How it works
How to sit GCSEs and A levels as a private candidate
A private candidate is anyone entered for exams by a centre they don't study at: home-educated young people, adults, and students resitting or taking an extra subject. Around 126,000 children in England were home educated in autumn 2025 Department for Education, and every one who wants qualifications has to find a centre.
Step by step
- Choose the qualification and exam board. Pick the exact specification (for example AQA GCSE Maths or Pearson Edexcel International GCSE English) before you look for a centre, because a centre may offer some boards and not others. Check whether the specification has coursework, a speaking test or practical work: those parts need the centre's staff, and fewer centres can run them.
- Find a centre early. Centres don't have to take private candidates AQA, and many that do have limited places. Use the centre finder, the JCQ search and the HE Exams Wiki, and ask several centres at once.
- Check it can do every part of your subject. Speaking tests, practical endorsements and coursework need the centre's staff. See subjects that need more than an exam below.
- Get a written quote, then book and pay before the centre's own deadline. See costs and key dates.
- Ask about access arrangements when you book if you need extra time, a reader, a scribe or a separate room. The centre must apply by its deadline (21 March 2027 for summer 2027) JCQ.
- Check your statement of entry. The centre gives you a candidate number and a list of your papers, dates and times. Check every paper and tier is right.
- Results and certificates come through the centre. Ask how it releases results and how you collect your certificate, since certificates usually arrive some months after results day.
Subjects that need more than an exam
Some qualifications include assessments the centre has to run. A centre should only accept your entry if it is willing to run them AQA, so ask before you book.
- GCSE English Language spoken language endorsement. A short presentation, assessed by the centre. You can't opt out of it Pearson. If you're resitting, you can usually carry forward an earlier endorsement grade, even from a different board AQA.
- A level Biology, Chemistry and Physics practical endorsement. The centre must give you the chance to do it, which means lab sessions. You may decline it, but the centre must still offer it Pearson. If you're aiming for a science degree, check whether your course asks for it. A previous endorsement can be carried forward when resitting AQA.
- Modern languages. Speaking tests must be conducted by a suitably qualified person arranged by the centre Pearson. Not every centre can do this for every language.
- Coursework subjects (non-exam assessment), such as Art, Design and Technology, Drama, Music or Food, need the centre to supervise, authenticate and mark your work, so many centres won't take private candidates for them AQA.
This is general information. Each exam board publishes its own rules for private candidates, and the centre has the final say on what it accepts. Check with both before you commit.
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