case studies
Reminder about moderation sample size for internally assessed work from 2026
From January 2026 onwards, we’ll be asking for a larger sample size when moderating internally assessed work for 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.
Read more about this on our Moderation and internal assessment for general qualifications
Support and training for Exams Officers this autumn and winter
We’ve pulled together everything you need for the Autumn and Winter 2025/26 exam series — from key dates and deadlines to extra guidance — in one handy place.
Explore the EO Support: Autumn & Winter Essential Information
This academic year we’re running a series of Bitesize webinars. These are short, focused online sessions designed to simplify the key administrative steps and essential information around BTEC and General Qualifications. They are intended to help educators and support staff confidently navigate processes, meet requirements, and provide better support to their learners.
Take a look and sign up for Bitesize events today
If you’re unable to attend, you can view recordings of all the events in your own time.
All the timetables for each of the 2026 exam series can be found on our exam timetables page.
Download the exam timetables
New languages Digital Sequencing Tool (Demo) for speaking exams
If your centre is entering students for GCSE French, German or Spanish for the summer 2026 series, you’ll be using our new Digital Sequencing Tool for speaking exams. It’s designed to make admin lighter and life easier.
Everyone who needs access to the tool - from exams officers to Heads of Department and teachers - must have it and know how to use it before the thematic context selection window opens in March 2026 so the process runs smoothly. That means checking you can log in via the Pearson portal (which may require some additional permissions) and have multi-factor authentication (MFA) set up.
- Take a few minutes now to explore our Digital Sequencing Tool (demo version). It’s the simplest way to get familiar before the live series and confirm your access - so everything is ready when it matters most.
- For a walkthrough guide to the tool you can watch our video, plus more details and user guides can be found within our news update.
- You can also sign up to attend our monthly drop-in sessions to ask your questions about using this tool.
Meet Evren Alibaba - your Design and Technology Subject Advisor
Evren is your go-to expert for all our design and technology qualifications. Evren is here to support you with resources, training and updates that make a real difference in the classroom.
Each month, Evren sends out a newsletter packed with useful content - and if you’re not already signed up, now’s a great time to join the list.
- New exemplar materials for GCSE and A level Design and Technology NEA
- Upcoming training events to help you deliver GCSE and A level Design and Technology with confidence, and more
Read Evren’s January Subject Advisor update
Sign up for Evren’s Design and Technology newsletter today
GCSE and International GCSE Art and Design Component 2
On 2 January the GCSE and International GCSE Art and Design Component 2 externally set assignment (ESA) paper was released. This is available for secure download from the course materials pages under Exam Materials.
Full details for accessing these as well as Component 2 planning resources can be found in Jaclyn Wiid’s January update.
The Component 2 release date for A level Art and Design is 1 February.
GCE A Level Chinese Paper 1 and 2 amendments
We're pleased to announce that from summer 2026 onwards, students and teachers will benefit from two amendments made to our A level Chinese qualification.
In Paper 1 (Reading and listening comprehension):
- Questions and responses to listening and reading comprehension tasks will now appear in English. Students are required to respond in English.
In Paper 2 (Response to set works):
- Questions about the set works will now appear in both Chinese and English. Students are still required to respond in Chinese.
- Two additional set works have been introduced to the Specification; one literary work and one film.
- There will be an option (b) for each set work question in Paper 2, allowing greater choice for students.
For both Paper 1 and 2, the Sample assessment materials are updated into separate question and answer booklets, matching the format of live assessment papers.
Why this matters
These changes reflect the feedback you’ve shared, giving more choice to students. The amendment to increase optionality in Paper 2 builds on the first amendment announced in July 2024, which introduced English questions for Papers 1 and 2 for first assessment in 2026.
Support and next steps
The updated Specification and Sample assessment materials illustrate all the changes
Support materials for the new set works will be available soon on our Teaching and Learning page.
If you have any questions, email us at teachinglanguages@pearson.com - we’re here to help.
Read the announcement from your Subject Advisor, Rebecca Waker
Book in some time with your Subject Advisor who’ll be happy to discuss our qualifications and provide the support you need for teaching our qualifications.
Book your appointment now
You can also stay up to date with all the news and information about the subjects you teach when you sign 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.
Join our new Pearson Edexcel Facebook group
Do you follow our Pearson Edexcel page on Facebook? Our Pearson Edexcel page will be closing shortly, but you can still find the same great content on our new Pearson Edexcel Facebook group.
The group will be a space for sharing examiner recruitment opportunities, important information published in our Pearson General Qualifications Bulletin, support documents for students, parents and carers and much more.
Join our new Facebook Group today
Please note, this change does not affect any of our subject groups. To join your Pearson Edexcel subject group, go to the Pearson Facebook page, About and scroll down to Groups to find your Pearson Edexcel subject group.