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