June 2025 Teaching Science update
Welcome to the June Teaching Science update for teachers of Pearson Edexcel Science qualifications. In this update you will find key dates, details of training events, information on new resources and other news items to support your teaching.
We are currently reviewing our qualifications and we would appreciate if you could take a few minutes to complete this survey. This information will be used in future to help us make improvements, if needed, enabling you and your students to better access our assessments.
| 24 June | Summer 2025 question paper release for Level 2 (GCSE and International GCSE) |
| 1 July | Summer 2025 question paper release for Level 3 (GCE and IAL) |
| 5 July | Claiming deadline- all internally assessed unit grades to be submitted and full award claims to be made by 5 July. |
| 15 July | Summer 2025 mark schemes for Level 3 (GCE and IAL) |
| 22 July | Summer 2025 mark schemes for Level 2 (GCSE and International GCSE) |
| 14 August | A level, International A Level and BTEC Level 3 results to candidates |
| 19 August | Summer 2025 examiner reports for Level 3 (GCE and IAL) |
| 21 August | GCSE, International GCSE and BTEC Level 2 results to candidates |
| 26 August | Summer 2025 examiner reports for Level 3 (GCSE and International GCSE) |
You can find BTEC term-time checkpoints and key dates for 2024/25 in our document below. The key dates have been scheduled to ensure BTEC results are delivered successfully to all learners expecting a result in Summer 2025.
18 June 2025 at 16:00-17:30 BST
This free online event is intended to support teachers who are delivering Pearson Edexcel's GCSE Combined Science Biology, Chemistry and Physics specifications. The session will cover the extended open response requirements of the course and how to best prepare your learners to answer relevant questions. You will:
- will explore strategies to support students with extended response questions
- identify areas for improvement in extended response questions
- develop your understanding of how extended open response questions are marked
- understand the requirements of our open response questions with specific command words.
07 July 2025 at 16:00-17:30 BST
This free online network is intended to support teachers who are delivering Pearson Edexcel's GCSE Combined Science Biology, Chemistry and Physics specifications.
You will:
- explore practical teaching and learning strategies for effective practical work
- explore ways to overcome barriers to maximise learning from these activities
- delve into strategies to support SEND learners in science practicals
- have opportunities to share good practices with colleagues
- explore resources from Pearson Edexcel to support all learners in developing their practical skills.
24 June 2025 16:00-17:30 BST
This free online event is for teachers delivering the Pearson Edexcel A Level Science qualifications, including Chemistry, Physics, Biology A and Biology B. In this session, you will have the opportunity to network with other teachers and explore ideas and suggestions on how you, as a classroom teacher, can get the best from those who find the subject more of a challenge. You will:
- discuss the challenges facing lower-attaining students within the A Level Science qualifications
- explore strategies for improving lower-attaining students’ scientific skills and knowledge with other teachers of A Level Sciences.
Applied Science | 09 July 2025 at 15:30 - 17:00 GMT
This event is suitable for CENTRES IN ENGLAND ONLY. It will cover a minimum of one mandatory unit plus other units where applicable. Delegates will:
- Explore the assessment criteria and requirements for internal assessment.
- Look at some examples of assessment materials.
- Address common issues and frequently asked questions.
Please be aware that this event will be recorded and may be shared publicly.
23 June 2025 at 16:00 - 17:00 GMT
This session is an excellent CPD opportunity aimed at new and experienced Lead Internal Verifiers (LIVs). The session will take you through the key roles and responsibilities over the academic year with reference to the BTEC Entry/Level 1 to Level 3 annual Quality Assurance model. The event will cover team standardisation, the importance of assessment planning, internal verification planning, resubmissions and retakes and standards verification. It will also cover the quality assurance monitoring responsibilities as a Lead IV. For UK Centres only.
You can now view and download a new pack of marked exemplars from the Summer 2024 exam series (Paper 1s) in the 'Teaching and Learning Materials' section of the website. Use the link below to access the document directly.
A new pack from the training event we hosted earlier in the year, 'Five Ways to Supercharge your Chemistry Teaching', is available to view and download from the 'Past training content' section of the website.
Our 'Maths in Science' support resources have been expanded further with two new videos on decimals and percentages. Access all our 'Maths in Science' support resources on the GCSE Science qualification page from the 'Maths Support' section.
Teaching support materials are available to support teachers with delivering the BTEC National AAQ Applied Science for first teaching from September 2025. They can be found on the science qualification page. Links to them are also provided below.
