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Exam dates · IGCSE

IGCSE and A Level entry deadlines 2026-27

For the June 2027 exams, the board deadlines are 21 February 2027 for AQA, 21 March 2027 for Pearson Edexcel (International GCSE and International A Level), and February 2027 for Cambridge, whose exact 2027 date is not yet published (it was 21 February in 2026). Winter deadlines are close or past: Pearson's IAL January 2027 entries close on 16 October 2026, and Cambridge's March 2027 Checkpoint entries on 27 November 2026. Schools set internal deadlines weeks earlier, and late entries cost more, so tier and subject decisions need settling well before these dates.

Facts checked:

At a glance

AQA June 2027
21 February 2027
Cambridge June 2027
February 2027 (21 Feb in 2026)
Pearson June 2027
21 March 2027
Pearson IAL January 2027
16 October 2026
Cambridge Checkpoint March 2027
27 November 2026

Entry deadlines by board and series

Board and seriesFinal entry deadlineAfter the deadline
Pearson IAL, January 202716 October 2026Late fees from 17 Oct; high late fees from 14 Nov 2026
Cambridge Checkpoint, March 202727 November 2026Late entries until 14 December 2026
Cambridge IGCSE, AS & A Level, June 2027February 2027 (exact date not yet published; 21 February in 2026)In 2026: late fees from 22 Feb, late entries until 17 April
AQA GCSE, AS & A-level, June 202721 February 2027Late fee from 22 Feb; very late from 22 April 2027
Pearson International GCSE and IAL, June 202721 March 2027Late fees from 22 Mar; high late fees from 22 April 2027
Cambridge, November 202616 August 2026 (passed)Retake and late entries closed 21 September 2026
Pearson International GCSE, November 202612 September 2026 (passed)High late fees from 10 October 2026

Sources: Cambridge 2026 monthly calendar and key dates (international), Cambridge March 2027 Checkpoint key dates, Pearson Key Dates Table International 2026-2027, AQA Key Dates Calendar 2026-27. Checked 6 October 2026.

Why the school's date matters more than the board's

These are the dates by which a school or centre must submit entries to the board. Schools collect choices earlier so they can check codes, tiers and options and fix mistakes before late fees apply. Cambridge itself advises exams officers to submit at least two weeks before its deadline. Expect your school's internal deadline to fall well before the board's date, and ask for it in writing.

Cambridge also runs an estimated entries stage: schools tell it in October roughly how many candidates will sit each syllabus in June, so that early question papers and pre-release material can be sent. That deadline for June 2027 is 10 October 2026. It does not commit your child, but schools often start asking about subject and tier choices around then.

Decisions to settle before entries close

  • Tier: Core or Extended (Cambridge), Foundation or Higher (Pearson and AQA). The tier sets the grades available, so make the call from recent timed papers, not from a single test.
  • Options within a syllabus, such as practical or Alternative to Practical papers in Cambridge sciences, or Cambridge English as a Second Language with a separate speaking endorsement (0510) or with speaking counted in (0511).
  • Board-specific codes: the R-paper versions of Pearson International GCSE for schools in the UAE and Oman are entered under different codes.
  • Access arrangements, such as extra time. Deadlines usually match or precede the entry deadline: 21 March 2027 for Pearson's June series, 27 November 2026 for Cambridge's March 2027 Checkpoint.
  • Retakes: Cambridge treats retake entries differently and, for November, gave them a later deadline (21 September 2026). Tick the retake option where the school's system asks.

Cambridge June 2027 dates are not final yet

Cambridge's 2026 calendar says entries for June 2027 open in mid-November 2026 and close in February 2027, but its key dates for the June 2027 series were not yet published when we checked. Confirm the exact date with your school or on Cambridge's key dates page.

Using the months before the deadline well

The months before entries close are the best time to test whether the planned tier is realistic. A tutor can set a full timed paper at the higher tier in November and again in January and give the family an honest read of the result before the decision is locked in.

LiveTutor lessons are one to one and 60 minutes long, with tutors who teach the Cambridge, Edexcel or AQA specification your child is entered for.

Common questions

When is the IGCSE entry deadline for June 2027?

It depends on the board. Pearson Edexcel's is 21 March 2027. Cambridge's exact June 2027 date is not yet published; its 2026 calendar says February 2027, and in the last cycle it was 21 February. Your school's own deadline will be earlier.

What happens if we miss the entry deadline?

Boards accept late entries for a period at higher fees. For example, Pearson charges late fees from 22 March 2027 and higher late fees from 22 April 2027 for the June series. After the final late date, the next series is the only option.

Can my child change tier after entries close?

Usually, but amendments after the deadline can carry fees, and boards stop accepting changes close to the exams. Settle tier before the school's internal deadline.

Is there still time to enter for January 2027?

For Pearson International A Level, yes until 16 October 2026. There is no January 2027 International GCSE series with Pearson, and Cambridge runs no January series for IGCSE or A Level.

How much do LiveTutor lessons cost?

$15 a lesson for every subject and level, on a weekly plan of 1 to 5 lessons a week billed monthly. The first lesson is a free trial.

Sources

Dates and figures on this page come from these official and published sources. Always confirm deadlines on the official page before acting on them.

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