IGCSE Exam Dates 2026: Cambridge, Edexcel, And Oxford AQA

Few things shape a study year like the exam timetable. Once the real dates are in front of you, revision stops being a vague intention and becomes a countdown you can work backwards from.

The catch is that “IGCSE exam dates 2026” has no single answer. Cambridge, Pearson Edexcel and Oxford AQA each set their own schedule, some dates shift by administrative zone, and the 2026 series brought an unexpected change for students in the UAE.

This guide brings the verified 2026 dates together in one place, board by board, with the key subject dates, the August results days, and what changed for UAE candidates.

At Ignite Training Institute, we work through these timetables with IGCSE students every year. The aim here is practical: know your dates first, then build a revision plan that genuinely fits them.

When Are The IGCSE Exam Dates 2026?

The IGCSE June 2026 written exams run from late April to mid June. Cambridge IGCSE papers sit between 24 April and 9 June 2026, Pearson Edexcel between 7 May and 15 June 2026, and Oxford AQA between 27 April and 9 June 2026. Results follow in August 2026.

Because each board runs its own schedule, the clearest way to see the 2026 picture is side by side.

Exam Board	June 2026 Written Window	Results To Students
Cambridge IGCSE	24 April to 9 June 2026	18 August 2026
Pearson Edexcel	7 May to 15 June 2026	20 August 2026
Oxford AQA	27 April to 9 June 2026	20 August 2026

Two things sit outside that table. Speaking tests and science practicals usually happen earlier, often from March, and they run inside windows rather than on fixed national dates.

Cambridge also splits its centres into administrative zones, so the exact day and session can differ slightly by location. The windows above follow the widely used Zone 3 schedule, and your statement of entry always has the final word.

Know More About: What Is Cambridge Curriculum? A Complete 2025 Guide

IGCSE Exam Dates 2026 By Board: Cambridge, Edexcel, And Oxford AQA

Here are the verified 2026 dates for the mainstream subjects each board offers, grouped by board so you can read straight down your own timetable.

Each table shows the principal written papers. Speaking tests, science practicals and some coursework sit in separate windows, so treat these as your core dates and confirm every paper against your statement of entry.

Cambridge IGCSE June 2026 Dates

Cambridge sets out its dates in the Final June 2026 Exam Timetable, published by administrative zone. The dates below follow the Zone 3 schedule, so confirm your centre’s zone first. Sciences run across three sittings: a theory paper, a practical or alternative, and a multiple choice paper, often weeks apart.

Subject	Written Paper Dates (2026)
Accounting	Structured Written: 20 May. Multiple Choice: 4 June
Additional Mathematics	Paper 1: 18 May. Paper 2: 26 May
Arabic (Foreign Language)	Reading and Writing: 27 April. Listening: 22 May
First Language Arabic	Paper 1: 14 May. Paper 2: 22 May
Biology	Theory (Core/Extended): 30 April. Practical or Alternative: 12 May. Multiple Choice: 8 June
Business Studies	Paper 1: 11 May. Paper 2: 18 May
Chemistry	Theory (Core/Extended): 28 April. Practical or Alternative: 7 May. Multiple Choice: 9 June
Combined Science	Theory (Core/Extended): 7 May. Practical or Alternative: 12 May. Multiple Choice: 3 June
Co-ordinated Sciences (Double Award)	Theory (Core/Extended): 7 May. Practical or Alternative: 12 May. Multiple Choice: 3 June
Computer Science	Paper 1: 13 May. Paper 2: 20 May
Design and Technology	Written Paper: 12 May. Options Papers: 4 June
Drama	Written Paper: 2 June
Economics	Structured Written: 22 May. Multiple Choice: 5 June
Enterprise	Written Paper: 3 June
Environmental Management	Paper 1: 21 May. Paper 2: 1 June
First Language English	Paper 1: 6 May. Paper 2: 21 May
English as a Second Language	Reading and Writing: 6 May. Listening: 21 May
Literature in English	Paper 1: 8 May. Papers 2, 3 and 4: 11 May
World Literature	Paper 2: 8 May. Paper 3: 14 May
Food and Nutrition	Written Paper: 5 June. Practical: March to April window
Geography	Paper 1: 6 May. Paper 2: 13 May. Paper 4 (Alternative to Coursework): 20 May
Global Perspectives	Written Paper: 6 May
History	Paper 1: 7 May. Paper 2: 15 May. Paper 4 (Alternative to Coursework): 18 May
Information and Communication Technology	Written Paper: 7 May. Practical: April windows
Mathematics	Paper 1 (Core/Extended): 29 April. Paper 2 (Core/Extended): 5 May
Cambridge International Mathematics (0607)	Papers 1 and 2: 29 April. Papers 3 and 4: 4 May. Papers 5 and 6: 13 May
Music	Listening: 21 May
Physical Education	Written Paper: 22 May
Physics	Theory (Core/Extended): 8 May. Practical or Alternative: 19 May. Multiple Choice: 3 June
Sociology	Paper 1: 15 May. Paper 2: 26 May
Travel and Tourism	Paper 1: 8 May. Paper 2: 19 May
French (Foreign Language)	Reading and Writing: 5 May. Listening: 4 June
German (Foreign Language)	Reading and Writing: 13 May. Listening: 28 April
Spanish (Foreign Language)	Reading and Writing: 19 May. Listening: 21 May
Mandarin Chinese (Foreign Language)	Reading and Writing: 11 May. Listening: 29 April

