Your local Private Exam Centre
GCSE · IGCSE · A Level · Pearson VUE · ACCA
Serving home educators, private candidates and adult learners across Ilford, East London and Essex since 2007.
November 2026 series entry closes
Don't miss the deadline — late entries incur higher fees. View all deadlines →
Everything you need to sit your exams
Every qualification you need — from GCSE to professional certifications — in one place.
GCSE & IGCSE
Register directly as a private candidate — no school, no teacher, no letter required. All major awarding bodies covered in one centre.
- No school or teacher required
- 100+ subjects available
- Resits, first-sits and home educators all welcome
A Level / AS Level
Sit your A Levels independently — we issue UCAS predicted grades and subject-specific references, exactly what your university application needs.
- No school required — register directly
- UCAS predicted grades & references issued
- NEA & coursework supervised on-site
Other services we offer
Mock Exams
Realistic timed mock exams to prepare candidates before the real thing.
Learn moreACCA Exams
On-demand ACCA computer-based exams in our dedicated on-screen exam suite.
Learn morePearson VUE
Professional certification and licensing exams delivered through Pearson VUE.
Learn moreAccess Arrangements
Extra time, readers, scribes and other access arrangements handled professionally.
Learn moreCoursework & NEA
Supervised coursework, NEA, English speaking and science practicals.
Learn moreUCAS Centre
Predicted grades, references and UCAS applications supported for private candidates.
Learn more
Mark these in your diary
Entry deadlines are strict — late entries cost more and some subjects close early. Always check before registering.
| Series | Deadline type | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer 2026 | Late entry deadline | 5 April 2026 | |
| November 2026 | Entry deadline | 15 September 2026 | |
| UCAS 2027 | University application | 15 November 2026 | |
| Summer 2027 | Early entry deadline | 15 January 2027 | |
| Summer 2027 | Late entry deadline | 20 March 2027 |
Dates are indicative — always confirm on the deadlines page before registering.
A calm, professional space —
built around you
Step inside a calm, professional exam environment — designed to give every candidate the best possible conditions for their exams.
- Easy access — 7 minutes from Ilford Exchange, close to Ilford and Seven Kings stations
- Small exam rooms — quiet, supervised spaces designed to reduce anxiety and support focus
- Experienced, helpful staff — our Exam Officers have over 19 years in exam administration
- Wide range of subjects — GCSE, IGCSE, A Level, professional certifications and on-screen exams, all under one roof
Built for private candidates
19 years, 1,500+ candidates, and a reputation built on getting it right — every time.
No school required
Register directly as a private candidate — no school, no teacher, no GP letter needed. Home educators, adult learners, career changers and resit candidates are all welcome.
Access arrangements handled
Extra time, readers, scribes and computer readers arranged in-house through our Exam Officer — no need to go elsewhere or chase paperwork yourself.
UCAS predicted grades & references
We issue official UCAS predicted grades and subject-specific references for private candidates — exactly what your university application requires.
Full post-results support
Enquiries about results, re-marks and re-sits coordinated directly with awarding bodies on your behalf — we stay with you beyond exam day.
Centre Details
ISE Digital. The English exam admissions teams actually want.
An on-demand, Trinity College London adaptive English exam — Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening in a single 105-minute sitting. Accepted by 98% of UK universities, including UCL, LSE and King's. Results in three to five working days. Faster, cheaper and more flexible than IELTS.
ISE Digital
Integrated Skills in English · Reading · Writing · Speaking · Listening
What our students say
Over 1,500 private candidates have sat their exams with us. Here's what some of them said.
"Sat my GCSE Arabic here as a private candidate since it wasn't offered at my school. The staff made everything so easy to arrange. Extremely professional from start to finish."
"Used Ark's mock exam service to get predicted grades for my UCAS application. The feedback was incredibly insightful. A truly helpful and supportive experience."
"Took A Level Computer Science with Ark and completed my NEA project under their supervision. Smooth, professional, fair pricing. The quality of service exceeded my expectations."
"You helped me pass my GCSE English and Maths resits. Without your support and motivation from day one, I would not have been able to do it. I am so grateful."
"Thank you for always being there over the past two years. Thank you again for pushing me to be the best I can be!"
"Without you I would probably still be panicking for all my science tests. You made my revision and life a little less stressful. I thought I was doomed before you started teaching me."
"I really appreciate your unwavering confidence and support. I never would have been able to take these first steps forward without you!"
"Ark Tuition has been instrumental in helping me achieve my professional goals. You have been lovely to work with — I wish you both nothing but the best."
"Thank you very much for all your help and support — we really appreciate it. God bless you all."
Before exam day
Quick answers to the questions we hear most. Full list on our FAQ page.
View all FAQs →You must bring photographic ID — the same ID used at registration, for example a current valid Passport. Candidates without photographic ID will not be permitted to sit the exam.
Morning exams start at 9.00am and afternoon exams start from 1.00pm. On-demand and vocational exams may differ — please consult the Exam Officer.
We recommend arriving 30 minutes before your start time: 8.30am for morning exams and 12.30pm for afternoon exams.
Where there are no restrictions, you may leave once you have completed your exam. For exams with key times, you will be asked to wait under supervised conditions until the correct key time.
Complete our online registration form with your subject, exam board and preferred series. We'll confirm availability and send you an entry number with all the details you need.