Resources provided to support the management and administration of private candidates through the exam cycle

A private candidate (may also be referred to as an external candidate) is normally someone studying independently for a qualification who is not enrolled at an approved exam centre for that qualification. The candidate may be home educated, being privately tutored, following a distance learning course or for some other reason is not enrolled at an approved exam centre for that subject/qualification.

How do private candidates impact upon the exams manager/officer?

Awarding bodies do not accept entries directly from candidates – private candidates will therefore approach approved centres directly. Where it may be a centre’s policy to offer a service to private candidates – the exams manager/officer will therefore be accepting and making entries, hosting exams and issuing results for these candidates.

Guide, checklist and templates

These are annually reviewed/updated and published each July-September

PLANNING

• A GUIDE TO MANAGING PRIVATE CANDIDATES 

A guide providing an overview of the private candidate process and the areas to consider when accepting private candidates

• PRIVATE CANDIDATE: PRELIMINARY INFORMATION AND ENTRY FORM TEMPLATE

Provides a way of dealing with initial enquiries from a potential private candidate and collecting preliminary information and entry details

ENTRIES

• PRIVATE CANDIDATE: PROVISIONAL ENTRY CONFIRMATION TEMPLATE 

Provides a way of confirming provisional entry information to a prospective private candidate

PRE-EXAMS

• PRIVATE CANDIDATE: FINAL EXAM INFORMATION TEMPLATE

Provides a way of informing a private candidate of the arrangements in place for exam(s)

• PRIVATE CANDIDATE: CHECKLIST TEMPLATE

Provides an example checklist to track the administrative process for a private candidate

The Exams Office takes no responsibility for any outcomes in centres as a result of the information provided on our website, The Exams Office Hub or within our documentation. It is the responsibility of schools/colleges to apply this information as they deem necessary within their own centre. You should always contact/refer to the relevant awarding body for the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding their qualifications.