Edexcel International GCSE Summer 2026 Dates

Pearson sets out the full schedule in its Edexcel International GCSE Summer 2026 Timetable. Edexcel offers many subjects in both linear and modular routes; the dates below show the main linear papers most students sit.

Subject	Written Paper Dates (2026)
Accounting	Paper 1: 15 May. Paper 2: 8 June
Arabic	Paper 1 (Reading, Summary, Grammar): 7 May. Paper 2 (Writing): 19 May
Bangladesh Studies	Paper 1: 29 May. Paper 2: 10 June
Biology	Paper 1: 12 May. Paper 2: 8 June
Business	Paper 1: 11 May. Paper 2: 21 May
Chemistry	Paper 1: 18 May. Paper 2: 12 June
Chinese	Listening and Reading/Writing: 2 June
Commerce	Paper 1: 18 May. Paper 2: 5 June
Computer Science	Paper 1: 8 May. Paper 2 (Practical): 1 to 3 June window
Economics	Paper 1: 8 May. Paper 2: 22 May
English Language A	Paper 1: 21 May. Paper 2: 5 June
English Language B	Paper 1: 21 May
English Literature	Paper 1: 11 May. Paper 2: 19 May
English as a Second Language	Reading and Listening: 13 May. Writing: 1 June
French	Listening and Reading/Writing: 20 May
Further Pure Mathematics	Paper 1: 19 May. Paper 2: 4 June
Geography	Paper 1: 13 May. Paper 2: 3 June
German	Listening and Reading/Writing: 7 May
Global Citizenship	Paper 1: 11 June
History	Paper 1: 15 May. Paper 2: 4 June
Human Biology	Paper 1: 8 May. Paper 2: 9 June
Information and Communication Technology	Paper 1 (Written): 7 May. Paper 2 (Practical): 1 to 5 June window
Islamic Studies	Paper 1: 2 June
Mathematics A	Paper 1 (Foundation/Higher): 14 May. Paper 2 (Foundation/Higher): 3 June
Mathematics B	Paper 1: 13 May. Paper 2: 10 June
Pakistan Studies	Paper 1: 1 June. Paper 2: 11 June
Physics	Paper 1: 2 June. Paper 2: 15 June
Religious Studies	Paper 1: 12 May. Paper 2: 20 May
Science (Double Award)	Biology paper: 12 May. Chemistry paper: 18 May. Physics paper: 2 June. Second papers: 8 to 15 June
Science (Single Award)	Biology: 8 June. Chemistry: 12 June. Physics: 15 June
Spanish	Listening and Reading/Writing: 9 June

Oxford AQA International GCSE 2026 Dates

Oxford AQA lists its papers on its Dates and Timetables Page. Its subject range is smaller and more focused than Cambridge and Edexcel, and start times are published in UK time, so local sittings differ.

