Exams - Private Candidates

Sitting exams as a private candidate

We are very pleased to welcome private candidates to take exams with us. We offer GCSE, AS and A-level exams with all exam boards apart from Cambridge (CIE, and IGCSE with Edexcel. Private candidates do not have to use the same exam board as our own students do – you have a free choice! We offer both the summer and the November exam sessions.

There are some restrictions to the subjects that can be taken but we can often offer a suggestion or an alternative if the exam you want is not available.

We have a large number of private candidates taking exams with us every year (over 300 in 2024-25) – these may be teenagers, either home-schooled or resitting, or adults requiring qualifications for a change of career or taking a subject just for fun.

We know that taking exams is stressful so we try to do all we can to minimise anxiety. Some candidates like to visit the school beforehand to see the exam rooms and where to sign in, and we are always happy to arrange this.

If you are interested in taking an exam as a private candidate or just want more information please contact the Exams Officer, Alison Barnes, by emailing abarnes@bosworthschool.co.uk

Fees

We charge the exam board entry fee (including late entry fees if applicable) plus an admin fee of between £80 and £400, depending on the number of subjects being taken.

For November exams we also have to charge a fee to cover invigilation, as our own students don’t take exams then. The cost of invigilation is split between everyone in the exam.

Exam board entry deadlines are as follows:

* We will accept entries after these dates, but late or very late fees may be payable.

**Candidates taking the November GCSE Maths or English exams must be at least 16 on 31st August. (Exam board rule.)

Refunds

We will provide a refund of entry fees paid for exams up to 20th April or 24th October but we will retain part of the admin fee – £80 or 50% of the fee paid, whichever is higher. However any late entry fees already incurred will not be refunded, as the exam boards do not refund those to us. From 21st April or 25th October onwards no refund will be made.

GCSE and A-level mock exam experience

Join Bosworth students for the ‘mock exam’ experience. This exclusive opportunity gives private exam candidates the chance to get a taste of what happens in an exam before it takes place in the summer. Candidates will join our students during ‘mocks week’ (early in January) and experience the full examination process.

Price: £40 for the first paper
£15 for every additional paper thereafter

Please note we cannot provide or mark exam papers. You will need organise that yourself. Contact us for further information and an application form.

Testimonial

“I wanted to take a moment to highlight how wonderful your staff member, Alison Barnes, has been. My daughter attends an online school, so we needed a site for her to sit her exams. From the very first point of contact, Alison has been prompt with her communication and has gone above and beyond to ensure all the exams were booked correctly. When we encountered an issue with an exam clash, she offered to reach out to the exam centre to arrange a transfer, which I truly appreciated.

I found the process of booking exams for my daughter quite worrying, as I felt a strong sense of responsibility to get it right. Alison gave me the confidence that everything was being handled. In comparison, the online school she attends has been very disappointing — their communication has been slow, unhelpful, and impersonal.

It’s rare to come across someone who has such genuine passion and commitment to doing their job well, and I wanted to make sure this is highlighted.

I would also like to add when my daughter has attended the site last week the staff have been welcoming and caring and again, despite not being a student , she has felt a genuine concern for her wellbeing.”