How Much Does it Cost to Sit an A Level Exam Privately?

Introduction

Education in the UK has several stages that students need to go through. While compulsory education finishes at Year 11 with GCSE exams, those seeking to enter higher education are required to sit for A-levels. What are A-levels? These are a set of subjects students can choose from to study over a period of 2 years that will give them the necessary qualifications to enter their desired university courses or find employment in companies. For this reason, A-levels are of utmost importance for those who want to pursue a professional career in the UK. The A stands for Advanced and demonstrates the students' Advanced understanding of a particular subject.

While formal programmes manage the preparation time for A-levels, different private and online options have emerged throughout the years. These offer students innovative alternatives that can grant more flexibility and shortened study time while getting the same final result: A-level certification. It is true, however, that there are cost variations among these options. Let’s see how they are determined below.

Factors Influencing the cost of private A-levels

Course Selection

One of the main variables that can impact course prices is the number of subjects chosen for A-levels. The same applies to courses at private institutions. At CloudLearn, for example, all A-level courses are priced at £399 each and discounts are applied for bulk registrations.

The choice of subjects depends on those required by the universities students aim at. The most commonly chosen subjects are Maths and Psychology, which makes sense considering Maths is a core subject in GCSE and must be taken by all students. Biology, Chemistry, Physics and English follow close behind. This clearly replicates among CloudLearn’s students, who also choose these subjects for A-levels.

Tutor Support and Mentorship

At traditional schools, students usually attend classes with a group, and on some occasions, it can be difficult to keep up with the pace of lessons. To make up for this, schools often offer additional tutoring sessions, but these may be time-restricted or limited, or even charged for in private schools. For this reason, more and more students in the UK are hiring sessions with private tutors. At CloudLearn, students study topics on their own, but they can always contact their assigned tutor for unlimited support to ask questions, all included in the total price.

Online vs. Offline Learning

One of the most beneficial aspects of studying at remote academies is the fact that they have different schedules to finish courses. At CloudLearn, the studying timetable totally depends on the student, as they can access course materials whenever they want to study on their own. In terms of costs, being able to adjust schedules at your convenience allows you to use your time wisely, even dedicating part of the day to a part-time job and earning extra money without neglecting your studies.

Online platforms offer completely virtual courses that do not require you to use anything but an electronic device. This reduces the cost of buying and printing resources. At the same time, online courses help reduce other side costs, like commuting expenses. This contributes to making all the process more cost-effective.

Additionally, the prices of online courses are typically lower than their in-person alternative, since physical institutions need to cover expenses for buildings, furniture, teachers and studying resources. It is true, on the other hand, that students under 19 can access A-level courses for free at traditional institutions. However, spaces are very limited.

How much does it cost to book an A-Level exam?

The cost for booking A-levels depends on the subjects chosen and the configuration of the exam papers, and whether or not they include any written/coursework components or physical laboratory practicals. Subjects that include these elements are more expensive as they require more staffing and administrative consideration, not to mention the hiring of laboratory venues and equipment. At CloudLearn the exam fee you are quoted at the point of enrolment is all you need to pay and covers the total cost for all examination papers, marking and certification. CloudLearn absorbs the annual exam fee increases so there are no hidden charges. The process of finding and processing private candidate examinations, particularly for those subjects that include coursework or practicals can be difficult. We encourage students to find their own exam provision, but we do offer the service to those candidates looking to remove all of that hassle and stress.

The total cost for booking written exams with CloudLearn is £520 or £660 for exams with coursework. The cost for Science exams that include a 4-day practical laboratory is £1749. Keep in mind that no extra fees will be charged, ensuring you won’t have any surprise expenses afterwards, as long as you enter for the exams in the recommended timeframes.

Financial Support and Discounts

Whether you choose online or offline learning, there are a few other tips you can follow to reduce the costs for A-level exams and preparation.

Scholarships and Bursaries

Students can be granted a percentage off their A-level course tuition when applying for certain academies. These scholarships are granted based on the students’ academic performance, certified by their GCSE grades or predicted results, their total household income, and other aspects regarding their extracurricular interests and the enthusiasm they show towards their studies. Certain schools may offer up to a 60% discount, while the government can offer students over 19 an Advanced Learner Loan to pay for courses, which does not take into account academic performance, credit checks or employment status. The best part is you can select the percentage of the total to request based on your financial status to later return to the government.

