Exams Officer Newsletter
May 2026 |
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Welcome to your monthly Exams Officer newsletter |
As the May/June 2026 examination series begins, we would like to thank you for all the work you’ve done to prepare for this busy period.
In this edition, you’ll find:
- Support and guidance to help the series run smoothly
- Key dates and deadlines to keep you on track
- Updates on the topics exams officers ask about most
As always, we are here. If you need further support, reach out to us through the Pearson support portal.
Best wishes,
Pearson Communications |
This month's news and updates |
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Activity |
| 15 May |
Deadline to submit centre marks and moderation samples (the exceptions to this deadline are GCSE and A level Art and Design – these marks do not need to be submitted until 48 hours before your moderator visit).
International GCSE, GCSE, IAL, AS/A level, ELC(A), Project qualifications |
| 15 May |
Deadline to submit learner work and marks for BTEC Tech Award summer internally assessed components. |
| 24 June |
Contingency day for GCSE and/or AS/A level examinations should sustained national or local disruption arise during the May/June 2026 series |
| 1 July |
Special consideration deadline for GCSE, IAL, AS/A level, AEA, International GCSE, PLSC, iPrimary and iLowerSecondary, Mathematics in Context, Level 2 Extended Mathematics Certificate |
| 5 July |
BTEC claiming deadline for students expecting a summer 2026 result*.
- make full award claims and Tech Award cash-ins
- submit all internally assessed grades
- complete all outstanding actions
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*We are unable to guarantee learners will receive a qualification result on learner results days if qualification claims or internal assessment grades are provided after 5 July. If we do receive qualification claims or internal grades for learners after 5 July deadline, Pearson reserves the right to charge centres £100 for each of these learners that receives a BTEC Level 3 National, on learner results days.
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On 16 April, we brought our Pearson Exams Officer Support Facebook page together with the wider Pearson community on the main Pearson page.
If you already follow our page, you’ll be moved over automatically, there’s nothing you need to do. You’ll continue to receive the same high level of support who are here to help.
Join our new community group. |
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Join us on our 'Bitesize' webinars
Whether you're a new exams officer or just new to Pearson qualifications, you might have questions about the administration of these. We are running a series of interactive, engaging live events which are dedicated to specific admin processes, providing in depth guidance and include demonstrations on the completion of the process specified.
Why not join us for our next VQ Bitesize event: |
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Making Claims
9 June 2026
11:00-12:00 (GMT) 1 hour |
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Eligibility
23 June 2026
11:00-12:00 (GMT) 1 hour |
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Don't worry if you missed any! You can always watch the recording of past events on our support article. |
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Spring and summer: essential information |
With the May/June exams underway, we've put together this essential information article containing important knowledge on upcoming key dates, events, assessments, and available resources.
These include:
- Exam Paper Tracking
- Missing Labels, Registers & Returning Scripts
- Additional Exams Stationery
- Exam Timetables
- How to apply for Special Considerations
- Submitting and Amending Coursework Marks and Samples
- Secure Download Service
- Modified Papers
- The BTEC External Assessment Tool
- Registrations & Exam Entries
- Results & Post-Results
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In the latest edition, JCQ bring you an extended summer series readiness special covering important areas to ensure you have a smooth series. |
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These include:
- Question paper security
- Receiving and checking exam materials
- Second pair of eyes check: see it, say it, log it
- Printing PDF question papers
- Reporting suspected malpractice
- Mobile phones and smart glasses
- Exam room and invigilation requirements
- Senior designated contacts
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Your new BTEC external assessment overview tool
If you’re running BTEC external assessments, find everything you need to know quickly and easily so that everything runs smoothly. |
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We understand how stressful the May/June exam series can be for students. Therefore, maintaining the safety and welfare of your students is our top priority. We have a dedicated team who will respond urgently if you have safeguarding concerns that relate to your students’ examinations or assessments. An example of situations you may need to discuss with us could include:
- One of your candidates has expressed harmful views or threats to harm themselves or others in mock examinations and you are concerned they may write similar comments in upcoming examinations that could require urgent action.
- During internal verification processes, you discover that a student has completed a project on a harmful or inappropriate topic (pornography, extreme views, violence, crime, substance misuse or abuse).
Each year, our examiners refer hundreds of exam scripts to our team when they discover concerning images or text that students have drawn or written. Our Safeguarding Team will email your centre so that you can make sure that your students are safe and well. You are required to acknowledge receipt of the concern, so please ensure that your contact information is updated on EOL, your website, and on the NCN emergency contacts list. |
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Reporting malpractice & maladministration |
Ensure your colleagues are familiar with how to report suspected malpractice and maladministration.
Further information on malpractice can be found here:
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Reporting breaches of security |
The security of exam papers is important for ensuring that exams are fair for all students. In the event of any concerns about question paper security, please contact us immediately.