Subject	Written Paper Dates (2026)
Accounting	Paper 1: 28 April. Paper 2: 8 May
Biology	Paper 1: 14 May. Paper 2: 1 June
Business	Paper 1: 29 April. Paper 2: 8 May
Chemistry	Paper 1: 7 May. Paper 2: 18 May
Combined Science	Chemistry (Core/Extension): 18 May. Physics (Core/Extension): 21 May. Biology (Core/Extension): 1 June
Computer Science	Paper 1 (Programming): 15 May. Paper 2: 19 May
Design and Technology (Product Design)	Written Paper: 30 April
Economics	Paper 1: 27 April. Paper 2: 5 May
English as a Second Language	Listening and Reading: 29 April. Writing: 11 May
English Language	Paper 1: 7 May. Paper 2: 12 May
English Literature	Paper 1: 28 April. Paper 2: 5 May
French	Listening and Reading: 30 April. Writing: 13 May
Geography	Paper 1: 5 May. Paper 2: 8 May. Paper 3: 14 May
Islamiat	Paper 1: 22 May. Paper 2: 5 June
Mathematics	Paper 1 (Core/Extension): 6 May. Paper 2 (Core/Extension): 20 May
Media Studies	Written Paper: 11 May
Pakistan Studies	Paper 1: 7 May. Paper 2: 15 May
Physics	Paper 1: 28 April. Paper 2: 14 May
Psychology	Paper 1: 20 May. Paper 2: 2 June
Spanish	Listening and Reading: 12 May. Writing: 22 May
Urdu	Paper 1: 12 May. Paper 2: 21 May

These tables cover the mainstream subjects students in international schools take. Each board also offers heritage languages and regional subjects on their own dates, and Cambridge runs many more syllabuses than appear here.

Know More About: Edexcel vs Cambridge: Key Differences You Should Know 2026

What Is Happening With IGCSE Exams In The UAE In 2026?

The 2026 series looked different in the UAE. In early April 2026, the main boards confirmed that UAE students would not sit their usual June papers, a decision taken with the UAE Ministry of Education in response to the regional situation at the time.

Why Were The June 2026 Exams Cancelled In The UAE?

Within days of each other, Cambridge, Pearson Edexcel and Oxford AQA each told UAE schools that candidates would not sit the May and June 2026 exams.

As Reported by Gulf News, the boards framed the move around student safety and progression and coordinated it with the Ministry of Education. The Pearson decision also covered Bahrain, Kuwait and Lebanon.

How Does The Portfolio Of Evidence Route Work?

In place of exams, schools moved to a portfolio of evidence route. Rather than sitting papers, a school gathers a set of each student’s work and submits it to the board, which then grades it.

As Set Out in Coverage by Khaleej Times, no make-up exams were planned for the summer. For Cambridge students, teachers select specific pieces of work per subject, so staying on top of assessed tasks mattered more than ever.

Will UAE Students Still Get Certificates And University Places?

Yes. The boards confirmed that students still receive official, certificated grades through this route, and the qualification itself is unchanged. Those grades carry the same standing with universities as any other IGCSE result.

If you are a UAE student or parent, your own school is the most reliable source, since each school manages its own evidence and timelines. Anything you read online, including this guide, should be checked against your school’s direct communication.

Know More About: Universities That Accept IGCSE: By Country & Entry Path

When Are The IGCSE 2026 Results Released?

Results day is the other date worth circling early. For the June 2026 series, the boards release on slightly different days in August.

Exam Board	IGCSE Results To Students	Series
Cambridge IGCSE	18 August 2026	June 2026
Pearson Edexcel	20 August 2026	June 2026
Oxford AQA	20 August 2026	June 2026

Cambridge releases results to schools first, early on results day, and schools then pass them to students; you can see the timing on the Cambridge Results Release Page.

Cambridge International AS and A Level results come a week earlier, on 11 August 2026. Students who sit the November 2026 series instead receive results in mid January 2027. UAE students on the portfolio route receive certificated grades through their school.

Know More About: IGCSE Grades Explained: Grading System, Pass Marks 2026

IGCSE Exam Series Explained: June, November, And March

IGCSE is not a once-a-year qualification, and knowing which series suits you matters as much as the dates themselves.

The November 2026 Series, Retakes, And Private Candidates

Cambridge runs a November series each year, with exams from roughly late September to November and results in mid January. It is the natural fit for retakes and for private candidates who want a second sitting.

