When Are IGCSE Exams? Sessions, Registration and Results

Both major IGCSE boards run two main exam sessions a year — May/June and October/November. Edexcel adds a third January sitting for selected subjects. This guide covers when each board runs exams, when registration windows open and close, when results come out, and how to decide which sitting your child should sit.

For the broader context on IGCSE: what IGCSE is, how IGCSEs are graded, and our Cambridge IGCSE vs Edexcel comparison.

Cambridge IGCSE Exam Sessions

Cambridge International (CAIE) runs IGCSE exams in two sessions per year:

• May/June series: the main international session. Exams run from early May to mid-June. Registration typically closes mid-February. Results are released in mid-August.
• October/November series: the second international session. Exams run from mid-October to early December. Registration typically closes mid-July. Results are released in mid-January.

Most students at international schools sit the May/June series because it aligns with the academic-year structure. October/November exists for students on a different academic calendar (some Middle Eastern and Asian systems), retakes, and private candidates. The two sessions are equivalent — same syllabus, same standard, same grade boundaries set retrospectively for each session. Cambridge has also begun moving selected subjects to on-screen examinations — see our guide on digital vs paper IGCSE for the subjects affected.

Edexcel International GCSE Exam Sessions

Pearson Edexcel offers three exam sessions per year for the International GCSE (note: UK national GCSEs only have May/June and Oct/Nov; January is exclusive to International GCSE):

• May/June series: the main session. Exams run May to mid-June. Registration typically closes late February. Results around mid-August.
• October/November series: exams run late October to early December. Registration typically closes early September. Results around mid-January.
• January series: exams run early to mid-January. Registration typically closes mid-October the previous year. Results around early March. Only selected subjects are available in January — most commonly Maths, English Language, the Sciences and some humanities.

The January window is one of Edexcel's distinctive features and is widely used by private candidates and students re-sitting individual subjects without waiting for the full May/June series.

Which Session Should Your Child Sit?

For most students at international schools the answer is set by the school: May/June. For students with flexibility — private candidates, homeschoolers, students on non-standard academic calendars, or those re-sitting individual subjects — the practical guidance:

• May/June: the default. Strongest cohort, full syllabus coverage assumed, results in time for A-Level / IB sixth form entry in September.
• October/November: useful for students who need an extra term to prepare, or who are on an academic calendar that runs autumn-to-summer. Results align with university applications for students entering A-Levels mid-cycle.
• January (Edexcel only): useful for resits and modular completion. Students who scored below target in May/June often resit in January for a quicker turnaround than waiting for October/November.

Registration Deadlines and Late Fees

Both boards publish registration deadlines on their websites and through approved exam centres (typically the British Council in most countries). Key principles:

• Standard registration window opens 3-4 months before the exam session.
• Standard registration deadline is roughly 3 months before the exam date — though specific dates vary by centre and country.
• Late registration is usually possible up to 1 month before the exam, with a late fee.
• Very late registration (closer than 1 month) is rarely accepted; if it is, fees are substantially higher.

For private candidates and homeschoolers, registration is through the British Council or another approved centre in your country. See our IGCSE private candidate guide.

Results Days

Both boards publish results electronically to students and centres. Approximate dates:

• May/June series → results around mid-August (typically the third or fourth Thursday).
• October/November series → results around mid-January.
• Edexcel January series → results around early to mid-March.

Statements of Results and grade-boundary information are released alongside the results. Hard-copy certificates follow several weeks later. For competitive sixth form / university applications, the digital results document is usually sufficient.

Planning Backward From The Exam Date

For families planning a sitting, the rough backward timeline (for a May/June session):

• September the prior year: confirm subject list, board and exam centre.
• October-November the prior year: standard registration window typically opens.
• February: registration deadline closes. Confirm seat with the exam centre.
• March-April: intensive past-paper practice and revision phase.
• May-June: exam window.
• Mid-August: results.

For board-specific past-paper practice, see IGCSE past papers guide and IGCSE Maths past papers.

Continue: what IGCSE is, how IGCSEs are graded, IGCSE past papers guide, private candidate guide.

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