Pearson Edexcel examination start times

Asia Pacific region: Myanmar to Australia (GMT +6.5/+11 and BST +5.5/+10)

This document applies to Edexcel examinations in:

 International Advanced Level (IAL)

 International GCSE & International GCSE (R-papers)
 GCSE
 GCE A Level

Essential information
This document details the times for examinations, in the local time of each time zone.
For exams in sessions 1 and 2 the exam start time is listed. To allow some flexibility,
centres can start examinations by up to 30 minutes earlier or later than the published
time below without authorisation from Pearson. Students are not allowed to leave the
exam room until at least one hour after the published exam start time for Session 1 or 2,
as stated in this document.

For exams scheduled in session 3, the tables below state the time at which students
can be released by the centre following completion of the exam in the final session of
each day.

Exams should therefore be scheduled to finish close to this release time (for example, if
the release time for your time-zone is 20.30, an exam with two hour duration should be
started at 18.30). This will ensure minimal student supervision by the centre is required
after an exam is finished. If an exam is completed before the release time, students
must remain under the supervision of invigilators or other centre staff until the release
time, and parental supervision cannot be used instead. Supervision of students will not
be required after the release time listed for session 3 exams.

Permission must be requested in advance if a centre wishes to vary the start time of
exams in excess of 30 minutes. This request must be emailed to
uk.special.requirements@pearson.com with the message title, ‘Request for variation to
exam start time’.

Document last updated November 2021

November examinations - Time zones GMT +6.5 / +11
The designation AM or PM relates to the session the examination is assigned on the Pearson
Edexcel Examination Timetables, which can be found at
http://qualifications.pearson.com/en/support/support-topics/exams/exam-
timetables.html#tab-Internationalcentres

Time zones Local start time for examinations

Session 1 Session 2 Session 3

GCSE and GCSE and
International International
GCSE GCSE
morning (AM) afternoon (PM)

GMT + 6.5 Release time from

e.g. centre supervision
Myanmar 15.30
20.00

GMT + 7 Release time from

e.g. centre supervision
Cambodia; 16.00
Indonesia; 20.30
Thailand;
Vietnam

GMT + 8 Release time from

e.g. centre supervision
China; 17.00
Hong Kong; 21.30
Singapore; Malaysia

GMT + 9 Release time from

e.g. centre supervision
Japan; 18.00
Korea 22.30
GMT +10 19.00 Release time from
Australia (Brisbane) centre supervision

23.30
GMT + 11 Australia 20.00 Release time from
(Sydney, Melbourne) centre supervision

00.30

Document last updated November 2021

January examinations - Time zones GMT +6.5 / +11
The designation AM or PM relates to the session the examination is assigned on the Pearson
Edexcel Examination Timetables, which can be found at
http://qualifications.pearson.com/en/support/support-topics/exams/exam-
timetables.html#tab-Internationalcentres

Time zones Local start time for examinations

Session 1 Session 2 Session 3

IAL & IAL &

International International
GCSE R-paper GCSE R-paper
morning (AM) afternoon (PM)

International International
GCSE GCSE
morning (AM) afternoon (PM)

GMT + 6.5 Release time from

e.g. centre supervision
Myanmar 12.30 15.30
20.00

GMT + 7 Release time from

e.g. centre supervision
Cambodia; 13.00 16.00
Indonesia; 20.30
Thailand;
Vietnam

GMT + 8 Release time from

e.g. centre supervision
China; 14.00 17.00
Hong Kong; 21.30
Singapore; Malaysia

GMT + 9 Release time from

e.g. centre supervision
Japan; 15.00 18.00
Korea 22.30
GMT +10 16.00 19.00 Release time from
Australia (Brisbane) centre supervision

23.30
GMT + 11 Australia 17.00 20.00 Release time from
(Sydney, Melbourne) centre supervision

00.30

Document last updated November 2021

May/June examinations - Time zones +5.5 / +10
The designation AM or PM relates to the session the examination is assigned on the Pearson
Edexcel Examination Timetables, which can be found at
http://qualifications.pearson.com/en/support/support-topics/exams/exam-
timetables.html#tab-Internationalcentres

Time zones Local start times for examinations

Session 1 Session 2 Session 3

IAL & IAL &

International GCSE International GCSE
R-paper R-paper
morning (AM) afternoon (PM)
GCE A level / GCSE GCE A level / GCSE

International GCSE International GCSE

morning (AM) afternoon (PM)

BST + 5.5 Release time from

e.g. 11.30 14.30 centre supervision
Myanmar
19.00
BST + 6
e.g.
Release time from
Cambodia;
12.00 15.00 centre supervision
Indonesia;
Thailand;
19.30
Vietnam
BST + 7
e.g.
Release time from
China;
13.00 16.00 centre supervision
Hong Kong;
Singapore;
20.30
Malaysia
BST + 8
Release time from
e.g.
14.00 17.00 centre supervision
Japan;
Korea
21.30
GMT +9 Release time from
Australia centre supervision
15.00 18.00
(Brisbane)
22.30
GMT + 10 Release time from
Australia centre supervision
16.00 19.00
(Sydney,
Melbourne) 23.30

Document last updated November 2021

October exams - Time zones +5.5 / +10
The designation AM or PM relates to the session the examination is assigned on the Pearson
Edexcel Examination Timetables, which can be found at
http://qualifications.pearson.com/en/support/support-topics/exams/exam-
timetables.html#tab-Internationalcentres

Time zones Local start times for examinations

Session 1 Session 2 Session 3

IAL IAL

BST + 5.5
e.g. 11.30 14.30
Myanmar
BST + 6
e.g.
Cambodia;
12.00 15.00
Indonesia;
Thailand;
Vietnam
BST + 7
e.g.
China;
13.00 16.00
Hong Kong;
Singapore;
Malaysia
BST + 8
e.g.
14.00 17.00
Japan;
Korea
GMT +9
Australia 15.00 18.00
(Brisbane)
GMT + 10
Australia
16.00 19.00
(Sydney,
Melbourne)

Document last updated November 2021