English
Pearson Edexcel GCSE English Language 2.0 Paper 1, 05 June 2023
Notice to teachers concerning the Pearson Edexcel GCSE English Language 2.0 Paper 1 exam, sat on 05 June 2023.
We are committed to ensuring that our exam papers are free from error and that they are valid assessments of the specification content. Unfortunately, in today’s GCSE English 2.0 Language Paper 1 exam there was an incorrect instruction to candidates in optional Question 7. Whilst students were clearly directed to write an article the question later refers to a speech. We apologise for this and are looking into how this has happened with urgency.
We will look closely at how your students have responded to the question, the alternative question, and the rest of the paper. Our most senior examiners will do this before we train our examiners, and we will also review throughout the marking period, and once marking is complete. Throughout this, we will take any necessary actions to ensure that students are not impacted by relying on well-established processes and evidence.
Throughout the examination series, we will provide you with updates on this issue and the actions we are taking. You will be provided with a final update ahead of the results being issued so that you and the students at your centre have a complete understanding as to how we have ensured there has been no impact on their results.
Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you have any further queries. You can email our English Subject Advisor, Clare Haviland, at teachingenglish@pearson.com
Hayley White
Assessment Director
Subject advisor
Clare Haviland
English
Subject updates
-
April 2026 teaching English update
Dear Colleagues
Many of you will currently be taking a break, but I hope you find some ideas in my April update to help you with the practical tasks ahead as well as inspiration for your teaching at the start of the summer term.
What’s in the April teaching English update?
• Signing Shakespeare: opening the world of Shakespeare to every learner
• Coursework/SLE submission reminders
• Summer term GCSE networks
• British Library A level: Fairy Tales Study Day – Angela Carter
• ActiveLearn to ActiveHub
• Exam Practice Assistant for GCSE English Language 2.0
• English and Media Centre Close Reading Competition 2026
• Hot Poets Take Over: poetry, creativity, hope and science -
March 2026 teaching English update
What's in the March 2026 teaching English update?
📖 World Book Day 2026
Ideas and inspiration to get everyone reading — and keep that momentum going.
🎓 Colleges Week (2–6 March)
Celebrating the impact of colleges, the learners, and the teachers behind the learning.
🏛️ Policy and SEND
The DfE white paper 'Every Child Achieving and Thriving' and the SEND consultation.
🤖 Cool new tool for 2.0
Support students to move beyond feature spotting and into confident AO2 analysis.
🧠 Exam equity and neurodiversity
Help shape fairer exams by contributing to research into exam equity for neurodivergent students.
⏳ Assessment reminders – 10 weeks to go
Key changes to submitting coursework and SLE marks, grades and samples.
🔍 Updated AI guidance
Clearer expectations on what’s allowed — and what isn’t — for coursework and the SLE.
🌱 Entry Level Certificate (ELC)
Could you be using ELC as a stepping stone alongside GCSE English?
✅ GCSE English exemplars
Exemplars from the November 2025 exam series to support mocks marking.
📘 A level English Language
An updated concepts and issues guide to clarify what you need to teach.
🎧 Recorded training
Professional development you can access anytime, anywhere.
🤝 English qualifications support
The quickest ways to get expert help when you need it.