Outstanding Pearson Learner Awards

The Outstanding Pearson Learner Awards are a set of awards that recognise top-performing international students worldwide who achieved the highest mark for all levels of Pearson Edexcel qualifications; iPrimary, iLowerSecondary, GCSE, International GCSE, A Levels, International AS/A Levels.  

OPLA motif

Celebrating academic achievement

Our global Outstanding Pearson Learner Awards are awarded to learners worldwide (outside the UK) who have taken Pearson Edexcel iPrimary, iLowerSecondary, International GCSE, GCSE, International A level and GCE A level examinations and have achieved outstanding results.

At the start of November each year, we share a list of award recipients for the previous October, January and May/June exam series and a list of all schools with OPLA-winning students will be published on this page by the end of November each year.

We also host award ceremonies at many countries globally to celebrate the achievement of these learners and to honour the role of the teachers and schools who have contributed towards the success of these achievers.  These ceremonies are much-anticipated events for students, parents, educators and Pearson colleagues alike.

Find out about our OPLA 2024 recipient schools

Pearson OPLAs 2023 in Chennai, India

Awards criteria

Award categories

The Outstanding Pearson Learner Awards are a set of awards that recognise top-performing international students worldwide who achieved the highest mark for all levels of Pearson Edexcel qualifications; iPrimary, iLowerSecondary, GCSE, International GCSE, A Levels, International AS/A Levels.  

There are three levels of Outstanding Pearson Learner Award per subject, open for awarding to all Pearson Edexcel learners who sat for any Pearson qualifications at an international approved centre during an exam series. These award levels are:  

  • The Highest Mark in the World  
  • The Highest Mark in the Region
  • The Highest Mark in the Country   
      

OPLA Awards are awarded to achievers who receive the highest mark and highest grade only in their exams. For a subject achiever who achieve the highest mark in the cohort but not the highest grade, it will not be included for OPLA 

  • Grade A* for International A Levels and UK GCE A Levels  
  • Grade A for International AS Levels and UK GCE AS Levels  
  • Grade 9 for International GCSE and UK GCSE*  
  • Grade S4 for iLowerSecondary  
  • Grade P3 for iPrimary 

The Highest Mark in the World award

This award refers to the learner who has gained the highest standard mark in the country, region or world for a single subject.

There may be other learners in the world, or even in the same country, who scored exactly the same mark; since their achievement is equal, they will receive equal recognition and will also be awarded the Highest Mark in the World/Region/Country award for that subject.  Learners will be awarded the highest category award. For example, if a learner has the Highest Mark in the World he/she will not receive the Highest Mark in Region or Country award.  

Minimum entry thresholds

We set minimum entry thresholds for each qualification suite (excluding UK entries) to ensure that OPLA-winning learners are selected from a sufficiently representative group of learners taking the same exam where relevant. If the number of entries for a particular subject within an exam series does not meet the minimum threshold for entries in a given series, OPLAs will not be awarded for that subject.

Calculating OPLA data

OPLA recipients are determined based on learner’s examination results for each exam series and individual award winners are derived electronically using Pearson’s Qualifications Database Management (QDM) system. 

The results are tabulated at the end of reviews of marking and moderation dateline. Any revision to learner results after the deadline may not be included for the awards. We make every effort to ensure the integrity and validity of this OPLA awarding data. Results data is accurate at the time of generation (1st October 2024). 

Share your Pearson Edexcel learner story with us!

Are you a Pearson Edexcel International GCSE or International A level student? Have you received an Outstanding Pearson Learner Award for your achievements in your studies?

If so, we would love to hear your success story: what you loved about your Pearson learning journey and where your qualifications have taken you!

Share your Pearson Edexcel learner story

Share your Pearson Edexcel learner story with us