For candidates taking Pearson Edexcel GCSE exams in November 2026, the key dates are November 3 and 5 for English Language, and November 4, 6, and 9 for Mathematics. The final timetable places every paper listed below in the morning session. The published UK start is 9:00 a.m. in London, Greenwich Mean Time (GMT, UTC+00:00), equivalent to 09:00 UTC on each examination date. However, your school or examination center may set a different permitted start, so your individual exam timetable or statement of entry is essential.
This reference covers the Pearson Edexcel GCSE November 2026 examination series, specifically English Language (1EN0), English Language 2.0 (1EN2), and Mathematics (1MA1). It does not represent the dates for every GCSE awarding body or for Pearson's separate International GCSE qualification. The dates and paper durations below were checked against Pearson's final November 2026 GCSE examination timetable.
| Date | Paper and qualification | Exam code | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, November 3, 2026 | English Language (1EN0), Paper 1: Fiction and Imaginative Writing | 1EN0 01 | 1 hour 45 minutes |
| Tuesday, November 3, 2026 | English Language 2.0 (1EN2), Paper 1: Non-Fiction Texts | 1EN2 01 | 1 hour 55 minutes |
| Wednesday, November 4, 2026 | Mathematics (1MA1), Paper 1: Non-Calculator; Foundation or Higher | 1MA1 1F / 1MA1 1H | 1 hour 30 minutes |
| Thursday, November 5, 2026 | English Language (1EN0), Paper 2: Non-Fiction and Transactional Writing | 1EN0 02 | 2 hours 5 minutes |
| Thursday, November 5, 2026 | English Language 2.0 (1EN2), Paper 2: Contemporary Texts | 1EN2 02 | 1 hour 55 minutes |
| Friday, November 6, 2026 | Mathematics (1MA1), Paper 2: Calculator; Foundation or Higher | 1MA1 2F / 1MA1 2H | 1 hour 30 minutes |
| Monday, November 9, 2026 | Mathematics (1MA1), Paper 3: Calculator; Foundation or Higher | 1MA1 3F / 1MA1 3H | 1 hour 30 minutes |
Timing for every table row: Morning examination, published start 9:00 a.m. London, GMT (UTC+00:00), or 09:00 UTC. The UK has returned to standard time by these November dates, so British Summer Time (BST, UTC+01:00) does not apply. The published start is not a guarantee that your center will seat every candidate at exactly 9:00 a.m.
Candidates entered for specification 1EN0 have Paper 1, Fiction and Imaginative Writing, on Tuesday, November 3, for 1 hour 45 minutes. Paper 2, Non-Fiction and Transactional Writing, follows on Thursday, November 5, for 2 hours 5 minutes. The different paper lengths matter when planning travel or a supervised break around other examinations.
Candidates entered for 1EN2, the distinct English Language 2.0 specification, have Paper 1, Non-Fiction Texts, on Tuesday, November 3 and Paper 2, Contemporary Texts, on Thursday, November 5. Each paper lasts 1 hour 55 minutes. Although the dates coincide with 1EN0, the paper content, codes, and durations are not interchangeable. Match the qualification code on your entry record before preparing for an exam.
You normally follow the specific English Language qualification for which your center has entered you. Do not assume that having both 1EN0 and 1EN2 on the published schedule means you must sit both versions; ask your exams officer if your entry code is unclear.
Pearson Edexcel GCSE Mathematics 1MA1 follows one sequence for both tiers. On Wednesday, November 4, candidates sit Paper 1 without a calculator. On Friday, November 6, they sit calculator Paper 2. On Monday, November 9, they sit calculator Paper 3. Each mathematics paper is 90 minutes, regardless of tier.
The letter at the end of the mathematics paper code identifies the tier. It is worth checking carefully: the exam date is shared across tiers, but the question papers differ. If you are unsure whether your entry is Foundation or Higher, confirm it directly with your school or private candidate center rather than relying on a generic online calendar.
Pearson publishes the UK morning session at 9:00 a.m. GMT (UTC+00:00) for these dates. Under Pearson's timetable notes and the JCQ Instructions for Conducting Examinations, effective September 2026, a UK center can ordinarily start a morning examination up to 30 minutes early or late without requesting prior permission. That means a routine start may be between 8:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. GMT (08:30–09:30 UTC) on November 3, 4, 5, 6, or 9.
The center must inform candidates affected by a change from the published starting time. There are additional supervision and timetable-clash rules; they are not permission for individual candidates to choose a convenient arrival time. If you have a clash with another examination, contact the center before exam day so it can confirm the arrangements. Centers outside the UK must use Pearson's international start-time guidance rather than independently treating 9:00 a.m. as their own local clock time.
No. This timetable covers the listed Pearson Edexcel GCSE English Language and Mathematics papers. Other awarding bodies, qualifications, and examination series have their own schedules. Always use the timetable that matches your qualification and awarding body.
No. The November 2026 examination dates fall after the United Kingdom's autumn clock change. The published 9:00 a.m. UK start is 9:00 a.m. GMT (UTC+00:00), which is 09:00 UTC. Your center may use a permitted alternative start and will communicate any change.
Use Pearson's official examination timetables page for the published document and timetable updates, then confirm the operational details with your own center. The center's written instructions determine your reporting time, room, and any arrangement that affects your individual sitting.
Bottom line: English Language 1EN0 and English Language 2.0 1EN2 use November 3 and 5; Mathematics 1MA1 uses November 4, 6, and 9. All are morning papers in Pearson's final November 2026 schedule, but candidates should confirm their exact exam codes and center-specific arrival and start times before the first sitting.