Early Bird and Bulk Course Discounts

We strongly advise students to book their exams at least 6 months prior to the day of the exam. This not only sets a clear deadline for your study plan, but also guarantees the lowest registration price. Booking closer to the final date can result in Late Fees or High Late Fees.

In addition, booking more than one course at CloudLearn will help you save by getting special discounts for volume enrolment. The more courses you enrol on, the lower the price! For 2 courses, you will be granted a 5% discount, for 3 courses 10%, and for 4 or more courses, a 15% discount off the total.

Payment Plans

One of the most useful alternatives that distance-learning platforms like CloudLearn offer is the possibility of paying in monthly instalments. This allows students to split the total into smaller, more affordable payments that can help them with their finances. The total can be spread over a period of between 6 to 48 months with an option of interest-free instalments.

Other Tips and Recommendations to Reduce Costs

Making use of free resources

While CloudPort includes all the necessary materials you need to prepare for exams, you may also want to consult other sources of information for further comprehension. To do so, we recommend using free resources to keep on reducing costs. Find virtual booklets on examination boards’ websites, attend your local library, and contact former students to ask for materials that they don’t use any more. Another great resource is watching YouTube videos from tutors or former students who share advice based on their experience preparing and sitting for A-levels.

Joining study groups for collaborative learning

When going to the library to collect materials, ask about study groups and find other students to gather and study together. You can also contact peers through virtual platforms (such as CloudPort) and arrange meetings in person. This will help you share information, discuss topics and test each other before the exam in more interactive ways, without spending extra money. Besides, it may even help reduce your total study time, as alternative points of view provide a quicker understanding of topics, and make the learning journey fun.

Take advantage of our tutoring services

CloudLearn is one of the few platforms that offers unlimited tutoring for students, so use that to your benefit! Contact your assigned tutor whenever you need help and to ask for study tips, without investing a single extra penny.

CloudLearn: Offering Affordable Online A-Level Courses

When comparing CloudLearn’s prices to other platforms’, the difference is clear: our fees are lower than all our top competitors, with up to 40% lower prices! Not to mention that you can always get up to a 15% discount by enrolling in several courses at once.

Additionally, we not only offer courses at a more affordable price, but also plenty of options and benefits for students: let us help you find the most suitable exam centre for you, pay your exam fees in just one payment that covers everything, and contact your tutors whenever you need with unlimited tutor support.

Conclusion

While many colleges offer courses to prepare students for A-levels, online courses are probably the best cost-effective option for those looking for innovative learning methods. Fast-track your progress, study from anywhere, unlimited tutor support, and pay in instalments. All with a 100% pass guarantee! Enrol in our A-level courses now!

FAQs

What is a private candidate A level?

Students usually take A-level preparation courses at schools or colleges, taking classes in groups led by a teacher, but they can also enrol in independent academies to learn and study individually, at their own pace. These students, who may be home-schoolers or adults re-entering education, are considered private students.

Can A-Levels be done privately?

Students can enrol to A-levels through schools or colleges or on their own. However, all students will be assessed by the same examination boards throughout the country, receiving the same final examinations and qualifications.

How much does it cost to sit an A-level exam privately?

The cost for A-levels depends on the subject and exam centre, at CloudLearn, these exam costs start at £520, covering for all charges and expenses involved in the booking process (exam fees, examination centre, administrative fees and others.)

Are online A-levels cheaper than traditional ones?

Considering several aspects involved in preparing for A-levels and exam fees (materials, commuting, tutoring sessions, and more), online courses tend to be more cost-effective than traditional ones.

How do discounts work for multiple A-level courses?

At CloudLearn, multi-course discounts depend on the number of courses you are booking. For 2 courses, you will be granted a 5% discount, for 3 courses, a 10% discount, and for 4 or more courses, a 15% discount.

Are there any hidden costs to be aware of with private A-levels?

Not at CloudLearn! Students pay for their courses and their exams. Exam fees include everything, including registration, examination centre charges, administrative fees, and certification. Students don’t have to worry about surprise expenses.