Key dates

Entry deadlines and exam dates

The exam boards' deadline is the last date a centre can enter you without extra fees. Centres set their own, earlier deadlines for private candidates, often before Christmas for summer exams, and some stop taking bookings once they're full.

November 2026 Board deadline passed

GCSE English Language and Mathematics resits only, for candidates aged 16 or over.

1. 4 October 2026

   Exam board entry deadline (AQA) AQA

2. 13 January 2027

   Results (AQA) AQA

Summer 2027 Board deadline 21 February 2027

GCSE, AS and A level in all subjects.

1. 21 February 2027

   Exam board entry deadline. Centres set their own deadlines, usually weeks or months earlier JCQ

2. 22 February 2027

   Late entry fees start (AQA: +100% of the entry fee) AQA

3. 21 March 2027

   Deadline for centres to process access arrangements JCQ

4. 21 April 2027

   Very late entry fees after this date (AQA: +150%) AQA

5. 10 May 2027

   First exam on the common timetable JCQ

6. 18 June 2027

   Last GCSE exam JCQ

7. 22 June 2027

   Last AS and A level exam JCQ

8. 23 June 2027

   Contingency day (only used after national disruption) JCQ

9. 12 August 2027

   AS and A level results JCQ

10. 19 August 2027

    GCSE results JCQ

November 2027 Dates not published yet

Expected to be GCSE English Language and Mathematics resits for candidates aged 16 or over, as in previous years.

1. Expected: October 2027

   Exam board entry deadline: expected early October, not yet published

Summer 2028 Dates not published yet

GCSE, AS and A level in all subjects.

1. Expected: February 2028

   Exam board entry deadline: expected around 21 February, not yet published

2. Expected: May 2028

   Exams expected to run from mid-May to late June

Planning ahead

• Summer exams: start contacting centres in the autumn before. Popular centres fill up, and many close private-candidate bookings in December or January.
• November resits are only for GCSE English Language and Maths, for candidates aged 16 or over AQA. Few centres run them, so ask early.
• Access arrangements (extra time, a reader, a separate room) must be processed by the centre by 21 March 2027 for the summer series JCQ, so raise them when you book.
• JCQ updates its list of centres accepting private candidates once a year, in December or January JCQ.

Facts on this page were checked against official sources on 29 October 2026. See every source · What has changed