With the increasing costs of education, many students and parents wonder how much a GCSE exam costs. The costs vary depending on the subject, exam board, exam centre and whether you’re a private candidate or school enrolled. You can expect £45 to £150 and higher for each GCSE exam.
What exam boards are the most expensive? How to choose? Let’s have a comprehensive look.
How Much do GCSEs Cost? Factors Affecting GCSE Costs
Exam fees are increasing. According to a report by School Week, there’s an average 6.4% rise each year.
Several factors affect GCSE costs. Your study route is one of them. GCSEs cost less for school-enrolled students. As for private candidates or exam resits, the costs rise.
Subjects with practical components or coursework can be more expensive. Sciences, art, and physical education are some examples.
Also, if you’re a student at school, you should know that the pricing of GCSEs is higher for private schools.
Each exam board has its own set fees. Edexcel vs AQA vs OCR, as major UK exam boards, they slightly differ in GCSE prices. You may also see a slight difference in prices for the exam series.
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How Much Does it Cost to Sit a GCSE on Each Exam Board |
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| Exam Board | Average Entry Fees | Factors Affecting Cost |
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£48 |
Exam series, subject, additional services |
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£52 |
Exam series, subject, additional services | |
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£53 |
Exam series, subject, additional services | |
How much are GCSE exams? The prices in the table below are the average entry fees. Depending on the subject and series, the prices vary.
How Much Do IGCSEs Cost?
IGCSEs are International General Certificates of Secondary Education. Cambridge Assessment International Education and Edexcel offer IGCSEs.
Depending on your location and exam centre, the pricing of IGCSEs can vary. You can expect £170 to £400 per subject.
How Much Do Compulsory GCSEs Cost?
Many students wonder about how much is GCSE maths exam. To answer, we have gathered a breakdown of the costs for compulsory GCSE subjects from the AQA 2024/2025 exam fees:
| AQA Entry Fees | ||
| Subject | Entry Fees (2024) | Entry Fees (2025) |
| English Language | £48.00 | £49.70 |
| English Literature | £48.00 | £49.70 |
| Mathematics | £48.00 | £49.70 |
| Combined Science | £87.40 | £90.50 |
| Biology | £43.70 | £45.25 |
| Chemistry | £43.70 | £45.25 |
| Physics | £43.70 | £45.25 |
The table below contains Pearson Edexcel GCSE fees on compulsory GCSE subjects:
| Edexcel Entry Fees | |
| Subject | Entry Fees (2024-2025) |
| English Language | £54.30 |
| English Literature | £54.30 |
| Mathematics | £52.95 |
| Combined Science | £99.65 |
| Biology | £52.75 |
| Chemistry | £52.75 |
| Physics | £52.75 |
The table below is a list of compulsory GCSE costs at OCR:
| OCR Entry Fees | |
| Subject | Entry Fees (2024-2025) |
| English Language | £54.25 |
| English Literature | £53.00 |
| Mathematics | £53.25 |
| Combined Science | £105.75 |
| Biology | £52.75 |
| Chemistry | £53.00 |
| Physics | £53.00 |
Cost of Retaking a GCSE
Resiting a GCSE costs around the same as your initial exam. Depending on your exam board, you can expect to pay around £48 to £50 per subject.
You might also be charged for additional exam centre fees. Schools mainly cover retake fees, especially if you are still enrolled.
The good news is that there are options to help Retake GCSE Online.
How Much Is a GCSE Exam? Exam Centre Fees
For private candidates, one of the straightforward paths to GCSEs is through exam centres. Some of the most popular ones are Exam Centre London and Excel Exam Centres. They also provide GCSE courses.
Exam centres charge fees for private GCSE candidates. The costs vary depending on the exam board, subject, assessment methods and coursework.
How much does it cost to sit a GCSE? In most cases, the pricing is between £100 to £200.
You can find detailed prices on exam centres’ websites. Before booking, double-check the exam board, subject, exam location, and time.
Additional Costs for Private Candidates
Besides the assessment fees, you’ll need to pay your administrative fees. Exam centres set the prices of administrative fees to cover the application process and logistics.
Depending on your exam centre, you can expect £20 to £50 per subject. You might also find how many GCSEs can you take quite interesting.
Registration and Late Entry Fees
Exam boards usually charge late entry fees. To find the registration deadline, check out your exam board or exam centre websites.
If you missed the deadline, you can expect the extra £20 to £50 per subject as a late entry fee.
What Happens if You Miss the GCSE Exam?
In most cases, the fees are non-refundable. However, in unavoidable situations, such as injury, you might be eligible for “special consideration.”
You will need to provide evidence to apply. The best thing to do is to inform your exam centre as soon as possible.
Study Route and Age-Related Costs
Some government-funded programs allow you to gain GCSEs without tuition fees. If you’re under 25 and you don’t have a GCSE in Maths or in English. Check out the Gov.UK for more information.
If you don’t meet the criteria, online learning can be an excellent option. With tutor support, you will learn on your schedule and gain all the needed skills.
Secure Your GCSE
GCSE qualifications are costly. Let alone the course fees. At Ostado, we help you gain your qualifications in a shorter time.
Our expert GCSE tutors provide lesson plans and practices based on your learning style. All the instructions will be tailored to your exam board.
You will also have an education supporter by your side to track your progress and provide all you need to succeed.
You won’t be charged for your education support. For your convenience, we offer free trial sessions.
Cost-Saving Tips for Private GCSE Candidates
How much does a GCSE exam cost? Sometimes, a fortune! But don’t worry. There are always cost-saving steps; we recommend:
- Early registration to avoid late fees.
- Use free resources to study; GCSE revision apps are great examples.
- Consider online tutoring to safeguard your GCSE.
- Consider shared course materials.
- Do your best! Resits are costly as well.
- Research the exam centre.
GCSE cost FAQ
- How much is the GCSE Maths exam?Typically between £48 to £53. For private candidates booking through exam centres, the cost can range from £100 to £200.
- What is a private GCSE?GCSE candidates who do not attend school or are not school enrolled. Homeschoolers, adult learners, and students who resist outside school are some examples.
- Can I take GCSE as an adult?Yes. There is no age limit for taking GCSEs.