• Ofqual consultation outcome on Equation Sheets for GCSE Physics and Combined Science for Summer 2024
  
• Equation Sheets for International GCSE Physics, Science Double Award and Science Single Award
• Event - GCSE Physics: Five ways to supercharge your Physics teaching
• GCSE Combined Science Summer 2023 feedback videos
• Event - A Level Sciences: Understanding our exams
• Pearson Edexcel View from the Lab Podcasts
• Timetables
• International GCSE results day for the November series
• Modular International GCSEs
• International GCSE Science and IAL Science training
• Ofqual guidance
  
• General qualifications assessment support page
  
• Assessment Services
  
• JCQ guidance
• Examiner vacancies
  
• BTEC news

Ofqual consultation outcome on Equation Sheets for GCSE Physics and Combined Science for Summer 2024

As confirmed in a recent Ofqual consultation, students sitting GCSE Physics and GCSE Combined Science will be provided with an equation sheet in Summer 2024 exams: 

Read recent Ofqual consultation outcome on equation sheets  
 
The equation sheet will be provided as an insert in the exam papers, as it was in the Summer 2023 examination series. It is also now possible from the link below to view and download the equation sheet from the Pearson Science qualification page so students may become familiar with it ahead of the exams.

Equation sheets for International GCSE Physics, Science Double Award and Science Single Award

The Ofqual announcement above relates specifically to UK GCSE qualifications, but the same approach is being taken for International GCSE Physics, and International GCSE Science Double and Science Single Awards (physics papers) where students will also have access to a revised equation sheet for Summer 2024 exams. The equation sheets for these qualifications will be uploaded on the qualification pages soon. In the meantime, the equation sheets used in 2023 can be referred to for exam practice and revision. Links to these are provided below.

Event - GCSE Physics: Five ways to supercharge your Physics teaching

05 March 2024 at 16:00 - 17:30 GMT | Free

YouTuber and physics expert Lewis Matheson will be presenting some key ideas to help improve physics delivery for the GCSE Combined Science Physics content, especially if you are a non-specialist teacher. The session will include:

• Five key topics of physics that are often hard to teach/understand
• Ways to approach each topic if you are teaching it for the first time, or you are a non-specialist teacher
• Examples of practical approaches that enhance the material
• Preparing students for questions on each topic to build confidence
• Tips and tricks to help students with the inevitable equations that many find challenging.

Find out more and register your place

GCSE Combined Science Summer 2023 feedback videos

During the Autumn term we hosted Summer 2023 feedback events that looked at how students performed in the summer exams and provided guidance on how to address feedback provided in examiners' reports. We now have Combined Science Chemistry and Physics videos of these events that can be accessed from the Science Emporium YouTube channel.

Event - A Level Sciences: Understanding our exams

We are running events this Spring term for teachers delivering the Pearson Edexcel A Level Science specifications. As these events delegates will:

• look at how our question papers are designed to test the specification content
• understand how and why markers are standardised to mark exam papers
• see some examples of mark schemes applied to recent exam questions
• consider some strategies to improve how students respond to exam questions
• address common issues and FAQs.

Dates and times for these events are as follows:

• Pearson Edexcel A Level Biology A: Understanding our exams 04 March 2024 at 16:00 - 18:00 GMT
• Pearson Edexcel A Level Biology B: Understanding our exams05 March 2024 at 16:00 - 18:00 GMT
• Pearson Edexcel A Level Chemistry: Understanding our exams05 March 2024 at 16:00 - 18:00 GMT
• Pearson Edexcel A Level Physics: Date and time to be announced soon on our training page

Please note: a recording of the event will be available to attendees only.

Pearson Edexcel View from the Lab Podcasts

Every month we release Pearson Edexcel View from the Lab Podcasts. These aim to inform, engage and entertain with the help of thought leaders, science journalists and education specialists, joining us for each episode.

This month we’re talking electricity and the wonderful world of circuits with former teacher and ‘current’ entrepreneur Julian Hamm! Julian has been fascinated by the world of Physics and especially circuits for much of his working life.  Through his pioneering site ‘furry elephant’ to its current incarnation – electricityexplained.com, Julian has dedicated himself to demystifying this area of the science curriculum. 

In this episode we have a deep-dive conversation in how science teachers can model and explain the common topics that come up in the senior school level.

Timetables

Timetables for this academic year can be viewed on our website.

We will also be publishing our provisional timetables for Summer 2025 on Monday 22nd January as agreed by JCQ and all other awarding bodies. They can be found on our Provisional timetables web page. The consultation window for the provisional timetables will run from Monday 22nd January to Friday 23rd February. Please send any feedback you may have to Timetables@Pearson.com

International GCSE results day for the November series

Results day for the November series will be Thursday 25 January for International GCSE.  Our regular post-results services will be available from this date. You can also find out about Access-to-Scripts, Results Plus and Appeals in the 'Assessment Services' section of this update.

Modular International GCSEs

We will be introducing soon modular International GCSE specifications for overseas students. The specifications will be available to view in April. More information can be obtained from the link below:

Go to the modular International GCSE webpage

These modular qualifications are for first teaching from September 2024 with first assessment May/June 2025.

The present linear specifications are not being removed and will continue to be available. There will simply be a choice between the existing specifications following the linear assessment route, or the new specifications, that will follow a modular assessment route. Please note, the modular assessment route will not be available for students based in the UK.

International GCSE Science and IAL Science training

You can view current training opportunities and look out for new training events on our  Professional Development Academy page.

Ofqual guidance

General qualifications assessment support page

Assessment services

JCQ guidance

Examiner vacancies

BTEC news