Private Candidates pursue a course of study independently but take an examination and/or assessment at an approved WJEC examination centre (school or college). Private candidates are responsible for making appropriate arrangements with a school or college that is prepared to:
(a) make the necessary examination accommodation available and;
(b) conduct, supervise, mark and authenticate any non-examination units/components
Private candidates should find a school/college before they start their studies. We can only accept entries for candidates who have an arrangement in place.
JCQ has published a list of centres which will accept private candidates for GCSEs, AS and A Level. You can however work with any centre that accepts private candidate entries, they do not have to be on the list. If you experience difficulty locating a school/college in your area, we would advise that you contact your Local Education Authority for advice.
Further information relating to the procedures for private candidates can be found in this booklet.
Private candidates can access past exam papers and mark schemes on each qualification’s webpage. If the most recent paper and mark scheme has not been published, please contact your entering centre to ask if they can provide you with the most recent paper and mark scheme to assist with your revision. If your entering centre is unable to provide you with the paper, please email privatecandidates@wjec.co.uk.
Summer 2023 series
We have published advance information for all GCSE, AS and A level qualifications (apart from Art and Design) which will be assessed during the summer series. The Advance Information for each qualification can be found on the relevant subject page of the website.
Advance information is intended to communicate, ahead of the examinations, the focus of the content of the exams, or part of the exams, that will be assessed in Summer 2023. The purpose of advance information is to support students’ revision.
January 2023 series
We have published advance information for the following qualifications which will be assessed during the January 2023 series:
- GCSE English Literature
- GCSE Welsh Literature
- Level 2 Children’s Care, Play, Learning and Development: Practice and Theory >
- Level 3 Children’s Care, Play, Learning and Development: Practice and Theory >
- Level 2 Health and Social Care: Principles and Contexts >
- Level 3 Health and Social Care: Principles and Contexts >
Advance information is intended to communicate, ahead of the examinations, the focus of the content of the exams, or part of the exams, that will be assessed in January 2023. The purpose of advance information is to support students’ revision.