General Qualifications Bulletin UK Issue 78
Welcome to the March qualifications bulletin.
As we head towards the Easter break, there’s plenty to share this month. You’ll find updates on support for summer 2026, alongside a new Ofqual blog exploring why it’s so important to talk with students about the use of AI in coursework. We’ve also included key information on summer question paper dispatch, so you know what to expect and when.
Finally, there are two consultations where your voice really matters:
- An Ofqual consultation on proposed changes to the assessment of GCSE mathematics, physics and combined science.
- A UCAS consultation on the UK higher education application process.
I encourage you to take a look and have your say.
In this months update:
- Key dates
- Summer 2026 support
- Reminder - Important change to mark submission for internally assessed and externally moderated work
- Ofqual Blog - Talking to students about AI in coursework: why the conversation matters
- Summer 2026 question paper dispatch
- Support and training for Exams Officers
- Ofqual consultation on proposed changes to the assessment of mathematics, physics and combined science GCSEs
- UCAS admissions consultation
- Summer 2027 provisional timetables
- Subject spotlight
- Help improve exam equity for neurodivergent students
- Join our new Pearson Edexcel Facebook group
Date |
Exam Series |
Description |
|---|---|---|
21 March |
June 2026
|
Entry deadline for Edexcel Award and Project qualifications |
| 22 March | June 2026 | Late entry fees charged from this date for Edexcel Award and Project qualifications |
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.
Summer 2026 support
Student support from Ofqual and JCQ
As the exam season approaches, helping students feel calm, confident and prepared really matters. Alongside the support you already provide, Ofqual and the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) have created clear, student‑friendly guidance to help learners understand what to expect and how to prepare. We’ve summarised the key information below - please do share it with your students.
Ofqual has published guidance for students on arrangements for regulated qualifications in 2026. It explains what students need to know before, during and after their exams and assessments, helping them feel informed at every stage.
Read the Ofqual Student Guide to Exams and Assessments 2026
JCQ offers a wide range of practical support for students, covering coursework, onscreen exams and written exams, as well as a useful exam day checklist to help students feel ready on the day.
Take a look at all the support JCQ have to offer for students
There’s also guidance available to support you and your colleagues. The Ofqual guide for schools and colleges sets out what schools, colleges and other exam or assessment centres can expect from awarding organisations regulated by Ofqual, along with the arrangements for qualifications in 2026.
Take a look at the Ofqual guide for schools and colleges 2026
You can also find the full range of support we offer on our General qualifications assessment support page.
General qualifications assessment support
Reminder - Important change to mark submission for internally assessed and externally moderated work
Following our announcement on 12 February about changes to mark submission for moderated work, we’ve now published additional, subject-specific guidance for summer 2026; this includes Art and Design, PE, Sport, Drama, Performing Arts and English. For centres with entries, see what these changes mean to your subject areas.
Read the subject-specific guidance for changes to mark submission for moderated work
Ofqual Blog - Talking to students about AI in coursework: why the conversation matters
Ofqual has published a new blog highlighting the importance of open, honest conversations with students about the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in coursework.
AI tools are now part of everyday life for many young people. But it’s important that students understand where the boundaries are. Using AI to generate coursework without proper disclosure is cheating, and the consequences can be serious - including the loss of a qualification.
The blog is designed to help you start those conversations with confidence. It includes:
- A ready‑to‑use lesson plan to support classroom discussion about AI and assessed work.
- A senior leadership team briefing pack to help schools and colleges develop a clear, whole‑school approach to AI in coursework.
Together, these resources can help ensure students are informed, supported and clear about expectations - before assessment pressures begin.
Summer 2026 question paper dispatch
Looking ahead to the summer series, here’s an update on when you can expect to start receiving standard and modified question papers:
- MFL speaking materials: from 18 March onwards.
- Edexcel Award exams: from 20 April onwards.
- General qualification exams taking place from 5 May and up until 19 May: from 20 April onwards.
- General qualification exams taking place from 20 May and up until 8 June: from 11 May onwards.
- General qualification exams taking place from 9 June onwards: from 29 May onwards.
Exams Officers will be able to track your standard question paper dispatch for General Qualifications via Edexcel Online.
Please ensure that appropriate colleagues are aware that question papers will be arriving soon and what they need to do with them. Question papers need to be carefully checked to ensure that you have received what you were expecting and that all question paper packs are in good condition. You should report any issues relating to question papers as soon as possible.
Whilst most question paper deliveries marked for the attention of Exams Officers are made during normal centre hours, on rare occasions, a courier may attempt delivery when the main reception has closed, so papers cannot be stored securely. We encourage centres to inform staff to refuse these deliveries, and the papers will be redelivered.
The yellow label service will be in place for this summer series for centres in England to return scripts. Please read the yellow label service guidance for exams officers on the government website.
You can expect to start receiving attendance registers and labels from 23 April onwards.
