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We issue EDI and XML results files at 12.01am on restricted results release days. To download the results files via A2C, you’ll need the latest version of the basedata. If you have further questions about A2C, please see the JCQ FAQs.
For linear qualifications such as GCSEs, AS and A Levels, we provide the qualification grade and total qualification mark within EDI files, apart from any qualifications with an endorsement. Due to formatting constraints, there isn't room in the file to include the qualification marks as well as the endorsement grades.
To download your results, open A2C on your computer and, from the inbox, select the ‘Send/Receive files’ button. From here you can import this to your MIS.
If you haven’t received your files as expected, check your A2C log and see if the file has been recorded there. If yes, please close, log in again and select ‘send/receive’ for the file to appear.
Alternatively, please check another user at the centre has not already downloaded the results on another PC.
Our EDI results files are in the latest JCQ format (currently version 14).
This format is used by all the JCQ awarding bodies (see the JCQ formats booklet).
Component results are not issued within EDI files – these are provided in the XML results files.
These results files contain component marks, qualification marks and grades for linear general qualifications.
Developed jointly by the JCQ awarding bodies, XML files are issued via the A2C Transport application at the same time as your EDI files and can be imported into your management information system (MIS). This allows you to use this data to produce more in-depth analysis and reports for students, teachers and other stakeholders.
When you log in to A2C to download your results files, in addition to your EDI files, you’ll also see another file type. This will have the file format: .xml. You can download and import the files in the same way you import EDI files.
XML files will be named a2c.CCCCC.AB.EDIResults.GUID.xml:
For example, an OCR A Level filename for centre 99999 would look like this: a2C.99999.01.EDIResults.0AD3B770-2F1E-4779-A9FA-7606ED8D84366.xml
If you haven’t updated to the latest version of the A2C Transport app, you will be able to download the files. However, the file will show as an unknown file type. Therefore, we recommend you update to A2C Transport app as soon as you can.
How to import the files will depend on your supplier’s implementation. Please contact your MIS supplier for more details. For some MIS you may need to import both the EDI and XML files. For details of how ESS SIMS users can use the XML files, take a look at their video.
A2C access keys are typically valid for 10 years, so you may receive a warning to say yours has expired. However, they will continue to work even if you're seeing a warning message.
If you want to request a new access key, you can do this in Interchange from Centre Information > A2C Data Exchange and then follow the on-screen instructions.
You can read more about using A2C on the JCQ website.
For general qualifications and Cambridge Nationals, once results are issued, we publish updated EDI and XML files on a weekly basis via Interchange. These will be available each Monday until the end of the post-results period.
To access these files, log in to Interchange, hover over ‘Results’ in the left-hand menu and then click on ‘XML/EDI results’.
If you want to use these files, be aware, they’ll overwrite any manual changes you’ve made to your system.