In the event of a confirmed breach of security at your centre (e.g. a pack of exam papers has been opened early by mistake) please contact Pearson on 0344 463 2535 (UK centres) or +44 (0)120 4770 696 (International centres). |
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Protecting the security of your students’ data and electronic question paper materials is critical and we are committed to working with you to keep this sensitive information secure.
Top tips:
- Remove for any staff who have left or moved roles and no longer need access
- Never use the same password for Edexcel Online that you use for other systems
- Never share your password with others
- See any suspicious activity on your EOL account? Reset your password immediately and report the activity to Pearson.
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NEA & Coursework marks and statement submission deadline |
The deadline for submitting your centre’s coursework marks for ELC (Academic), GCE, GCSE, International GCSE, Edexcel Certificate, and Project Qualifications is 15 May 2026.
This is also the deadline for centres to submit the following: |
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Qualification |
NEA requirement |
| GCSE Citizenship Studies 1CS0 |
Taking citizenship action form |
| GCSE English Language 1EN2 |
Speaking endorsement statement |
| GCSE Geography A 1GA0 |
Fieldwork statement |
| GCSE Geography B 1GB0 |
Fieldwork statement |
| GCE Biology 9BI0 |
Practical endorsement |
| GCE Biology 9BN0 |
Practical endorsement |
| GCE Chemistry 9CH0 |
Practical endorsement |
| GCE Geography 8GE0 |
Fieldwork statement |
| GCE Geography 9GE0 |
Fieldwork statement |
| GCE Physics 9PH0 |
Practical endorsement |
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The following is due on 31 May 2026: |
| GCSE Computer Science 1CP2 |
Practical programming statement form & evidence of 20 hours’ programming |
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Failure to submit the above will be treated as maladministration/malpractice.
Please ensure your centre is on track to meet the deadline. |
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Introducing Secure File Exchange for the May/June exam series |
This series, we’ve introduced Secure File Exchange, a new platform that replaces our previous Secure File Transfer (SFT) system. Secure File Exchange will be available during the May and June exam series when we need to share exam materials securely with centres.
Secure File Exchange allows us to send exam papers to you electronically when needed. You’ll sign in using the same login details you use for Edexcel Online. It uses the same multi‑factor authentication and avoids the account lockouts you may have experienced with the previous system.
We will only use Secure File Exchange if you can’t access a paper through Secure Download Service.
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Secure Download Service
We’ve made some important key changes to the Secure Download Service (SDS) that will significantly improve your experience when using this service for the forthcoming General Qualifications and BTEC Tech Award May/June 2026 exam series.
Read more for full details on the key changes and how they will make your use of the SDS service easier and smoother.
For standard and modified question papers (ordered through Access Arrangements Online), the release time of electronic question papers via SDS is 60 minutes before the published start time for each exam.
Audio files will be available 24 hours before the exam (or the Friday before, if the test is on a Monday), and transcripts will be available 1 hour before.
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Thank you for completing your cohort confirmation |
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Thank you to all of you who we asked to complete a second termtime checkpoint. We now have a fully accurate picture of all students expecting results in August and can be sure that everyone who needs an entry for an external assessment has one before the exam series gets under way. |
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Now all you need to do is keep on top of your summer cohort and be ready to submit your certification claims by the 5 July deadline.
Use the ‘centre action’ column in VQ Learner Tracker as your guide to see exactly what you need to do for each student between now and July.
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Introducing digital credentials |
Share your student email addresses to make sure they receive their digital credentials
To make sure your students receive their digital credentials this summer, you need to add their email addresses in Edexcel Online before results day.
Students completing vocational qualifications can now receive a verified, shareable digital credential alongside their results, but we can only issue it if we have their email address.
You can now add student email addresses in Edexcel Online, and we recommend using each student’s centre email address.
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BTEC Tech Awards: submit marks and upload work for sampling by 15 May
Learner Work Transfer is open and the deadline to submit work for sampling is this Friday, 15 May.
Remember, you’ll need to submit all your centre marks before you can see the list of students selected for the moderation sample.
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T Levels - Catch up on all the news
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UK webinar events
Join us for the Post-Exam Period webinar on 18 June 2026 | 14:00-15:00 (BST), designed to equip exams officers with the latest information and practical guidance for the upcoming academic year with a specific focus on the administrative tasks you will do after your exam series have ended. |
If you were unable to attend previous events, you can access the recordings on the support portal. |
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Find out everything you need to know to manage examinations and administer our qualifications.
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Our new dedicated space for exams officer training created to offer enhanced support.
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JCQ
Published on 16 April 2026.
Sign up to future updates.
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Ofqual
Keep up-to-date with the latest news and blogs.
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The Exams Office
Working in collaboration with Dfe, Ofqual, JCQ and awarding bodies.
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Social media
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