We’ve made some important key changes to the Secure Download Service (SDS) that will significantly improve your experience when using this service for the forthcoming General Qualifications and BTEC Tech Award May/June 2026 exam series.
Please take a look at the information below for full details on the key changes and how they will make your use of the SDS service easier and smoother.
Accessing materials on SDS
If your centre needs to access audio files or electronic copies of question papers (e.g. for printing on coloured paper), you will benefit from the following key changes:
- Direct access to SDS via Edexcel Online - which means you will no longer need to follow the 2-email process
- Secure materials will be available to download for late entries - a service that was previously unavailable if entries were made within 7 days of the exam
- If your centre has more than one site - you will be able to access question papers for all subsites linked to your main centre number
- If your centre is on a dispatch block - you will now be able to self-serve and access materials via SDS
For detailed instructions on using SDS, please refer to our Support Article, available from the Edexcel Online homepage.
Who can access the materials
Please note that if your exam staff already have access to SDS, they do not need to request access again, however the same requirements for accessing SDS apply as previously.
Our recommendation is that a minimum of two members of staff have SDS included in their Edexcel Online profile.
If your exam staff do not already have SDS added to their Edexcel Online profile, your exams officer or your head of centre will need to contact us and we can add this permission. The quickest way to do this is on Edexcel live-chat.
Support and training for Exams Officers
Spring and summer: essential information
To help prepare you for the May/June exams, we've put together this essential information article containing important knowledge on upcoming key dates, events, assessments, and available resources.
Explore the essential information article
All the timetables for each of the 2026 exam series can be found on our exam timetables page.
Download the exam timetables
The JCQ key dates document for 2026 is now available on their website.
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 general and BTEC 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.
Ofqual consultation on proposed changes to the assessment of mathematics, physics and combined science GCSEs
Ofqual is seeking views on proposed adaptations to the assessment of GCSE mathematics, physics and combined science.
The changes would apply to students in England taking exams from 2028, for the lifetime of the current GCSE specifications. This is an opportunity to help shape how these qualifications are assessed in the years ahead.
The consultation is open until 11:45pm on 23 March 2026. We encourage you to review the proposals and share your views before the deadline.
UCAS admissions consultation
We know many of our centres and students use the UCAS application service, when applying to Higher Education in the UK. We wanted to let you know that UCAS are currently consulting on the operation of the UCAS undergraduate admissions cycle, including:
- the number of initial choices a student can make
- the firm and insurance choice
- application deadlines, including the early (October) deadline and January Equal Consideration Date.
This is an opportunity for you to have your say. You can find out further details about the consultation and respond on the UCAS website. The deadline to respond is 18:00 (UK time) on 22 April 2026.
Summer 2027 provisional timetables
The provisional timetables for summer 2027 are now available on our website. The feedback window will run until Friday 20 March. Please send any feedback to timetables@pearson.com.
Take a look at the provisional timetables
Meet Irine Muhiuddin - your Science Subject Advisor
Irine is your go-to expert for all our UK science qualifications. Irine is here to support you with resources, training and updates that make a real difference in the classroom.
Each month, Irine 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.
The Pearson Edexcel A level Biology A (9BN0) (SNAB) Paper 3 Scientific Article for Summer 2026 will be available to download from the qualification page on 18 March.
Students may study and annotate the article in advance, but they must not bring their copy into the exam room. A fresh copy will be provided with the exam paper. If required, additional copies can also be downloaded from the qualification page.
Download the Paper 3 Scientific article
Important declaration forms to be completed for the following qualifications:
- GCSE Science Practical Statement: Head Teacher declaration form – deadline 15 April
- GCSE Astronomy Observation Statement – deadline 15 April
- A level Science Head Teacher declaration form and Endorsement result - deadline – 15 May
Future of GCSE Art and Design events
Following the Curriculum and Assessment Review, we’re inviting GCSE Art and Design teachers to take part in a discussion about what the qualification should look like next.
Dates:
- 19 March
- 23 March
- 24 March
Join the The Future of GCSE Art & Design: Have your say events
New self-paced GCSE Art and Design coursework marking course
Are you looking to strengthen your understanding of the assessment objectives and improve consistency of your internal marking?
This free online coursework marking training supports confident application of the assessment grids for Components 1 and 2.
Work through the content at your own pace and revisit key guidance as needed.
View our self-paced GCSE coursework marking training
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.
Help improve exam equity for neurodivergent students
Pearson has partnered with the UCL Centre for Research in Autism and Education (CRAE), to look at potential differences in the ways neurotypical and neurodivergent (e.g. those who are autistic/have ADHD) students answer GCSE exam questions.
This research will allow us to understand more about accessibility for all students. We would be very grateful if centres would consider taking part in the next phase of this very important project.
Read the project overview for further information
To find out more and express an interest in the research, please complete this short form. Thank you for your support.
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 group and click on our featured post which lists all our subject groups.