London Elite Exams Editorial Team
Articles by London Elite Exams Editorial Team
Which Exam Centres Accept Private Candidates? How to Find One and What to Check
Most schools won't enter an outside candidate. Here is who will, how to find them, and the checklist to run before you hand over an entry fee.
Written · 2026-10-30GCSEHow and When Can You Retake GCSEs? Every Route and Window
You can retake a GCSE at any age and as many times as you like. What changes is when the next window opens and who enters you. Here is every route, with the deadlines that go with it.
Written · 2026-10-27GCSEWhen Do GCSEs Start in 2027? Key Dates and How Long They Last
The summer 2027 GCSE series starts on Monday 10 May and finishes on Friday 18 June, with a contingency day on 23 June. Here is the full shape of the exam window and the deadlines around it.
Written · 2026-10-23IGCSEIGCSE vs GCSE: What's the Difference, and Which Should You Take?
Neither is the easy option. IGCSE and GCSE test the same standard in different ways — and the difference that matters for a private candidate is how each is assessed, not how hard it is.
Written · 2026-10-20JCQ RegulationsGetting Extra Time Approved: One Candidate's Story
The rules for extra time are written for schools. Here is what the process actually looks like from a private candidate's side, from first email to approval — including the parts nobody tells you.
Written · 2026-10-16GCSEDo You Have to Retake Science GCSE If You Fail?
Science is not one of the compulsory resits — only English and Maths are. Whether you should retake it depends entirely on where you are heading next. Here is how to decide.
Written · 2026-10-13GCSEHow GCSE Grade Boundaries Work and Why They Move
Grade boundaries are set after every exam is marked, which is why they move from year to year and differ between boards. Here is how they are decided and how to read them.
Written · 2026-10-09GCSECan You Do GCSEs at Home Without a School?
You can study GCSEs entirely at home and sit the real exams as a private candidate. Here is how entry works, which subjects are straightforward, and the deadlines that matter.
Written · 2026-10-06Exam GuidesDo ACCA Exams Expire? Time Limits Explained
Your Applied Knowledge and Applied Skills passes never expire — but Strategic Professional passes do, under ACCA's seven-year rule. Here is how the clock works and how to plan around it.
Written · 2026-10-02GCSEFailed Your GCSEs? Every Option Explained
Missing a grade 4 in English or Maths isn't the end of the road. Here is every genuine option after disappointing GCSE results, and how each one actually works.
Written · 2026-09-29A-LevelCan You Resit A-Levels? The Complete Guide to Retaking
Yes — A-Levels can be retaken at any age. Here is how resitting works: the summer-only timetable, why you must re-sit every paper, what it costs, and how universities treat resit grades.
Written · 2026-09-07