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Welcome to the Swansea College Exam Centre

The new labour government is committed to adding 20% VAT on independent school fees. Although we hope this will not happen, if they do this and backdate it to the start of this parliament, we will have no choice but to add VAT and backdate invoices. We will of course keep you updated.

We accept private or external candidates at our exam centre. Whether you are home educated, taking resits, a distant learner or a mature learner our Exams Officer will be able to enter you for exams.

Our examination-based services have enabled students from across the UK and overseas to achieve GCSEs, IGCSEs and A levels.

You can sit exams with the following exam boards; WJEC, AQA, Edexcel Pearson and Cambridge.

Our aim is to help students of all ages, backgrounds and circumstances to achieve recognised qualifications in the subject/s of their choice.

Exam Access Arrangements

Exam Access Arrangements will allow candidates/learners with special educational needs, disabilities, long term illness or temporary injuries to access the assessment without changing the demands of the assessment. For example, readers, scribes and Braille question papers. In this way Awarding Bodies will comply with the duty of the Equality Act 2010 to make ‘reasonable adjustments’.

The deadline for application to the exam board is 17 February of the year the student sits the exams.

In accordance with the Equality Act 2010, Swansea College will make reasonable adjustments to accommodate students with access needs.

Candidates may be able to apply for extra time when taking an exam (usually 25%) or may require the use of a scribe or a computer and other adjusts can be accommodated. This will be decided by JCQ and based on evidence supplied ahead of time.

Non-exam assessment (NEA)
Many subjects require some form of non-exam assessment (NEA), e.g. a project, coursework, an extended piece of research or a presentation. We are able to help you with this, by arranging an assessment with one of our tutors. The exact details will depend on the subject requirements.
 
If you would like to book an exam that has an NEA, we advise you apply as early as possible. See our Non Exam Assessment (NEAs), Coursework & Speaking test page for more information.
 
Speaking Assessments
Speaking Assessments will take place in April / May. The dates set are firm and cannot be changed once arranged, if you are arriving from another country, then you must make necessary arrangements to make sure you attend.
Dates will be confirmed beginning of March.
 
Science Practicals
As an external candidate, you are able to complete your practical endorsements with us. You need to be registered on a Science GCSE or an A Level distance learning course (DLC) to be eligible. See our Science Exam Practical Endorsements page for more information.
 
It is possible to opt out of the Science Practicals if you do not require them for university placements or for your career progression.
 
What if my exams clash?

Please note, if there are clashes i.e. two exams taking place at the same time, it is possible for you to take both, but you will have to be supervised between exam sessions. There will be an extra charge for this.

However, if the exam clash happens between two different centres, you need to inform both centres immediately. Provide them with your statement of entries and contact details. The exam centres will then collaborate and come up with a solution for you to sit the exam at either centre. Keep in mind that there will be an extra charge for this service, and a transfer fee set by the exam board will be applied for each paper.

Exam Guides

We have developed 3 guides;

It is important you read these guides before applying. You will be asked to agree to the Terms and Conditions mentioned in the Exam Guide when applying.
Check our FAQs page for further information

Application Process

When you are ready to apply, complete the online application form.
If you are resitting, we require your previous statement of results.
Once we are in receipt of your application and ID we will carefully check through your application, if we have any questions, the Exams Officer will email to confirm, an invoice for the exam fees will be emailed, once the invoice is paid, only then you will be entered for the exams listed on the application.
Once the Exam board’s entries open, we will enter you for the exam and send the following
  • Entry confirmation report
  • Timetable
  • Exams Newsletter
If the candidate is 18 and above, we would only discuss the application with the candidate, unless written approval has been provided.
By submitting this form you have agreed to:
1. The Terms and Conditions set in the Exams Guide.
2. The Data Consent for sharing your information to the relevant Exam boards and Exam staff at Swansea College and our Special Assessor and SENCo. The information would be details in your application and all relevant information you have and will send supporting your application.
3. If you wish to withdraw your application, you need to request this in writing in an email.
Emailing the College;
1. Make sure the candidate name is in the subject in every email
2. Parent/Guardians emails should always contain their full name in the email, no initials.
​3. Do not email us to let us know you have submitted an application or made payment unless you are asked to.
3. You need to allow 7 working days for all applications to be processed.
Please note:
We have a zero-tolerance policy.
We have a duty of care for all our employees, including employees who are working from home or in the office.
We believe that all correspondents and complainants have the right to be heard, understood and respected. We also believe that our staff have the same rights.
If we receive any violence, aggression or raised voice over the telephone, in person and or in emails, we have the right to remove your entries with no refund.
Please see our Privacy Policy for details of how we protect your information.

