SEAB’s 2026 secondary GCE rules allow candidates to use a copy of their own examination materials for private, non-commercial use after the results-review appeal period, subject to conditions. A personal admissions portfolio is one example. Remove examination labels and references to the examination and SEAB from the copy.
If you want to exhibit, publish or enter the work in a competition, seek authorisation from SEAB. Before planning to use coursework, check that you have a copy you are permitted to use and confirm the applicable examination rules.
- Check the end of the relevant review period.
- Confirm that you have a copy of your own work.
- Check whether the intended use is private and non-commercial.
- Seek SEAB authorisation for public or other uses.
Check how the portfolio will be used
Ask whether the work will be sent privately to an institution or displayed publicly. A private application and a public gallery have different audiences. If an application platform may publish selected entries, ask the institution and check with SEAB before uploading.
For example, sending a copy to an admissions team after the appeal period may fit the published personal-use condition if all the requirements are met. Posting it on a public website for the same application calls for a separate authorisation check.
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Keep the submitted work and the portfolio copy separate
The rules apply to a copy of your own examination materials and do not give a candidate permission to remove original materials from a centre. Ask the school or centre what it can provide. Prepare the portfolio version only after checking the timing and conditions.
The coursework authenticity guide covers the separate rules on preparing work for submission to an examination.
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Frequently asked questions
Can I use the same copy for a public competition?
The 2026 secondary GCE rules direct candidates to seek SEAB authorisation for competition use.
Does this apply automatically to later SEC coursework?
Check the instructions for the qualification and year in which the work was submitted.
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Official information
Consult SEAB’s 2026 secondary GCE Rules and Regulations, particularly sections 3.20.5 to 3.20.7. Guidance checked on 8 November 2026.