September 2026 Engineering update
Welcome to the start of a new academic year. I hope you had a relaxing and enjoyable summer break.
This September 2026 Engineering update brings together the key information, resources and important dates you need as you begin the new academic year. From qualification updates and assessment support to training opportunities and key deadlines, you'll find everything you need to help you plan ahead with confidence.
As always, I'm here to help. If you have any questions or need support, please don't hesitate to get in touch using the contact details below.
In this update:
- Key dates
- Exam timetables
- Examiner reports for externally assessed units
- Centre Standardisation Materials (CSMs)
- Digital Assessment Plans (DAP)
- Training events
- Updated Centre guides for 2026-2027
- Post-16 Vocational Qualification reform
For results and post results, please view the August 2026 update
| Date | Event | Qualification |
|---|---|---|
| 16 October 2026 | Entry deadline for January 2027 external units (late entry fees apply after this date) | BTEC Nationals, including AAQs |
| 1 November 2026 | BTEC Registration deadline | BTEC First, BTEC Nationals |
| 13 November 2026 | Digital Assessment Plan deadline | BTEC First and BTEC Nationals |
| 18 March 2027 | January 2027 Results Day (resit entry deadline for June 2027 external units is 26 March 2027) | BTEC First and BTEC Nationals |
| 19 March 2027 | Entry deadline for June 2027 external units (late entry fees apply after this date) | BTEC First and Nationals |
| 15 May 2027 | Standards Verification sampling deadline | BTEC First and Nationals |
| 5 July 2027 | Deadline to submit results for certification on August results days | BTEC First and Nationals |
| 12 August 2027 | Results day Level 3 | BTEC Nationals |
| 19 August 2027 | Results day Level 2 | BTEC First |
Centre Standardisation Materials (CSMs)
Centre Standardisation Materials (CSMs) are available for internally assessed units. These provide examples of learner work alongside the completed documentation required for assessment. They are a valuable resource for standardising assessment decisions and supporting assessor training within your centre.
This year, we have new CSMs for the below units.
- BTEC First in Engineering - Unit 3
- BTEC Nationals in Engineering (2016) Unit 10
- BTEC Nationals in Engineering (AAQ) Unit 4.
Access these in the links below:
Qualifications in Scope and Guidance
Working with us is about to get easier. The Digital Assessment Plan (DAP) is now live, giving centres a simpler way to plan assessments.
Qualifications in scope are:
- BTEC First in Engineering
- BTEC Nationals in Engineering
- BTEC Nationals AAQ in Engineering
Qualifications not in scope will continue to use the existing assessment plan template. A full list can be found in Appendix A of the centre guide.
Training and support for DAP
Join an interactive training session to see how to access DAP through Edexcel Online, create and submit plans, and use key features - with time for questions.
Prefer informal support? Drop into one of our regular DAP Drop-In Sessions for quick answers and to share feedback.
Both run throughout the rollout, so join whenever suits you.
| Training event | Qualification | Date and time |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Teaching the International BTEC Level 3 in Engineering | BTEC International Level 3 | 14 September 2026 at 08:30 - 11:00 GMT |
| Grading Standardisation Workshop for BTEC International Level 2 & 3 Engineering | BTEC International Level 2 | 12 October 2026 at 09:00 - 15:00 GMT |
| Post -16 Vocational Qualification reform briefings: Engineering | BTEC Level 2 and Level 3 | 13 October 2026 at 12:00 - 13:00 GMT |
On-demand training events for BTEC Nationals AAQ in Engineering
Getting started:
Internal Assessment (unit 3 and unit 4):
More on the quality assurance page:
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Subject advisor
Evren Alibaba
Engineering