Autumn 2024 (October & November)

Awarding Organisation Qualification Type Entry Deadline Date Late Fees apply from
High Late Fees apply from
Subject Availability
Pearson/Edexcel International A Levels  20/8/24 21/8/24 13/9/24 Accounting, Biology, Business, Chemistry, Economics, Mathematics, Physics.
Pearson/Edexcel International GCSEs 05/9/24 06/9/24 21/09/24 Accounting, Arabic as a first language, Bangla, Biology, Business, Chemistry, Chinese, Commerce, Economics, English ( as 2nd language ), English Language A, English Language B, English Literature, French, Further Pure Mathematics, Geography, History, Human Biology, ICT, Mathematics A, Mathematics B, Physics, Science ( Double Award )
All GCSE English Language/Mathematics 05/9/24 06/9/24 21/09/24 English Language/Mathematics – Only available to anyone that is at least 16 years of age on the preceding 31st August.
Cambridge International Education International GCSEs/International A Levels 05/9/24 06/9/24 21/09/24 All subjects (Cambridge) have a cut off of the 21st September 2024 for all entries in this series

Summer 2025 (May & June)

Exam Series Qualification Type Entry Deadline Date Late Fees apply from High Late Fees apply from
June 2025 All GCSEs, IGCSEs, A-Levels, AS Levels 15-02-2025 16-02-2025 16-04-2025

Disclaimer

The information in the above table is for general informational purposes only. Swansea College internal entry deadline would be one week prior to the above dates. If the entry deadline falls in the half term, you must register and pay prior to this, otherwise late fees will apply.
 
Key dates for NEA/coursework and speaking assessments will be sent to registered candidates following an initial meeting. Speaking assessments will take place after the Easter break.
 

Fees

All of the exams in the morning session begin at 9.00am and all of the afternoon sessions begin at 1.30pm.
Arrive 30 minutes before the start of your exam.
On the day of the exam you must bring
  • Valid photo ID (the same photo ID provided when booking the exam)
  • Exam stationery in a clear pencil case
  • Water bottle and tissues (optional)
It is your responsibility to bring all the exam stationery required for your exam. Your pencil case must be clear with a white sticky label with the following information
  • Students full name
  • Candidate number (this is a 4 digit number)
  • The exam centre number (68803)

FAQs

Do you provide tuition?

Yes, we have several classes throughout the year, including: GCSE and A level English, Maths, Science, Spanish, Italian and many other subjects.  You can join our class or attend 1-2-1 tuitions to prepare you for your exams.  We also offer classes Online.  Please contact us for details. We recommend all external candidates have a qualified tutor or an online-learning provider. External candidates are welcome to come for tuition at our college.

We also have very successful After school tutoring classes at the college and Online for Maths and English for students in primary and secondary school. These take place in the afternoons and after school normally. If you would like to find out more please see the After school page of our website or contact us.

Past papers are available free of charge from the exam boards’ websites. Exam boards also have study guides and Specimen Assessment Materials (SAMs) for new courses.

You’ll sit the same GCSE exams at the same time as all the other students in the UK, and you’ll receive the same results, transcript and qualification. Your GCSE course will be accepted by colleges, universities and employers worldwide.

All written exams will take place at the college: 18 Mansel St, Swansea, SA15SG. Occasionally, exams may be sat at an external site. You will be told in advance if this is the case.

All morning exams start at 9.00 am and afternoon exams start at 1.30pm. Please note you must to arrive 30 minutes prior to your exam.

No, parents and guardians are not allowed to wait in the college during exams. This is to ensure the quietness of the college when exams are taking place. We there ask all parents to arrange to collect the candidates after the exam has finished. The reception door will remained locked during the exams.

Free parking is available outside the college for a maximum of one hour (all day with a blue badge).  There are fee-charging car parks available nearby.

We provide small lockers for candidates to leave their belongings while they sit the exam.

  • Valid photo ID (the same photo ID provided when booking the exam)
  • Black pen and pencil
  • Calculator and other maths equipment (ruler, protractor, compass etc.) if allowed

We provide every candidate with water for each exam.

Candidate may bring their own water bottle, but they must bring a clear, plastic bottle with the label removed.

Candidates with medical reasons may bring other drinks or exams such as Lucozade or Lucozade tablets. Candidates will need to provide the college with medical evidence prior to the exams.