Pearson Edexcel offers International GCSE in January and June, which lets modular students spread papers across sittings. There is also a March series, but for IGCSE that runs in India only.

How Many Times A Year Can You Sit IGCSE?

For most subjects you can sit in June and November, so up to twice a year with the same board, and Edexcel’s January window adds flexibility for some subjects.

You do not have to resit a whole subject after one weak paper. The rules depend on the board and on whether the subject is linear or modular, so check before you enter.

Know More About: Edexcel IGCSE Explained: Subjects, Grading & Exam Updates

How Should You Use The 2026 Timetable To Plan Revision?

A timetable is only useful once it becomes your timetable. This is the approach we take with students at Ignite once a statement of entry arrives.

• Confirm Your Real Dates: Cross-check every paper on your statement of entry against the official timetable, including your centre’s administrative zone. A generic list is a guide, not your schedule.
• Map The Clusters: Sciences and languages spread their papers over several weeks. Mark where two papers fall close together, such as a theory paper followed by a practical, and protect time for each.
• Use The Gaps: Some subjects finish in week one while others run into June. Treat the gaps between your papers as targeted slots for the subjects still ahead, not as recovery days.
• Work Backwards: Count back roughly 8 to 10 weeks from your first paper and build a week-by-week plan, weighted towards the subjects with the earliest dates.

One detail students often miss: if two papers fall in the same session, you do not reschedule. Your school supervises you to sit them one after the other, usually with a short break.

Know More About: Easiest IGCSE Subjects: Pass Rates, Picks & Cautions 2026

Ignite: IGCSE Exam Preparation Built Around The 2026 Timetable

Knowing the dates is the easy part. Turning them into steady progress across eight or nine subjects is where most students want support.

At Ignite, our IGCSE Exam Preparation in Dubai starts from where each student actually is, then builds around their real exam timetable, paper by paper.

In practice that means structured work through past papers and mark schemes, focused attention on the hardest topics, and regular checkpoints so nothing waits for the final fortnight.

For students moving on afterwards, we also support the step into A-Level Study. To see how it works, you can Join a Free Demo Class and map out a plan for the year.

FAQs

1. When Do IGCSE Exams Start In 2026?

For the June 2026 series, Cambridge IGCSE written papers begin on 24 April, Oxford AQA on 27 April, and Pearson Edexcel on 7 May. Speaking tests and some practicals start earlier, often from March. Your first paper depends on your board, subjects and centre zone.

2. Are IGCSE Exams Cancelled In The UAE For 2026?

For the June 2026 series, yes. Cambridge, Pearson Edexcel and Oxford AQA confirmed that UAE candidates would not sit standard June papers and moved to a portfolio of evidence route instead. UAE students should follow their school’s instructions, since schools manage the evidence and timelines.

3. What Is The IGCSE Portfolio Of Evidence Route?

It is an alternative to sitting exams. A school collects a set of each student’s work, such as coursework and internal assessments, and submits it to the board for grading. Students still receive an official, certificated IGCSE grade that universities recognise in the usual way.

4. When Are The IGCSE 2026 Results Out?

Cambridge IGCSE results are released on 18 August 2026, while Pearson Edexcel and Oxford AQA release on 20 August 2026. Results usually reach schools first and are passed to students the same day. November 2026 series results follow in mid January 2027.

5. Which Cambridge Administrative Zone Is The UAE In?

Cambridge groups centres into administrative zones that affect the exact dates and sessions of some papers. Different sources list UAE centres under different zones, and it can vary by school. The reliable way to confirm is to ask your exams officer or check your statement of entry.

Conclusion

The 2026 dates come down to a few clear anchors. Cambridge IGCSE papers run from 24 April to 9 June, Edexcel from 7 May to 15 June, and Oxford AQA from 27 April to 9 June, with results in August.

UAE students follow the portfolio route for this series, guided by their schools. Everything else is detail you confirm against your own statement of entry.

Once those dates are fixed, the work is steady and specific: know your papers, protect the gaps between them, and start early on the subjects that come first.

Strong IGCSE grades also set up the Move Into A-Levels. If you would like help building a plan around your 2026 timetable, Speak With Our Team and we will map it out with you.

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