General Qualifications Bulletin UK Issue 82
Welcome to the new academic year, we hope you've enjoyed a well-earned break over the summer. Many of you have been using our post-results services - ResultsPlus and Access to Scripts - to review and analyse your students’ summer results. I hope you’re finding these services useful.
As you settle into the autumn term, do join us for live online subject insight events providing feedback on the GCSE and A level summer series. You can find out more about these events and how to book along with other training events taking place over the next few months, below.
Plus, could your students share their ideas about education at the House of Commons? We’re inviting secondary schools and colleges to nominate students to join us at the House of Commons on Tuesday 20 October 2026 for a unique event: What Comes Next? The Future of Education Exchange. Find out more in this month’s bulletin.
In this months update:
- Key dates
- Summer 2026 post-results services
- Summer insight events and CPD
- May/June exam series feedback
- November 2026 exam series
- Modified papers autumn 2026 exam series
- Exams Officer support for the new term
- Subject updates
- Could your students share their ideas about education at the House of Commons?
- General qualification fees for 2026/27
- Get updates, support and opportunities in one place
Date |
Exam Series |
Description |
|---|---|---|
1 September |
November 2026
|
GCSE English Language and Mathematics final date for Basedata to be issued. |
12 September |
November 2026 |
International GCSE entry deadline |
20 September |
November 2026 |
Deadline to order modified papers |
04 October |
November 2026 |
GCSE English and Mathematics entry deadline |
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 synchronised seamlessly with your own personal calendar, such as MS Outlook.
Summer 2026 post-results services
As you settle into the new term and review your students results, you can still use our post-results services if you or your students have any concerns about results. You can download our guide to help you understand your students’ results, the steps you can take to get more insight about their grades, and what to do if you’re unsure that the right grade has been given.
You can also take a look at grade boundaries for all qualifications and view our guides to understanding the approach to grade boundaries for 2026.
Post-results services, key dates and fees
The post-results services window closes on 24 September.
Results PlusYou can still use our post-results service, ResultsPlus, to help you take a deeper dive into your students results from summer 2026 and support departmental CPD.
Our Access to Scripts service is open until 11 December 2026. Not just useful for post-results support, but you can download student exam scripts* and gain a rich source of information, enabling detailed analysis to inform teaching and learning and support students - giving insights and visibility that performance data alone cannot provide.
Take a closer look at Access to Scripts and see how other centres have used this valuable service to support departmental CPD via our case studies.
*Written permission must be gained from candidates before scripts can be accessed.
Our Access to Scripts service is open until 12 December 2025. Not just useful for post-results support, but you can download student exam scripts* and gain a rich source of information, enabling detailed analysis to inform teaching and learning and support students - giving insights and visibility that performance data alone cannot provide.
Take a closer look at Access to Scripts and see how other centres have used this valuable service to support departmental CPD via our case studies.
Read more about Access to Scripts
*Written permission must be gained from candidates before scripts can be accessed.
Our Professional Development Academy supports teaching professionals in their continuous professional development, from sessions designed to inform on specification change to learning strategies and everything in between.
As part of our post-results support, we’re now running online summer 2026 subject insight events where we’ll present key themes on how students performed in the 2026 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.
There are also many other courses available across a wide range of subjects. Visit the PD Academy and search for your subject to find out more about the events, dates and how to sign up.
May/June exam series feedback – last chance to provide your feedback
To enable us to improve the experience of teachers using our qualifications and students sitting our exams, we gather feedback after each exam series.
Thank you to all those that have completed the surveys so far, we really appreciate your feedback. If you're a teacher, and your students took any of our exams in the May/June 2026 series, there’s still time to share your thoughts on this year's exam papers.
We'll share your feedback with our senior examiners and across teams to ensure we continue to make improvements to our papers where appropriate so we can make sure your students have the best exam experience.
The surveys will close on 15 September. Please complete the surveys and have your say.
Please take a few minutes to complete the surveys
November 2026 exam series
The entry deadline for the November GCSE English Language and GCSE Maths resit is 4 October 2026.
The entry deadline for the November International GCSE exam series is 12 September 2026.
Take a look at the exam timetables for the November series
Please do take a look at the resit rules for GCSE English Language
Ordering 3D models
We don’t automatically supply 3D models with the modified large-print Maths papers. If you’re placing an order for modified large-print GCSE Maths or International GCSE Maths for a student who will need 3D models, please place an order using our 3D models order form by 3 October. Due to the production lead time, we won’t be able to supply models for any orders made after that date.
Order 3D models for GCSE/International GCSE Maths
3D models will still come as standard with all orders for UEB Grade 1 and Grade 2 braille, so you don’t need to place a separate order for models if you’re requesting these modified papers.