You may, however, this is not encouraged as it can disturb other candidates. Candidates leaving the room must be supervised.

Please let us know as soon as you can. If you don’t attend an exam you will be marked as absent. However, if there is a good reason for your absence, such as sudden illness, we can apply for Special Consideration for you. Please be aware that special consideration is awarded on the awarding body’s discretion and fees may apply for this. See our section on this above.

If illness or injury prevents you from doing your best then we can apply for Special Consideration on your behalf. Please be aware that special consideration is awarded on the awarding body’s discretion and fees may apply for this. See our section on this above.

Please call us as soon as you can. You may be allowed to enter the exam as a late arrival. You will still get the full amount of time allowed for the exam. However, please be aware that if you arrive more than 1 hour late (after 10.00 am for morning exams or 2.30pm for afternoon exams) your mark may not stand. This is up to the exam boards.

  • Valid photo ID (the same photo ID provided when booking the exam)
  • Black pen and pencil
  • Calculator and other maths equipment (ruler, protractor, compass etc.) if allowed

No. The exam dates are set by the awarding bodies, and exams can only take place on those dates and at the times specified. We recommend checking dates of exams on the exam board websites.

Choosing my exams

There may be different reasons for this. Some subjects are not made available for private candidates by the exam boards. Other subjects may involve coursework or non-exam assessments. In this case we may be able to provide bespoke assessments (see fees section for more details). Please contact us or complete an application to find out if the subject you are interested in is available.

Swansea College cannot advise you on this issue. You are advised to check:

  • That the exam/qualification is available for private candidates
  • That you meet the age requirements or any other requirements
  • That the qualification is accepted by your chosen University or other prospective institution or employer. We strongly recommend contacting your institution or employer before committing to exams.

iGCSEs (International GCSEs) were originally developed by Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) for students overseas who wanted a UK style education. They have proved very popular with UK based private candidates as they usually do not involve coursework. They are accepted by UK universities and other institutions as equal to standard GCSEs. We offer iGCSEs through Pearson/Edexcel.

A level and GCSE Science qualifications may require you to demonstrate your abilities in practical laboratory techniques. Please contact for more details on sitting exams with practicals.

Please note: iGCSEs in science do not have a practical requirement.

Some A level and GCSE language qualifications may require you to demonstrate your speaking and listening abilities. Please note: many iGCSEs in languages also have this requirement.

The Maths and Numeracy GCSE was developed by WJEC to allow students who are not particularly strong at theoretical maths to focus on the practical aspects of maths and still achieve a GCSE.

The Maths and Numeracy GCSE is accepted as an entry qualification by some HE and FE colleges and Universities, but not all. You are strongly advised to check with your intended institution before you decide which route to take.

Applying

Please see the section above and click the link to our online application form.

UCI stands for Unique Candidate Indicator and is a 12 digit number with a letter at the end. If you have taken an exam before a UCI will have been created for you. You may find it on your previous exam paperwork or you can ask your previous exam centre for it. If you don’t have one, we can create one for you.

We can withdraw you from an exam any time before the entry deadline. We can also change the details of your entry (e.g. from Foundation to Higher) before the deadline. Changes made after the deadline count as new entries and have to be charged as such. Refunds are not given after the entry deadline.

After the exams

You can apply to have the exam checked or remarked. Or you may be able to re-sit the exam, depending on the subject.

You can see a copy of your completed exam paper (unmarked) after the results are released. There will be a fee for this service.

If you provide us with a stamped addressed envelope we can post the results and/or certificate to you. You can ask someone you know to collect them on your behalf, provided you let us know in advance and provide written statement authorising them to pick up your certificates.

Yes. Candidates are welcome to visit the college ahead of time (please email us in advance to arrange a time). Mock assessments can be taken at the centre for an additional charge. Alternatively, we can arrange for a separate exam room. Extra fees will apply.

WJEC exams are available in Welsh. Please use the codes for the Welsh language papers when you apply.

How do I find exam and paper codes?

In this video on how to find the exam and paper codes?  In the video you will be guided step by step to find the exam and paper codes which will be required in the application form

Where do I find my UCI number?

We require your UCI number, this is your Unique Candidate Identifier, and will be listed on any previous exam results you have gained. If you have already sat national exams but cannot find this number, you can contact your previous school or college and they can give it to you. If you have never sat any national exams, Swansea College can  generate a UCI number.

Have a question? Ask our virtual assistant on live chat below
or call us on 01792 535000 and speak to our experienced Student Adviser.

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