Exams don’t have to be daunting and it’s never too late to take them.
Whether you’re taking an accredited course with us or want to sit an exam as a private candidate, here is everything you need to know.
If you complete an accredited course with us, such as English or maths, Counselling or Bookkeeping, your tutor will discuss arrangements for your exam with you during the course. The type of exam you sit will depend on your course but your tutor will work with you in the weeks preceding the exam to ensure you are ready.
In many cases you will be able to sit your exam during your normal class time and venue, but we may occasionally ask you to attend at another time or venue. We’ll work with you to find an appropriate time wherever this is possible.
If there is a cost to your exam this is normally included in the price of the course at enrolment (but any subsequent resits may incur a cost).
If you require an additional support to complete an exam, or if you qualify for extra time, please ensure that your tutor knows as soon as possible so that arrangements can be made.
York Learning are able to offer self-funded exam places on GCSE maths and English Language, or Functional Skills Maths, to learners who are not eligible for funded course places, either because they already have a GCSE C/4 or above in the subject and want to improve their grade, or they are not eligible for a funded place. If you would like to enquire about registering as a self funded learner under different circumstances, please email york.learning@york.gov.uk. We are currently unable to offer self-funded (private) qualifications for any other qualifications*.
Self-funded learners are bound by the same rules and have the same access to exams and exam arrangements once the exam has been paid for as other learners taking exams as part of an accredited course. York Learning supports and follows the guidance and stipulations laid out in the Ofqual guide for schools and colleges in this regard. We will discuss any requirements, including reasonable adjustments you may need, with you when we agree to enter you for a qualification.
This provision is for learners who are aged 19 or over on the 31st August before the exam period (the current academic year).
There are four options available to learners:
- Register to sit exams only
Study in your own time and sit your exams with York Learning. The fee for this option includes all exam registration fees, exam board fees and certification fees. Learners sitting GCSE English exams will also need to meet a tutor on two occasions to do their speaking and listening exam. These days will be communicated to you in advance; it is not possible to request a time or day.
We are unable to register any learners after the exam board’s entry deadline – please contact us to find out when this is. - Register to access fully taught provision
Join a weekly GCSE class and then sit your exams with York Learning. The fee for this option includes weekly classes and support from the tutor, as well as all exam registration fees, exam board fees and certification fees. Learners must join at the start of the course in September, and attend the class weekly. - GCSE Maths Only – Register for a ‘self study’ course
Access online resources, drop in sessions with a tutor and learning materials alongside your exam registration fees, exam board fees and certification fees. There is an expectation that you will be able to commit a minimum of 150 hours over the duration of the course to your self study (5 hours a week for 30 weeks). We are unable to register any learners after the exam board’s entry deadline – please contact us to find out when this is. - Functional Skills Maths
Study for a Functional Skills Maths qualification in your own time and sit your exam with York Learning. There is no teaching component included, but the cost includes all exam registration fees, exam board fees and certification fees. We offer Functional Skills courses on a rolling basis during the year, with last entries in May.
York Learning reserve the right to assess all applicants for any of the routes above for suitability before confirming your exam entry. Places on the taught course and self-study route are subject to a pre-course assessment. In the event that York Learning feel the course is not suitable for you based on your pre-course assessment, you would not be charged but would not start the course. In line with our terms and conditions about course bookings, once the course has started/once 14 days have elapsed from booking as per distance selling regulations no refund is possible. Further information including how to appeal against this is in our booking terms and conditions/on our website.
2025-2026 fees
- Tier 1: Exams only: £345 for maths, £550 for English Language to include all fees, admin costs and exam fee to cover cost of invigilation of exams.
- Tier 2: Full taught provision: £1,595 for maths, £1,690 for English to include all of tier 1 plus attendance in class and full tutor provision
- Tier 3: Exams plus GCSE self-study online for maths only: £595 to include all of tier 1 plus access to online self-study material and monthly meeting with tutor.
- Functional Skills Exams: £205 to include all fees, admin costs and exam fee to cover the cost of exam invigilation.
You are committing to take an exam at a time specified by us in advance. You do not have the capacity to request a day or time for the exam; GCSE exam dates in particular are dictated by the exam board.
Self-funded learning is covered by our direct debit policy which would allow payments to be split into four equal monthly instalments, except if you are paying for the exam only (Tier 1 or Functional Skills) when payment is required in full at the time of registration.
Retakes
If you have taken a GCSE exam in the May/June GCSE period either as a self-funded entrant with York Learning or with another provider, and wish to resit in November, you can do this for the cost of the exam (Tier 1). Entrants to Functional Skills exams on a self-funded basis can resit for a fee of £75.
*If you are an educational institution or training provider and wish to discuss self-funded qualifications other than GCSE English Language or Maths, or Functional Skills Maths, please contact our exams team via york.learning@york.gov.uk.
GCSE exam results are released on a date set by the exam boards and are not available until this date. When you sit your exam, you will be given information about when and how you will get your results.
Results for Functional Skills exams are normally released about six weeks after the exam. Your tutor or outreach worker will contact you to inform you of the results and discuss any next steps with you.
Post Results Service and Appeals
Post Results Services include clerical checks, reviews of marking, remarks and accessing copies of exam scripts.
If you would like to speak to a member of our team about any of these options after your exam results, please contact exams.yorklearning@york.gov.uk.
Certificates
Certificates are normally released a few months after the results of an exam. You will be notified once we have received your certificate from the examination board.
Whenever possible certificates should be collected from City of York Council, York Learning, West Offices, Station Rise, York YO1 6GA. If we do need to post them they are sent via Recorded (signed for) delivery.
York Learning cannot be held responsible for items lost in the post.
The cost of a re-placement certificate is currently £39 plus an administration fee of £10 .
The following documents from JCQ (The Joint Council for Qualifications) have been written to help you. Please read them carefully and follow the instructions. If there is anything that you do not understand please contact the exams officer.