Only use 3D models with modified papers
The 3D models are produced for use with modified papers only. 3D models are not available to order for standard exam materials and must not be used with them, as the modified question paper and model may contain differences to the standard question paper as part of the modification process. Using both modified and standard materials together risks significant disadvantage to your students.
If you have any questions or want more information, you can contact us at additional_requirements@pearson.com
The new EO Support: New Academic Year Essential Information article covers important topics, including:
- Deadlines for post-results services
- November exam series
- Timetables and JCQ guidance
- and much more.
Explore the new EO Support: New Academic Year Essential Information
Autumn exam series
View the full November series timetable
We will host a series of online Exams Officer webinars during 2026/2027. These live events go through news, updates and various areas to support you in the coming months.
We'll be sending invitations out to Exams Officers ahead of time so you can sign up, but you can find all the registration links in our support article.
Don't worry if you miss any! You can also watch the recordings of past events in our support article.
Following feedback from teacher associations, JCQ is making an exceptional change to the date for the publication of GCSE results, November 2026 series. This will ensure students applying to UCAS in January 2027 for undergraduate courses can include their GCSE English Language and/or GCSE Mathematics result(s).
Restricted release of results to centres only
Original date: Wednesday 13 January 2027
New date: Tuesday 12 January 2027
Release of results to candidates
Original date: Thursday 14 January 2027
New date: Wednesday 13 January 2027
To make sharing student work for moderated components easier and more secure, both for you and examiners, we've updated our list of acceptable file formats for use with Learner Work Transfer and other Pearson systems.
Share this with the relevant delivery teams so they can factor this into their planning before moderation windows open later in the year.
Get help quickly with live chat
We understand that you need fast and efficient answers during busy periods. Why not try our Live Chat service for quick and reliable support, saving you time and effort.
Try our Live Chat support
GCSE Hebrew new set texts for paper 2
We're pleased to let you know that Ofqual has approved the new Paper 2 (Literature) set texts for GCSE Biblical Hebrew for assessment from summer 2029 to summer 2031.
We'll be updating the specification to reflect these changes, but we're sharing them now so you can plan future teaching as early as possible, particularly if you are planning a three-year Key Stage 4 curriculum.
Updates to A level Religious Studies Specification and Anthology
As part of our ongoing review of qualifications and resources ahead of wider A level reform, we’ve updated the anthology format and made some changes to selected extracts in Paper 2 (Religion and Ethics) and Paper 4D (Islam).
Please, take a look at our web page where you’ll find more detail on the refinements we’ve made to our A level Religious Studies qualification.
AS and A level History specification amendments
We've made some minor amendments to the Edexcel GCE AS and A level History specifications for first teaching from September 2026.
The updated specifications are now available on our website:
- Issue 4 of the A level History specification
- Issue 5 of the AS level History specification
You'll find a summary of all changes at the start of each specification, making it easier to see what has been updated and whether it affects your planning and delivery.
AS and A level Politics specification amendments
We've made some minor amendments to the Edexcel GCE AS and A level Politics specifications for first teaching from September 2026, with first assessment in June 2027 for AS level and June 2028 for A level.
The updated specifications are now available on our website:
- Issue 4 of the A level Politics specification
- Issue 3 of the AS level Politics specification
You'll find a summary of the changes at the start of each specification, so you can quickly review what's changed and whether it affects your planning and delivery.
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.
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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.
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Could your students share their ideas about education at the House of Commons?
Education should be shaped with the people it affects most. That’s why we’re inviting secondary schools and colleges to nominate students to join us at the House of Commons on Tuesday 20 October 2026 for a unique event: What Comes Next? The Future of Education Exchange.
At the event, students will have the opportunity to share their experiences and ideas with educators, policymakers and sector leaders. Together, they’ll explore the latest findings from the Pearson School & College Report 2026 and discuss what could make the biggest difference to young people’s learning now and in the future.
Whether your students are passionate about skills, curious about the impact of technology on life and learning, or have suggestions about what would help students thrive, we'd love to put their views in the spotlight. Secondary schools and colleges in England can nominate up to three students by Monday 21 September 2026.
General qualification fees for 2026/27
The document below provides full information on our Pearson Edexcel general qualification fees for UK centres for the November 2026, January 2027 and June 2027 exam series.
View our 2026/27 general qualification fees
Our general qualification fees cover more than just assessment. They include a range of support and services to help your centre deliver and manage qualifications effectively.
Understanding our general qualification fees
Get updates, support and opportunities in one place
Join our Pearson Edexcel Facebook group to stay up to date and get the support you need for your centre.
In the group, you can:
- see key updates from the Pearson General Qualifications Bulletin
- access support materials for students, parents and carers
- find examiner recruitment opportunities
- connect with other centres and share ideas.
Join the Pearson Edexcel Facebook group
Looking for subject-specific support?
You can also join your Pearson Edexcel subject group. Go to the Pearson Facebook page, select About, then choose Groups to find the right one for your subject.