Is Becoming an A Level Private Candidate Worth it?

Contents

1. What is an A Level private candidate?
2. Private candidate A Level costs and AQA entry fees
3. A Level exam centres for private candidates

People choose to become an A Level private candidate for many reasons. If you’re wondering whether it’s right for you, we’re going to answer some important questions like “How much does it cost to take A-levels as a private candidate?” and “Where to find AQA private candidate exam centres?”. Stick with us and you’ll have your answers in no time. 

What is an A Level private candidate?

An A Level private candidate (sometimes referred to as an A Level external candidate) is someone who studies their A Levels independently. If you’re wondering “Can you take A-Levels as a private candidate?” you’ll be pleased to know that there really aren’t many restrictions. Here are some key points to note about becoming an A Level private candidate:

• If you’re of school age then this needs to be registered with the local authority if you decide to become an A Level private candidate
• Certain A Levels have requirements such as fieldwork, coursework, and/or practicals you’ll still need to complete (usually…there is one trick we’ll share)

How do I complete fieldwork as an A Level private candidate?

If fieldwork is required for your chosen A Level, you’ll have to find an exam centre that offers this option. There is a way to get around this and that’s to choose the international course option for the A Level which means you’ll do written exams instead of fieldwork. 

How do I complete coursework as an A Level private candidate?

If an A Level requires coursework then this is additional to the exam. You’ll need to complete an essay and have a tutor confirm that the work is yours. 

How do I complete practicals as an A Level private candidate?

If practicals are required for your chosen A Level, you’ll have to find an exam centre that offers this option. As with fieldwork, you can choose the international course option for the A Level where you’ll do written exams instead of practicals. 🖋️

Is becoming an A Level private candidate worth it?

Studying on your own can be stressful because an A Level private candidate doesn’t have the same support that regular students get. This shouldn’t put you off though and there’s always tutoring which many A Level external candidates turn to. 

There’s no need to go it alone and waste valuable time finding your way. At GoStudent, we have tutors who specialise in A Levels and we have someone who can guide you to success and save you time and headaches along the way. If taking A Levels will get you where you want to be, then it’s definitely worth doing. 

Now let’s find out how much does it cost to sit an A Level exam privately?

Private candidate A Level costs and AQA entry fees

The A Level exam fees UK vary depending on the exam board you’re going through, the school and college where you’ll sit the exam, and the subject. Since AQA is the most popular exam board for awarding high school qualifications in the UK we’ll share A Level exam costs if you go through them. Please note that some schools and colleges will charge an additional administration fee. 🤷

AQA exam fees 2022

The fees range from £89.65 to £215.50 for A Level AQA exam fees 2022. Something interesting to consider is if exams are cancelled (e.g. in the case of the pandemic) then students are usually given an alternative solution. 

There were expected to be 20,000 private candidates taking exams at A Level, AS Level, and GCSE exams in 2020. For students who couldn’t sit their exams at their original centre or another, they were able to take the exam in Autumn instead. 

How much does it cost to resit A Levels?

If you do your A Levels and don’t get the grades you want or need you can try and resit an exam. Again, the cost will depend on the exam board, school/college, and subject. 

A Level exam centres for private candidates

To find A Level exam centres for private candidates you should head to the relevant exam board’s website. 🌐

AQA exam centres near me

We’ll use the example of AQA again and there are hundreds of AQA private candidate centres. The list of schools and colleges that accept A Level private candidates does change so you never know when one you want to go through will pop up (if it’s not already listed). You’ll also find a schools exam centre number and address on the list so shout out to a specific one if you have any questions.  

We hope you now know what you need to do. If you’re thinking that becoming an A Level private candidate is the way forward, then great. Congratulations on making this momentous decision that will no doubt shape your future. If you need any support along the way, we’ll help match the ideal tutor to you who’ll help you get better grades and save you time and stress. Good luck with all of your studies and don’t forget to enjoy the journey.