Exam entries and fees

Once you have found a school/college to take you for exams as a private candidate, you need to 'enter' or register with them.

How to make your entry

You will need to give the following information to the exams officer:

  • personal information (including full contact details)
  • full name and date of birth which is verifiable by birth certificate, passport or driving licence (with photo)
  • evidence of your identity
  • details of the entry codes for the subjects that you wish to enter for
  • your Unique Candidate Identifier (UCI), and your Unique Learner Number (ULN) if you have previously been issued with them. A UCI/ULN may appear on your previous certificate(s).

Remember to:

  • let the exams officer know if you need any particular access arrangements
  • ensure that your entry is complete, otherwise you could experience delays in acceptance
  • contact the exams officer if you have any queries about your exams entry.

Fees

You must pay any fees due at the time you make the entry. Please be aware that some schools or colleges will charge additional administration/accommodation fees. These fees are decided by and payable to the school or college, not to us.

Find out about our entry fees.

If you do not pay the fees to your school or college, they may not allow you to sit your exams.

Closing dates and late entry fees

If you make the entry before the closing date you will pay the standard entry fee.

It may be possible to enter after the closing date, but you will be charged late entry fees or very late entry fees as well as the usual fees.

Closing dates for entry in each series and the dates that late entry fees and very late entry fees are payable are shown in our exam series guide.

Changing your entry

It is possible to change your entry although you may be charged additional fees. You can also withdraw your entry, but you may not be entitled to a refund. Please refer to the entry fees page for more information.

Responsibility of the school

Once your entry has been accepted, your school/college will be responsible for:

  • forwarding details of your entry
  • forwarding to you a statement of entry that will confirm:
    • your candidate number, UCI and ULN (if you have been allocated one previously)
    • your personal details held by us (please check this information carefully)
    • the dates, sessions and duration of timetabled exam papers
  • ensuring that you are aware of the published timetable for your exams
  • informing you of the venue and starting times of your exams if they are different to the published timetable (that is 9.00am for morning exams and 1.30pm for afternoon exams)
  • informing you of the venue, date and starting times of any practical, controlled assessment or speaking test sessions and exams that are not shown on the timetable or your statement of entry
  • providing you with any additional information to ensure that you arrive for your exam on time and at the appropriate place
  • forwarding to you, where appropriate, any preliminary (pre-release) material that you might need before your exam
  • issuing to you, as appropriate, a copy of the following JCQ notices (which can also be downloaded from the JCQ information for candidates documents):
    • Information for candidates – coursework
    • Information for candidates – non-examination assessments
    • Information for candidates – on-screen tests
    • Information for candidates – privacy notice
    • Information for candidates – social media
    • Information for candidates – written exams.
  • informing you of when and where to collect your exam results
  • informing you when your exam certificate (if appropriate) is available.