Published resources to support the new BTEC National AAQs are now available. You can find the links below. Please note that there is no compulsory requirement to purchase or use Pearson's paid resources.
A reminder that we have short videos to help teachers prepare GCSE Science students with exams covering areas such as exam structure, short answer questions, calculations, graphs, extended open response questions and command words.
Pearson Edexcel (9-1) GCSE Science - Exam Boost sessions- #1 exam structure
( 9:40 )
Pearson Edexcel (9-1) GCSE Science - Exam Boost sessions # 2 - Tackling short answer questions
( 11:06 )
Pearson Edexcel (9-1) GCSE Science - Exam Boost sessions # 3 - Calculations
( 13:31 )
Pearson Edexcel (9-1) GCSE Science - Exam Boost sessions - #4 - Graphs
( 9.12 )
Pearson Edexcel (9-1) GCSE Science - Exam Boost sessions #5 - Extended open response questions
( 13:42 )
Pearson Edexcel (9-1) GCSE Science - Exam Boost sessions #6 - Command words
( 13:10 )
Youtube Video Title
Youtube video contentRelated Videos
Pearson Edexcel (9-1) GCSE Science - Exam Boost sessions- #1 exam structure
( 9:40 )
Pearson Edexcel (9-1) GCSE Science - Exam Boost sessions # 2 - Tackling short answer questions
( 11:06 )
Pearson Edexcel (9-1) GCSE Science - Exam Boost sessions # 3 - Calculations
( 13:31 )
Pearson Edexcel (9-1) GCSE Science - Exam Boost sessions - #4 - Graphs
( 9.12 )
Pearson Edexcel (9-1) GCSE Science - Exam Boost sessions #5 - Extended open response questions
( 13:42 )
Pearson Edexcel (9-1) GCSE Science - Exam Boost sessions #6 - Command words
( 13:10 )
We hope the exam season is going well for you and your students. We would like you to share your teacher feedback on this year's exam papers. We wish to provide students with the best possible exam experience, and your insights are crucial in helping us achieve this goal. If you're a teacher whose students have taken any of our exams in the May/June 2025 series, we are eager to hear your thoughts.
Your feedback will play a vital role in shaping the future of our qualifications and assessments. Your input will be shared with our senior examiners and across our subject teams to help us continuously improve future assessments and enhance the exam experience for students. We really appreciate your participation in this process, thank you. Please take a few minutes to complete this survey.
Students sitting Pearson GCSE Physics and Combined Science (Physics) exams in 2025, 2026, and 2027 will continue to be supported with an equation sheet insert as they were in 2024. Clean copies of the equation sheet will be included with the exam papers. The equation sheet is available on the Science qualification page. This can be given to students so they can become familiar with it before their exams. A link to it is also provided below.
The Pearson Edexcel A Level Biology A 9BN0 (SNAB) Paper 3 Scientific Article for the Summer 2025 exam series is available for secure download from the qualification page from the 'Course Materials' section. A direct link to the article has also been provided below.
The article is to be given to students (including private) so they can study and annotate it in preparation for the Paper 3 examination paper 9BN0/03. Students are not allowed to take their annotated copy into the examination room - there will be a fresh copy provided inside the examination paper.
JCQ provide a booklet on 'Instructions for Conducting Examinations' and a calculator FAQs document that provides clarity to candidates, exam officers and teachers on using calculators. Both can be found on the JCQ website - see links below.
In December the DfE published the outcome of their review of post-16 qualification reform. The aim of the review was to determine which qualifications will be funded for 16-19 learners in England for the 2025/26 academic year. You can read about BTEC reform news via our dedicated webpage.
Our BTEC level 3 funding guide provides details of funding arrangements for all level 3 BTECs:
The defunding of some RQF BTEC Nationals qualifications from 1 August 2025 will affect centres using a top-up model with their learners; please read the information and guidance in the update below.
We have held briefing sessions that provide information and guidance too; links to some of the recordings are provided below.
We announced that T Levels in Health and Science will be ready for first teach September 2026. Find out more in our April update.
International Science qualification news
Please go to the recent update below where you can find the latest news for International GCSE and IAL Science qualifications.
UK and International GCSE and A level Science Facebook groups
We recently launched two new Science Facebook groups for GCSE and A level teachers teaching UK and International science qualifications. Here you can connect with other teachers as well as receive news about Pearson Science qualifications. You can request to join the groups from the links below.
Visit our Facebook group for teachers of UK Science courses
Visit our Facebook group for teachers of International Science courses
You can also follow Pearson via our social media channels - see links below.
Subject advisor
Irine Muhiuddin
Science
