Exam Timetable Explained
Exam timetables contain much more than a list of dates. Students also need to know what published morning and afternoon sessions mean, what happens if two exams clash, why a BTEC assessment may have a window rather than one fixed sitting, and what to do if illness or another problem affects an exam.
This collection gives clear answers using official awarding-body timetables and JCQ examination rules.
2027 at a glance
The Summer 2027 GCSE and A-Level examination series runs across May and June. On the JCQ common timetable:
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| First examination | Monday 10 May 2027 |
| Final GCSE examination | Friday 18 June 2027 |
| Final GCE (AS/A-Level) examination | Tuesday 22 June 2027 |
| Contingency day | Wednesday 23 June 2027 |
| A-Level results day | Thursday 12 August 2027 |
| GCSE results day | Thursday 19 August 2027 |
GCSE, AS and A-Level candidates should remain available up to and including Wednesday 23 June 2027. Exact dates depend on your subject, qualification and exam board.
Find your 2027 exam dates
When are the GCSE exams in 2027?
Search the final AQA, Pearson Edexcel, OCR, WJEC and Eduqas timetables and build a personal list containing only the GCSE papers you actually take.
GCSE exam dates 2027 →When are the A-Level exams in 2027?
Find individual A-Level papers by subject, board and specification, then add them to one chronological timetable.
A-Level exam dates 2027 →How do I build my own exam timetable?
Add your qualifications to the Explorer, check the selected papers, then print the timetable or add the dates to your calendar.
Build a personal 2027 timetable →Understand the timetable
What is the exam contingency day?
The contingency day is reserved for GCSE, AS and A-Level examinations if national or significant local disruption means an exam cannot take place as planned.
Contingency day explained →What happens if two exams clash?
A timetable clash does not usually mean choosing one exam and missing the other. Schools and colleges use JCQ rules to arrange how both examinations are taken securely.
Exam clashes explained →What time do GCSE and A-Level exams start?
The published JCQ common-timetable sessions normally begin at 09:00 and 13:30, but your centre can use permitted variations.
Exam start times explained →If something goes wrong
What if I am ill on the day of an exam?
Contact your school or college immediately. Depending on the circumstances and the assessment already completed, the centre may be able to apply for special consideration.
Illness on exam day explained →Can an exam date or start time change?
Published dates are set by awarding bodies, but centres can use permitted session-time variations and official timetables can occasionally be amended.
Exam timetable changes explained →What happens if I am late?
Being late does not automatically mean you are unable to take the exam, but the rules become more serious if you arrive very late.
Being late for an exam explained →BTEC and vocational assessments
How do BTEC exam dates and assessment windows work?
Some BTEC external assessments are fixed examinations. Others use task release dates, supervised assessment windows or submission deadlines.
BTEC dates and windows explained →About this guidance
tutor2u's Exam Timetable Explorer uses official awarding-body timetables and assessment schedules. JCQ key dates and examination regulations are used where they apply across awarding bodies.
Your school or college confirms your exact start time, room and individual arrangements. Always use the timetable issued by your centre as the final check.
Primary sources: Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ); AQA; Pearson; OCR; WJEC/Eduqas.
- JCQ — Key dates in the examination cycle, June 2027
- JCQ — Instructions for Conducting Examinations
- JCQ — Access arrangements and special consideration
- AQA — Dates and timetables
- Pearson — Exam timetables
See how tutor2u verifies the timetable data →
Last reviewed: 30 August 2026