When Do A Level Exams Start 2026

So there I was, last June, watching my friend Sam text me from a coffee shop at 11:47 PM. “What’s the point of memorising the Krebs cycle if I can’t even find a parking space?” he typed. He had his first A Level exam in seven hours. I remember laughing—really laughing—because I was in the exact same boat, frantically re-reading my biology notes under a duvet. That’s the thing about exam season, isn’t it? You always think you have more time, until you suddenly don’t.

Fast forward to now, and you’re probably asking the same question: When do A Level exams start in 2026? It’s a deceptively simple question, but the answer is like one of those tricky multiple-choice options—mostly right, but with a few sneaky exceptions. Let’s cut the suspense. The main exam period for A Levels in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland typically begins around mid-May each year. For 2026, that means the first major papers will likely land on your desk starting Monday, 11 May 2026.

But hold on—why “likely”? Can’t they just pick a date?

Ah, the beautiful chaos of the British exam board system. Each board—AQA, Edexcel, OCR, WJEC, CCEA—has its own timetable. They don’t all start on the same Tuesday morning like some coordinated army. Some boards love a Monday start; others sneak in a Friday afternoon paper just to keep you on edge. If you’re with AQA, for example, their 2026 timetable usually kicks off with a couple of early morning exams in the second week of May. Edexcel? They might start a day or two earlier with specific subjects.

Here’s the ironic bit: your school will probably get the official timetable in March 2026. That’s less than two months before the first exam. So you’ll be sitting there, half-way through revision, when a stressed-out teacher finally emails a PDF with tiny font. And you’ll think, “Why didn’t I search for this in 2025?” Well, you did. You’re reading this. Good for you.

The “official” prediction nobody tells you

If you dig into the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) calendar—yes, that’s a real thing—you’ll find that the 2025-2026 academic year has a fixed window. Exams cannot start before the second Monday in May without special permission. So, 11 May 2026 is practically a lock for the main first day. But don’t forget the spoken language exams for Modern Languages (they happen before the written papers, usually in April or even late March). And if you’re doing Art and Design, your portfolio deadline might be as early as late April.

In short: mark your calendar for 11 May 2026 as the big start, but keep an eye on those April early birds. It’s like a surprise party you didn’t ask for.

The one date that will actually ruin your sleep

Let’s talk about the last exam. Because everyone fixates on the start, but the real date you care about is the final one—when you can finally delete those 47 tabs of revision notes. In 2026, most A Level written exams will wrap up by late June, around the 25th or 26th. But here’s the kicker: some boards like OCR schedule tricky “practical” papers right up to the very last week. You might be done early, while your friend cries over a chemistry practical until 28 June. Check your specific subject list. Do not assume you’re free on 20 June because you saw a meme.

A quick reality check for procrastinators

You know that feeling when you think, “I’ll start revision in April”? Stop it. If exams start on 11 May, you have roughly five weeks from April 1st to May 11th. That sounds like a lot until you factor in school, work, and that sudden urge to deep-clean your room. Start now. Yes, even before the official timetable arrives. Because if you wait until March, you’ll be the person texting your friend at 11:47 PM about parking spaces.

What about resits? Or international students?

Oh, you thought you were off the hook? If you’re sitting exams in Cambridge International (CIE) or International A Levels abroad, the calendar shifts a little. CIE often starts exams earlier, sometimes in late April in 2026. For resit candidates in May/June, the dates are exactly the same as the main series—no special treatment, sorry. And if you’re doing November resits? That’s a whole other tragedy, starting around 1 October 2026.

Final, slightly ironic advice

Here’s the truth: the exact start date matters, but what matters more is knowing that it’s coming. It’s like knowing a train is leaving at 8:47 AM—you don’t need to memorize the schedule; you just need to be on the platform, phone charged, notes in hand. So, book that holiday for after 28 June 2026. Do not book it for 10 May. I’m looking at you, Sam. He booked a flight for 12 May once. Once.

So, to answer your question: plan for 11 May 2026, double-check your exam board in March, and for the love of all that is caffeinated, don’t leave your revision until the night before. You’ll thank me when you’re sipping that coffee at a normal hour, with a parking space right out front.