Holding(s) in Company

Pearson PLC
19 October 2005


Fax to: RNS
Dated: 19/10/2005

Notification of Change in Interest in Shares

We write in accordance with rule 9.12, under the continuing obligations section 
of the Listing Rules, to notify you that on 19 October 2005 we received 
information that, pursuant to section 198 of the Companies Act 1985, the 
shareholding of The Capital Group Companies, Inc., which equals 112,473,379 
shares, now represents 13.989% of the issued ordinary share capital of Pearson 
plc.

The registered holders of the shares are listed on the schedule below. 

From: Pearson PLC


To:    Pearson plc 
       80 Strand
       London WC2R 0RK 
       UK

Date:  17 October 2005

                            SECTION 198 NOTIFICATION 
                            Notification of Decrease

This Notice is given by The Capital Group Companies, Inc. on behalf of its 
affiliates, including Capital Research and Management Company, Capital 
International S.A., Capital International. Inc., Capital International Limited, 
and Capital Guardian Trust Company, pursuant to Section 198 of the Companies Act
1985.

The interest in the relevant share capital indicated below arises by virtue of 
holdings attributed to the Companies (see Schedule A). These holdings form part 
of funds managed on behalf of investment clients by the Companies.

     Share capital to which this relates:

          Ordinary Shares (803,989,183 shares outstanding) 

     Number of shares in which the Companies have an interest:

          112,473,379 

Name(s) of registered holders):

          See Schedule B

As of 17 October 2005
                                                          Number of   Percent of
Pearson plc                                                  Shares  Outstanding

The Capital Group Companies Inc. ("CG") holdings        112,473,379      13.989%
Holdings by CG Management Companies and Funds:          
 
* Capital Guardian Trust Company                         50,530,769       6.285%

* Capital International Limited                          16,017,698       1.992%

* Capital International S.A.                              4,693,277       0.584%

* Capital International Inc.                             10,464,363       1.302%

* Capital Research and Management Company                30,767,272       3.827%


                                    Schedule A


 
                      Schedule of holdings in Pearson plc
                            As of 17 October 2005

                         Capital Guardian Trust Company

Registered Name                                         Local Shares 

State Street Nominees Limited                              6,024,858

Bank of New York Nominees                                  1,945,968

Northern Trust                                               286,709

Chase Manhattan Bank Australia Limited                         2,700

Chase Nominees Limited                                    23,098,525

BT Globenet Nominees Ltd.                                    751,735

Midland Bank plc                                           5,241,775

Cede & Co.                                                   228,263

Deutsche Bank Mannheim                                         2,200

Bankers Trust                                              1,852,700

Barclays Bank                                                157,600

Citibank London                                               11,100

Royal Trust                                                   22,800

Brown Bros.                                                  103,093

Nortrust Nominees                                          6,905,982

Royal Bank of Scotland                                       115,300

MSS Nominees Limited                                          68,100

State Street Bank & Trust Co.                                 71,300

Citibank                                                      13,600

RBSTB Nominees Ltd                                             2,200

Citibank NA                                                   45,500
                                 
Deutsche Bank AG                                               2,100

HSBC Bank PLC                                                  4,900

Mellon Bank N.A.                                             186,500

ROY Nominees Limited                                          45,800

Mellon Nominees (UK) Limited                               1,859,104                              
                                                      
HSBC                                                          56,300

JP Morgan Chase Bank                                       1,424,067

                                           TOTAL          50,530,769   


                                 Schedule B


                       Capital International Limited

Registered Name                                          Local Shares 

State Street Nominees Limited                                 306,562

Bank of New York Nominees                                   3,027,748

Northern Trust                                              1,687,638

Chase Nominees Limited                                      3,081,515

Midland Bank Plc                                               83,200

Bankers Trust                                                 289,971

Barclays Bank                                                  67,200

Citibank London                                               113,966

Morgan Guaranty                                               284,300

Nortrust Nominees                                           2,691,689

Royal Bank of Scotland                                        855,900

MSS Nominees Limited                                           91,200

State Street Bank & Trust Co                                  370,400

National Westminster Bank                                     120,300

Lloyds Bank                                                    58,700

Citibank NA                                                    23,500

Deutsche Bank AG                                            1,280,468

Chase Manhattan Nominee Ltd                                    48,300

HSBC Bank plc                                                 988,300
 
Mellon Bank N.A.                                              165,516

KAS UK                                                         61,425

Bank One London                                               212,600

Clydesdale Bank plc                                            77,000

JP Morgan Chase Bank                                           30,300

                                                TOTAL      16,017,698        




                                Schedule B 



                          Capital International S.A.

Registered Name                                           Local Shares 

State Street Nominees Limited                                   16,036

Bank of New York Nominees                                       35,800

Chase Nominees Limited                                       2,127,442     

Credit Suisse London Branch                                     30,000

Midland Bank plc                                               549,000

Barclays Bank                                                  265,218

Brown Bros.                                                     79,748

Nortrust Nominees                                               11,300

Morgan Stanley                                                  12,900

Royal Bank of Scotland                                         130,018

J.P. Morgan                                                    860,083

National Westminster Bank                                       24,900   

Lloyds Bank                                                     29,600

RBSTB Nominees Ltd                                              60,100

Deutsche Bank AG                                                67,352

HSBC Bank plc                                                  373,080

HSBC                                                            20,700

                                                   TOTAL     4,693,277


                                   Schedule B


                          Capital International Inc.

Registered Name                                           Local Shares

State Street Nominees Limited                                3,245,357

Bank of New York Nominees                                    1,138,205 

Northern Trust                                                  38,800

Chase Nominees Limited                                       2,489,150

Midland Bank plc                                               265,000

Bankers Trust                                                   51,500

Citibank London                                                107,300

Brown Bros.                                                    151,700

Nortrust Nominees                                              814,698

Royal Bank of Scotland                                         109,100

State Street Bank & Trust Co.                                  913,696

Sumitomo Trust & Banking                                        35,500

Citibank                                                        24,500    

RBSTB Nominees Ltd                                              39,100

Citibank NA                                                    429,757

State Street Australia Limited                                  51,000

HSBC Bank PLC                                                  150,200

JP Morgan Chase Bank                                           409,800

                                              TOTAL         10,464,363      


                                  Schedule B

                     Capital Research & Management Company

Registered Name                                           Local Shares

State Street Nominees Limited                                  750,000

Chase Nominees Limited                                      30,017,272

                                              TOTAL         30,767,272




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