18 Months before exam There is no common

How are general timetables timetable for the January and October series.
constructed? Exams are scheduled during standard Pearson uses previous timetables as a starting

JCQ
Subjects with larger entries are term dates - it does not take into point, taking into account feedback from
timetabled earlier. This is to account individual centre closures. previous series. Data on common combinations
assist with marking and ensuring of subjects is used to try and minimise exam
Each summer, Pearson sets over 550 exams for over 200 This is because there is only a limited
a timely release of results. window in which exams can take place. day clashes for candidates.
qualifications in 49 subject areas. These take place across 36
days, from May to July, in 68 available time slots. This timing Final provisional timetable

SUMMER AND NOVEMBER EXAMS

ensures that schools and colleges have time to complete the published on the Pearson website

JANUARY AND OCTOBER EXAMS

When creating the timetable, special care is taken to
teaching of the courses, while allowing us time to mark the by: 28th February for Summer; ensure that there is enough time for the examiners
There are specific sets of guidelines
31st October for November.
papers accurately, so candidates receive their results in August. followed when creating the provisional GCSE English/English Language, English Literature, to mark the exams and for Pearson to process the
common timetable. This allows for Mathematics, Science and Welsh Language exams grades for all candidates to receive their grades on
Each year, Pearson works with the Joint Council for Qualifications consistency from year to year and across are not timetabled together in the same morning results day.
different awarding organisations. or afternoon session. No other GCSE subject will Where there is more than one specification Stakeholders, including schools, colleges
(JCQ), and other awarding organisations, to agree the timetable
for the Summer exam series. About 18 months before the exams
JCQ create draft provisional ? be timetabled against any one of these subjects, as available at the same level, these are allocated and religious groups, are given the

Examination
common timetable for the awarding they are typically taken by a whole cohort. to the same slot, as it is unlikely that candidates opportunity to feedback on the provisional
take place, the JCQ creates a draft provisional timetable for organisations to review. This contains will take more than one qualification in the same timetables by: 30th April for Summer;
awarding organisations to review. The main aim when drawing exams for all awarding organisations, subject, e.g. GCSE Mathematics A and GCSE 31st January for November.
How is the common
up this draft timetable is to minimise the chances of a candidate including any new qualifications that Mathematics B.

timetables
timetable constructed? Religious festivals and commonly observed
having a ‘clash’, where a candidate would have to sit more than are developed. A common timetable
occasions, e.g. Armistice Day, which fall
one exam in any morning or afternoon session. is used to help to minimise clashes
for candidates taking exams with within an examination period, are taken ? Pearson’s provisional timetable
different awarding organisations. into account when producing the common
The timetable is then reviewed by awarding organisations to timetable. This is because scheduling exams
published on the website by: 30th
ensure it meets the current needs of candidates, schools and November for January; 31st October
on these dates will impact candidates who
colleges. This review also includes a consultation and considers for October.
observe these occasions. If exams are
comments from a wide range of stakeholders, including schools, scheduled on these dates, they are carefully International GCSEs and International A levels For some subjects, e.g. GCE Maths, we All stakeholders, including Pearson colleagues,
colleges and religious groups. Due to there being a large number selected to minimise the impact on the are scheduled in line with their UK counterparts How does Pearson timetable more exams in the same slot, as schools, colleges and religious groups, are
to reduce clashes for candidates doing a The JCQ and awarding organisations consider all
of candidates taking exams in a diverse range of subjects candidates. allocate timetable slots? there are many options available for modules given the opportunity to feedback to Pearson
combination of International GCSE and GCSE or feedback and changes are made to the common Final Pearson timetable published
available, it is not always possible to meet every request. taken. regarding the timetable. All feedback must be
IAL and A level. timetable, where possible, taking into account on the website by 30th June for
Pearson will always aim to be as fair as possible to all, and, if a received by: 31st January for January; 31st
Subject teams within Pearson provide the impact on other exams. Individual comments Summer; 28th February for
small change can be made that does not impact negatively on January for October.
feedback about the provisional are considered and addressed, where possible. November.
the majority, it will be considered. examination slots. This feedback may Where the feedback cannot be addressed, it is
also include examiner and centre considered for future series.
Using the feedback, Pearson create the
The final timetable is agreed upon, completed and published on feedback they have received from the
If a subject is not on the JCQ final timetables and these are published on
Pearson’s website. previous series. the website by: 31st March for January;
A series of meetings between JCQ timetable, then it is timetabled
General Qualifications The timetable for the November series is set in the same way,
and the awarding organisations
takes place to mutually agree on Pearson allocates our exams
When scheduling new qualifications, they are, in line with previous series, as 28th February for October.
typically, timetabled in the same slot as their far as possible.
while timetables for our January and October series are set by a provisional timetable, based on to the common JCQ slots. legacy qualification. This is because rules state they
the individual awarding organisations. These timetables also go feedback from all the awarding are unable to take both. If it is a completely new
through the draft phase and consultation period, before they are organisations. subject, it is placed within a logical place in the
published as final on our website. timetable.