Exams Officer October 2025 updates
Welcome to our October update
I hope you’ve had a good start to the new academic year. The team are back out at your Exams Officer networks already and our new customer training has started so it’s been a busy month for us. If you want to come along to a network please fill in this form and a member of the team will get in touch.
In this month’s Exams Officer Update, you’ll find information and guidance on:
• Royal Mail and Parcelforce changes
• Access arrangements survey
• Our new events management system
• Ofqual and JCQ updates
• Subject updates
• Contacting us
• Dates for your diary
Gemma Miller
Exams Officer Engagement Manager
Hot topics
Visiting examiners and moderators – if you’ll be entering for any subjects that have a visiting examiner or moderator in summer 2026, please complete our surveys so we can make sure you have everything you need in time. You can find more information, and links to the surveys, here.
Step Up to English NEA adviser – if you have students doing Step Up to English, please keep an eye out for the welcome email from your non-exam assessment (NEA) adviser. The information attached to the email should be passed onto your Step Up to English teacher(s). There will also be some useful attachments, including our non-exam assessment notes and guidance, which you can also find on our website.
Royal Mail and Parcelforce changes
Royal Mail and Parcelforce are merging and, from January 2026, will no longer be able to guarantee 9.00am delivery slots. Instead, they will offer guaranteed 10.00am delivery slots, which is too late for a morning exam start time. This means that, for any very late entries processed close to the exam date, we cannot be sure question papers will reach you in time and you may have to download the question paper from Centre Services one hour before the exam.
We'll send guidance before exams start for each series. You can also find information on downloading question papers on our website.
Access arrangements survey
We emailed you last month to ask for your feedback on access arrangements and we want to say a big thank you to everyone who has already responded to our survey – over 1300 Exams Officers and SENCOs have already taken part.
Your insights are helping us build a clearer picture of how access arrangements are used and how effective they are for students.
If you've not had a chance to complete the survey yet, there’s still time. It will be open until Saturday 18 October 2025.
Your input will help shape our work to support schools and learners with SEND.
Introducing our new events management system – launching December 2025
To help make sure your experience of using our systems is the best it can be, this December, we’re replacing AccessPlanit with our new and improved events management system.
The new system will give you a smoother booking process, and it’s part of myAQA. This means you won’t need a separate login, and all your events needs will be in one place.
If you do not already have an account, you can sign up for myAQA on our website and your main Centre Services administrator will approve this for you.
You can still use the current system in the meantime to book any courses you need, but you’ll need to complete any eLearning you've already signed up for, by the end of November.
Ofqual and JCQ updates
JCQ has published their updated malpractice guide for 2025/26. Visit the JCQ malpractice webpage for more information.
Webinars
This month JCQ hosted its first webinars on access arrangements and reasonable adjustments, with over 1,000 SENCos, ALNCos and Access Arrangements Coordinators attendees from across the UK.
Both sessions were recorded and will be available on JCQ’s website next month.
Update to the JCQ Data Transport Application: Version 1.3.7
The latest version of the JCQ Data Transport Application (V1.3.7) is now available to download.
This update addresses small bugs found in the current version, helping to ensure smooth and reliable data exchange with awarding organisations.
If you've not already downloaded the new version, please download it as soon as possible and before you make entries.
Cyber Security Awareness month
October is Cyber Security Awareness month and Ofqual has published research which shows schools are taking longer to recover from increasingly sophisticated cyber-attacks.
Making sure you have processes in place will help you recover faster after an attack:
• Proactive Leadership and Training
• Make sure everyone is well briefed
• Strengthen Recovery Capabilities
For practical tips to help with these points and information on how to defend against cyber attacks, visit the National Cyber Security Centre small business guide to cyber security; and remember you can also access their free training.
Subject updates
Make sure your teaching colleagues are the first to hear about our subject updates, they can easily sign up for AQA subject updates using the link on our website so they’re always informed.
A-level
• Art and Design – Important reminders: Ofqual requirements for A-level Art and Design externally set assignment (ESA) pre-release materials, due to be released on 1 February 2026
• Business – new AS and A-level Business specification from first teach in September 2026
• English Literature – reminder on NEA rubric infringements: NEA texts guidance and avoiding prohibited texts.
GCSE
• French, German and Spanish – specification updates for summer 2026 - DfE changes to subject content and updated vocabulary lists
• History – Historic environment sites 2026-2028 - specified historic sites covered in the historic environment element of the British depth studies in the specification.
Contacting us
You can get in touch with us between 8.00am and 5.00pm every weekday.
We can help with your query faster if you call us on 0800 197 7162, or use our live chat on Centre Services. Our live chat virtual assistant is available 24/7, which can point you in the right direction for quick guidance or key dates, and you’ll be able to connect with one of our advisors during our opening hours.
Dates for your diary
Summer 2025 exam series
- 31 Oct Last date to request return copies of scripts to support teaching and learning - Access to Scripts service June 2025
- 7 Nov Date by which summer 2025 certificates will be issued
November 2025 exam series
- 25 Oct Last date to apply for an entry fee refund for a student withdrawn from November 2025 series exam
- 26 Oct November 2025 series entries submitted on or after this date are classified as very late and will be charged a very late entry fee, and you will be charged to make any amendments
- 1 Nov Last date to process applications for access arrangements for November 2025 series
- 4 Nov First date to submit special consideration requests for November 2025 series
- 4 Nov Date of first November 2025 series exam
- 5 Nov Last date for AQA to receive internally-assessed grades and carry forwards for GCSE English Spoken Language Endorsement for November 2025 series
- 10 Nov Date of final November 2025 series exam - GCSE English Language, GCSE Mathematics, Functional Skills, and Level 3 Extended Project
Summer 2026 exam series
- 30 Oct Last date to submit form JCQ/CCA (centre consortium arrangements) for January 2026 internally-assessed work
- 31 Oct Last day to submit visiting examiner and moderator surveys
- 8 Nov Date by which June 2025 certificates will be issued.