Entry procedure for Private Candidates

Fees

You will need to pay your centre any fees associated with your exams. Our UK fees are published on our centre administration fees page, however your centre may charge additional administration fees. 

Please note Pearson has no control over the administration fees charged by your centre; any queries about fees need to be directed to your centre.

Centre administration fees

What your centre is responsible for

The centre who accepts private candidates are responsible for the following:

• making the exam entry
• issuing you a statement of entry and exam timetable
• issuing pre-release material that you might need
• making any access arrangements or special consideration requests you require
• issuing results to you
• issuing certificates to you

More information can be found on the JCQ website 

For more information on how to register with a centre as a private candidate, search our UK exam centres.

Where can I take Pearson qualification exams

What you are responsible for

You are responsible for the following:

• informing your centre of the qualifications and subjects you wish to take
• checking your entry documents
• informing your centre of any access arrangements or special consideration requests you require
• making post results requests for reviews of marking or appeals.

Subjects available to private candidates

Subjects with 100% externally assessed components will be marked by Pearson and are available to private candidates. Please view our list of subjects that contain coursework, controlled assessment or endorsement components.

Not all centres will offer these subjects, or may not be able to accomodate a private candidate during the classroom time necessary for them to supervise and authenticate the completion of your non-examined assessments.  Therefore,it is important that you check to ensure that they can offer to support you in the completion of all assessment components before confirming the entry. 

Search for Pearson qualifications and specifications 

Learn more about exam past papers

Advice for private candidates sitting GCSEs and AS/A levels with non-exam assessments (NEA) and endorsements

Some GCSE and AS/A level qualifications do not only have timetabled written exams, but also include non-exam assessments (NEA). NEA can include coursework, controlled assessment or an endorsement. Candidates studying subjects such as A level English or A level History will need to complete an NEA as well as timetabled exams to achieve the qualification.

Subjects which include a practical or spoken language endorsement are reported separately on certificates and don't contribute to the GCSE or A level grade.

Where an endorsement is attached to the GCSE or AS/A level, your exam centre can only accept your entry if they are willing to provide you the opportunity to complete the endorsement. Pearson will require them to sign a declaration to confirm this.

Your exam centre is responsible for all aspects of the NEA which includes title/task setting, supervision, authentication, marking and following all administration requirements specified by Pearson. Please note that Pearson is not able to mark completed NEA even if you have completed it with a private tutor.