Edexcel IAL students can sit and resit any unit in the series where it runs: January and June for most units, October for some subjects. The better of the two most recent attempts counts, or the best attempt in Mathematics. Schedule first sittings early enough to leave a resit before cash-in, and enter the cash-in code, which is not automatic.
Which IAL units can be sat in January, June and October?
Not every subject runs in every series. From Pearson’s IAL Information Manual 2025/26, confirmed against the 2026-27 timetables:
| Series | Subjects and units |
|---|---|
| January, June and October | Accounting, Biology, Business, Chemistry, Economics, Physics; Mathematics P1–P4, M1, M2, S1, S2 |
| January and June only | English Language, English Literature, French, German, Spanish, Arabic, Geography, History, Psychology; Mathematics M3, S3, FP1–FP3, D1 |
| June only | Greek, Information Technology, Law |
Pearson’s Mathematics specification confirms that “all units will be assessed in January and June and just units P1, P2, P3, P4, M1, M2, S1 and S2 in October”.
What are the 2026-27 IAL dates?
| Series | Exams | Entry deadline | Results to candidates |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | 8–30 October 2026 | 28 August 2026 (passed) | 21 January 2027 |
| January 2027 | 8–25 January 2027 | 16 October 2026 | 4 March 2027 |
| Summer 2027 | 4 May–10 June 2027 | 21 March 2027 | 12 August 2027 |
Source: Pearson international key dates 2026-27 and exam timetables. The January 2027 entry deadline of 16 October 2026 is the next one schools face.
What are the IAL unit resit rules?
Any unit can be resat, and there is no stated limit on attempts. Pearson’s manual says: “Any unit can be resat by a candidate. The better of their two most recent non-absent attempts at an IAL unit will be available for aggregation to a qualification grade. The exception is the IAL Mathematics suite.” For Mathematics, “the best available unit result will count towards the final grade”.
The difference matters for students who resit more than once. In Biology, a third attempt that goes badly can push out a good first attempt, because only the two most recent count. In Mathematics, a good result is never lost. Students re-enter only the units they want to improve: “Units taken on previous occasions should not be entered unless the candidate wishes to enter for the unit again to improve their results.”
How does IAL cash-in work?
Cash-in turns banked unit results into a qualification grade, and it must be entered. Pearson: “Candidates intending to cash in their unit scores for a subject grade must enter the appropriate cash-in codes … No grade can be issued unless the cash-in code is entered.” Cash-in codes pair the IAS and IAL awards, for example XMA01 and YMA01 for Mathematics, or XBI11 and YBI11 for Biology. “A fee is charged for any cash-in request made after the entry deadline.”
Units are banked under the student’s unique candidate identifier (UCI), so they can be sat across several series. Grades use the Uniform Mark Scale. International AS Mathematics is out of 300 UMS, with an A at 240, and the full International A Level out of 600, with an A at 480. See how to set grade boundaries for mock exams for converting mock marks.
For Mathematics, Pearson adds a rule about re-certifying: “Once a candidate certificates a Mathematics subject, the units that have been used to generate the award are ‘locked’ to that title … Units ‘locked’ … may be ‘unlocked’ by re-entering for that same title.” It advises that students resitting units “should also be re-entered for all previously entered cash-in codes”.
How is the IAL A* awarded?
It depends on the subject. In Biology, a student needs an overall A (at least 480 of 600 UMS) and at least 270 of the 300 UMS available across the IA2 units. In Mathematics, a student needs an overall A and at least 180 of 200 UMS across units P3 and P4. So in Mathematics, the A* depends entirely on the two A2 pure units.
How should a school plan unit timing?
Plan backwards from cash-in, leaving one resit opportunity for the units that matter most. A common pattern, which is our recommendation rather than a Pearson rule:
- Year 12, January or June: first IAS units, while content is fresh.
- Year 12, June: remaining IAS units, then cash in the IAS if a UCAS-ready AS grade helps.
- Year 13, October or January: resits of weak IAS units, where the subject runs in that series; first A2 units in January where available.
- Year 13, June: final A2 units and full IAL cash-in.
For UCAS applicants, a banked unit result is stronger evidence than a prediction. Our guide to UCAS predicted grades explains why. A unit mock a term before each sitting shows whether a student is ready or should wait a series.
How schools do this with AI Buddy
AI Buddy tracks each IAL student’s progress by unit through past-paper-style mocks, marked instantly. Heads of department can see who is ready for a January or October sitting and who should wait for June, before the entry deadline. After results, the same data shows which units are worth resitting and which topics need work first. The entry and resit decisions stay with the school.
Frequently asked questions
Can you resit Edexcel IAL units?
Yes. Any unit can be resat. The better of the two most recent attempts counts, except in Mathematics, where the best result counts.
When is the Edexcel IAL January 2027 timetable?
IAL January 2027 exams run from 8 to 25 January 2027. The entry deadline is 16 October 2026, and results reach candidates on 4 March 2027.
When is the Edexcel IAL June 2027 timetable?
Summer 2027 IAL exams run from 4 May to 10 June 2027. Entries close on 21 March 2027, and results go to candidates on 12 August 2027.
Is October 2026 IAL registration still open?
No. The October 2026 entry deadline was 28 August 2026. The next deadline is 16 October 2026 for January 2027.
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Sources
- Pearson, International Advanced Level Information Manual 2025/26
- Pearson, IAL Mathematics specification and Aggregation rules and guidance
- Pearson, IAL Biology specification
- Pearson, Key dates 2026/27 and International key dates table 2026-27