Holding(s) in Company

Pearson PLC
7 October 2004

Notification of change in interest in shares

We write in accordance with rule 9.12. under the Continuing Obligations section 
of the List Rules, to notify you that on 6 October 2004 we received 
notification that pursuant to section 198 of the Companies Act 1985, the 
shareholding of The Capital Group Companies, Inc., which equates to 119,554,432 
shares, now represents 14.88% of the issued ordinary share capital of 
Pearson plc.

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


From: Pearson plc

Letter to Pearson PLC
Dated 1 October 2004


                           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 (803,236,721 shares outstanding) 

     Number of shares in which the Companies have an interest:

     119,554,432 

     Name(s) of registered holder(s):

     See Schedule B


As of 1 October 2004
                                                          Number of   Percent of
Pearson plc                                                  Shares  Outstanding

The Capital Group Companies Inc. ("CG") holdings        119,554,432      14.884%

Holdings by CG Management Companies and Funds:          
 
* Capital Guardian Trust Company                         63,279,240       7.878%

* Capital International Limited                          13,793,277       1.717%

* Capital International S.A.                              5,832,086       0.726%

* Capital International Inc.                             11,582,557       1.442%

* Capital Research and Management Company                25,067,272       3.121%


                                    Schedule A


 
                      Schedule of holdings in Pearson plc
                              As of 1 October 2004 

                         Capital Guardian Trust Company

Registered Name                                         Local Shares 

State Street Nominees Limited                              9,443,453

Bank of New York Nominees                                  1,862,658

Northern Trust                                               134,709

Chase Nominees Limited                                    27,764,161

BT Globenet Nominees Ltd.                                    696,235

Midland Bank plc                                           8,230,375

Cede & Co.                                                   125,663

Deutsche Bank Mannheim                                         2,200

                                     Schedule B

Bankers Trust                                              2,548,400

Barclays Bank                                                427,800

Citibank London                                               12,500

Nortrust Nominees                                          9,516,982

Royal Bank of Scotland                                       113,300

MSS Nominees Limited                                          54,200

State Street Bank & Trust Co.                                 84,000

RBSTB Nominees Ltd                                             2,200

Citibank NA                                                   45,500

                                     Schedule B

Deutsche Bank AG                                               2,100

HSBC Bank PLC                                                 13,600

Mellon Bank N.A.                                             187,900

ROY Nominees Limited                                          52,900

Mellon Nominees (UK) Limited                               1,909,904                              
                                                      
HSBC                                                          43,900

JP Morgan Chase Bank                                           4,600

                                           TOTAL          63,279,240   


                                 Schedule B


                       Capital International Limited

Registered Name                                          Local Shares 

State Street Nominees Limited                                 516,962

Bank of New York Nominees                                   3,647,212

Northern Trust                                                700,244

Chase Nominees Limited                                      2,204,935

Midland Bank Plc                                               78,200

Bankers Trust                                                 237,771

Barclays Bank                                                  67,200

Citibank London                                                52,300


                                  Schedule B


Morgan Guaranty                                               202,200

Nortrust Nominees                                           2,426,246

Royal Bank of Scotland                                        845,000

MSS Nominees Limited                                          109,000

State Street Bank & Trust Co                                  384,700

National Westminster Bank                                      63,900

Lloyds Bank                                                    53,600

Citibank NA                                                    23,500

Deutsche Bank AG                                            1,078,036

                                  Schedule B

HSBC Bank plc                                                 789,530 

Mellon Bank NA                                                 11,016

KAS UK                                                         37,125

Bank One London                                               187,300

Clydesdale Bank plc                                            82,500

JP Morgan Chase Bank                                           14,800

                                                TOTAL      13,793,277        



                                  Schedule B 

                          Capital International S.A.
Registered Name                                           Local Shares 

State Street Nominees Limited                                   16,036

Bank of New York Nominees                                       27,700

Chase Nominees Limited                                       2,950,242     

Credit Suisse London Branch                                     20,000

Midland Bank plc                                               652,000

Barclays Bank                                                  758,518

Pictet & Cle, Geneva                                            10,900

Citibank London                                                 21,200

                                   Schedule B 


Brown Bros.                                                     73,900

Nortrust Nominees                                               11,300

Morgan Stanley                                                  12,900

Royal Bank of Scotland                                         130,018

J.P. Morgan                                                    577,883

State Street Bank & Trust Co.                                   65,600

National Westminster Bank                                       35,200   

Lloyds Bank                                                     44,300

RBSTB Nominees Ltd                                              60,100


                                   Schedule B

Deutsche Bank AG                                                72,352

HSBC Bank plc                                                  275,537

HSBC                                                            16,400

                                                   TOTAL     5,832,086


                                   Schedule B


                          Capital International Inc.

Registered Name                                           Local Shares

State Street Nominees Limited                                3,802,857

Bank of New York Nominees                                    1,190,399 

Northern Trust                                                  52,600

Chase Nominees Limited                                       2,861,350

Midland Bank plc                                               255,400

Bankers Trust                                                   51,500

Citibank London                                                138,000

Brown Bros.                                                    122,800

 
                                   Schedule B  


Nortrust Nominees                                              905,398

Royal Bank of Scotland                                         193,700

State Street Bank & Trust Co.                                  945,496

Citibank                                                        36,100    

RBSTB Nominees Ltd                                              38,500

Citibank NA                                                    358,657

HSBC Bank PLC                                                  185,200

JP Morgan Chase Bank                                           444,600

                                              TOTAL         11,582,557      


                                  Schedule B

                     Capital Research & Management Company

Registered Name                                           Local Shares

State Street Nominees Limited                                  750,000

Chase Nominees Limited                                      24,317,272

                                              TOTAL         25,067,272






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