Costs
What it costs to sit exams as a private candidate
You pay the centre, not the exam board. The centre pays the board's entry fee and adds its own charge for rooms, invigilators and admin, which is why prices vary so much.
What centres charge
From the 26 price lists for 2026/27 on this site (a chain with one price list for several centres counts once; undated and older lists are left out, and so are centres that charge per paper or add their own fee to the board's, which is why each row has fewer). These are the prices per subject the centres publish, which normally include the board fee; every centre is listed, with a link to its price list, in the centre finder.
| Exam | Lowest | Middle | Highest | Price lists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GCSE, most subjects | £190 | £264 | £545 | 19 |
| GCSE Combined Science (double award) | £345 | £485 | £580 | 11 |
| GCSE language with speaking test | £280 | £370 | £495 | 8 |
| A level, most subjects | £340 | £445 | £565 | 16 |
| A level science | £340 | £455 | £685 | 13 |
What the exam board charges the centre
For comparison, these are AQA's entry fees for UK centres for summer 2027 AQA. Pearson Edexcel, OCR, WJEC Eduqas and Cambridge publish their own lists.
| GCSE | Board fee |
|---|---|
| Mathematics | £52.85 |
| English Language | £52.85 |
| English Literature | £52.85 |
| Biology (also Chemistry) | £48.15 |
| Combined Science: Trilogy (double award) | £96.25 |
| Geography | £56.50 |
| History | £52.65 |
| French (also German) | £52.65 |
| A level | Board fee |
|---|---|
| Mathematics | £150.30 |
| Biology | £121.90 |
| Psychology | £114.60 |
| English Literature A | £113.40 |
In November 2026, AQA charged £51.20 for GCSE English Language or Maths resits AQA.
Late entries cost more
If your centre enters you after the board's deadline, the board charges a late fee, and centres pass it on. At AQA, a late entry adds 100% of the entry fee from 22 February 2027, and a very late entry adds 150% after 21 April 2027 AQA. Many centres also add their own late charge, or simply stop taking private candidates well before the board's deadline. Book early: see the key dates.
Extras to ask about
- Speaking tests for French, Spanish, German and other languages often cost more, because the centre has to arrange a suitably qualified person to conduct them Pearson.
- Science practicals for A level Biology, Chemistry and Physics (the practical endorsement) need lab time, so centres that run them charge more, and many don't run them at all AQA.
- GCSE English Language spoken language endorsement: a short presentation the centre must assess. Some centres charge for it separately.
- Access arrangements such as extra time or a reader may need an assessment, which some centres charge for.
- Registration or admin fees charged once per candidate, on top of subject fees.
- Replacement certificates come from the board, not the centre. AQA charges £51.90 AQA.
Get a written quote. Ask the centre for the total for each subject, including the board fee, any speaking or practical fees and what happens to the cost if you enter late.
Facts on this page were checked against official sources on . See every source · What has changed