Exams Officer February 2026 updates

November 2025 certificates

Certificates for the November 2025 exam series will be sent out by Saturday 28 February 2026.

If a learner's grade changes after their certificate is printed, you can get a corrected version for free.

If a grade has gone down

If a learner's grade has gone down, you must return their original certificate to us. We cannot process your request until we've received the original certificate in the post.

We recommend that you use recorded delivery to send the incorrect certificate, and a letter on centre headed paper to tell us what needs correcting, to:

Results team (Centre correction)
AQA
Devas Street
Manchester
M15 6EX

If a grade has gone up

If a learner's grade has gone up, you'll need to securely destroy their original certificate.

Please email centrecertificates@aqa.org.uk with the following information:

• your centre number
• candidate name(s) and number(s)
• qualification type (eg GCSE or AS/A-level)
• qualification year and series (eg November 2025)
• the date you destroyed the certificate(s).

You must keep a record of any certificates you destroy for four years from the date of destruction.

All other corrections

If you need a correction for any other reason than a grade change, certificates will need to be destroyed securely. There’s a fee of £48.75 per learner which will be invoiced to your centre.

You’ll need to send the following to centrecertificates@aqa.org.uk:

• centre and learner details
• tell us what needs correcting
• let us know which certificates have been destroyed and the date of destruction.

GCSE Music – extra time

Following the feedback from customers who administer GCSE Music to learners who have 25% extra time, we are pleased to confirm that from summer 2026, GCSE Music students who need extra time spaced throughout the listening exam will be able to use a sound file with 25% extra time built into the recording. You’ll be able to find this in the GCSE Music resources on Centre Services, one working day before the exam.

You can still use the standard CD or download instead and apply the 25% extra time in line with the teacher notes guidance on Centre Services. Your SENDCO and subject teacher will be able to tell you which format is needed – depending on the student's need – and our Special Requirements team is happy to offer advice and guidance to you and your colleagues.

MFL speaking exams reminders

The Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) speaking windows will open soon;

• GCSE window opens on Tuesday 7 April 2026
• A-level window opens on Monday 13 April 2026.

You can find the Instructions for Conducting Exams (ICE) guidance for GCSE MFL and A-level MFL on our website.

It's important to get the best quality recording that you can during your MFL speaking exams, you can support this by:

• making sure any staff involved in the process are comfortable and know how to use the recording equipment
• choosing a room that is quiet and away from distractions
• setting up the recording equipment at least 30 minutes before the start of the test
• making sure candidates and examiners are well positioned for the recording equipment to pick up their audio
• conducting a test recording before your window opens so that staff are familiar with file types and upload processes

Also remember:

• the file name must contain the centre number, component code, and candidate number, eg 55217_8652-SF_0041.mp3
• if a Speaking test is to be conducted by someone who is not a member of school/college teaching staff, for example, by a private tutor, the Head of Centre at the entering school or college must request permission from AQA for this before the test. Please email mfl@aqa.org.uk to send us your request.