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Exams and revision

Tell us where you are and what this is for, and we will show the boards that actually fit first. Everything else stays on the page.

Our papers are full-length practice papers written by us, matched to each board's timing, mark total, calculator rules and tiers. They are not past papers.

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Fits your situation

Pearson Edexcel International GCSE

Open to private candidatesNot Ofqual-regulated
  • Mathematics A. A calculator is allowed on both papers, unlike UK GCSE maths where Paper 1 is non-calculator.
  • Biology. No practical component and no tiers: experimental skills are assessed in the written papers. Often the simplest route for private candidates.
  • Chemistry. No practical component and no tiers: experimental skills are assessed in the written papers. Often the simplest route for private candidates.
  • Physics. No practical component and no tiers: experimental skills are assessed in the written papers. Often the simplest route for private candidates.
  • English Language A. Private candidates enter option A (two written papers, no coursework). The spoken endorsement is optional and reported separately.

Routinely sat by private candidates. Not every exam centre accepts them, and availability varies by area and subject, so it's worth contacting centres early.

Sessions
May/June and NovemberThe January series ended after January 2023 and was replaced by November from 2023. Specification PDFs issued before that still say January.
Spec codes
Mathematics A 4MA1 · Biology 4BI1 · Chemistry 4CH1 · Physics 4PH1 · English Language A 4EA1
From us
Practice papers in the style of Pearson Edexcel International GCSEEnglish Language A: no practice papers yet

Checked against the board on 2026-09-25 · source · next review 2026-12-25

AQA GCSE

Open to private candidates

You enter through an AQA-approved school or college that agrees to take you, and you pay their fees. AQA is explicit that "not every school/college can take private candidates" and "not all specifications or qualifications are available to private candidates". A centre must also be willing to run any non-exam assessment before it can accept you for that subject.

Sessions
May/June and NovemberNovember is a resit series for GCSE English Language and Mathematics only, and only for candidates who were at least 16 on the previous 31 August.
From us
Practice papers in the style of AQA GCSE

Checked against the board on 2026-10-05 · source · next review 2027-03-25

Pearson Edexcel GCSE

Open to private candidates

Sat by private candidates at registered exam centres. Acceptance is at each centre's discretion, and a subject with non-exam assessment needs a centre willing to run it. Check the specification before choosing.

Sessions
May/June and NovemberPearson publishes a November and a Summer series for GCSE. November is the resit route for English Language and Mathematics.
From us
Practice papers in the style of Pearson Edexcel GCSE

Checked against the board on 2026-10-05 · source · next review 2027-03-25

OCR GCSE

Open to private candidates

OCR exams are designed for candidates taught at a registered centre, so a private candidate must enter through one. Where a subject has non-exam assessment, the centre has to supervise and authenticate it on a CCS160 form, and that applies to private candidates too.

Sessions
May/June and NovemberOCR is explicit that for GCSEs the November series is only available to candidates who reached 16 on or before 31 August of that year, and under Ofqual's rules covers GCSE English Language and GCSE Mathematics.
From us
Practice papers in the style of OCR GCSE

Checked against the board on 2026-10-05 · source · next review 2027-03-25

WJEC Eduqas GCSE

Open to private candidates

Acceptance is entirely at each centre's discretion, and you arrange everything with the centre rather than with WJEC. Their rule on coursework is blunt: specifications involving non-exam assessment are not available to private candidates unless a centre is willing to supervise, authenticate and mark it.

Sessions
Not checkedNot yet checked against the board.
From us
Practice papers in the style of WJEC Eduqas GCSE

Checked against the board on 2026-10-05 · source · next review 2027-03-25

Functional Skills

Open to private candidates

Widely available through approved centres, including to private candidates.

Sessions
Not checkedNot yet checked against the board.
From us
Practice papers in the style of Functional Skills

We have not checked this against the board yet. Confirm with the board or a centre before you rely on it.

Cambridge IGCSE

Private candidates, with a conditionNot Ofqual-regulated
  • Mathematics. Papers 1 and 2 are non-calculator; Papers 3 and 4 need a scientific calculator.
  • Biology. Includes a practical component worth 20%. Private candidates sit Paper 6 (a written alternative to the lab practical), so check the centre offers it.
  • Chemistry. Includes a practical component worth 20%. Private candidates sit Paper 6 (a written alternative to the lab practical), so check the centre offers it.
  • Physics. Includes a practical component worth 20%. Private candidates sit Paper 6 (a written alternative to the lab practical), so check the centre offers it.
  • First Language English. Private candidates take Paper 1 and Paper 2, both written, rather than the coursework route. The speaking test is optional and separately endorsed.

The syllabus says plainly that private candidates can enter. The condition is the practical: every science candidate takes one paper worth 20%, and you want a centre offering Paper 6, the written alternative, in which no experiments are required.

Sessions
June and NovemberA March series also runs, but in India only.
Spec codes
Mathematics 0580 · Biology 0610 · Chemistry 0620 · Physics 0625 · First Language English 0500
From us
Practice papers in the style of Cambridge IGCSEBiology: theory papers only · Chemistry: theory papers only · Physics: theory papers only

Checked against the board on 2026-09-25 · source · next review 2026-12-25

Other boards and revision material

Still covered, still on your subscription. Listed here because something about them does not fit the situation above.

CCEA GCSE

Open to private candidatesNot Ofqual-regulated
  • Mathematics. CCEA GCSEs are partly unitised, so some units sit in a January, November or March series rather than only in summer. Check which units your subject offers when.

Northern Ireland has an established private candidate route, used by home-educated and distance-learning students. You still enter through a centre, and controlled assessment needs one willing to administer it.

Sessions
Summer, January, November and MarchUnlike the England boards, CCEA runs units across several series: January for English Language and Mathematics units, November and March for science units, alongside the main summer series.
From us
Practice papers in the style of CCEA GCSE

Checked against the board on 2026-10-05 · source · next review 2027-03-25

SQA National 5

Private candidates, with a conditionNot Ofqual-regulated
  • Mathematics. Maths has no assignment and is the most accessible National 5 for private candidates.
  • Biology. The sciences include a 20-mark assignment set and supervised by your presenting centre.
  • Chemistry. The sciences include a 20-mark assignment set and supervised by your presenting centre.
  • Physics. The sciences include a 20-mark assignment set and supervised by your presenting centre.

A private candidate cannot enter directly. You need a presenting centre, which is a school, college or training provider that agrees to register you and administer your assessments. Approach one as early as you can.

Sessions
Not checkedNot yet checked against the board.
From us
Practice papers in the style of SQA National 5

We have not checked this against the board yet. Confirm with the board or a centre before you rely on it.

OxfordAQA International GCSE

Not confirmedNot Ofqual-regulated

Built for international schools. A private candidate must enter through a school already approved by OxfordAQA, with the board's prior agreement. We have not been able to confirm a UK centre that does this.

Sessions
May/June and NovemberThe January series OxfordAQA runs is International AS/A-level only, not International GCSE.
From us
Practice papers in the style of OxfordAQA International GCSE

We have not checked this against the board yet. Confirm with the board or a centre before you rely on it.