Missed the Exam Entry Deadline? Late Entry Fees Explained

A course runs over, a decision about which subjects to take drags on, or the deadline simply slips past during a busy few weeks. Then you discover that the price of your GCSE or A Level entry has gone up.

If you have missed an exam entry deadline, you may still be able to sit your exam this series, but you will pay a late entry fee. At Private Exams Centre that fee rises in two steps, and the second one is steep.

Why exam entries have deadlines at all

Exam boards need to know how many candidates are sitting each paper well in advance. They print and dispatch papers, plan marking, and prepare access arrangements. For the June 2027 series, the JCQ key dates for June 2027 set the exam boards' entry deadline as 21 February 2027.

Exam centres set their own deadline a little earlier than this. That gap gives the centre time to check each entry, correct mistakes and send everything to the boards on time. At Private Exams Centre, our standard deadline for June 2027 is 15 February 2027.

Entries submitted to the boards after their deadline attract the boards' own late fees, and late bookings also mean extra work for the centre to process them quickly. A centre's late fee bands reflect both.

The three fee bands

Every subject on our fee list has three prices. For the June 2027 series, they apply as follows:

Dates for other series, including November sittings, are listed on our exam entry deadline page. Always check the series you need, because November deadlines fall much earlier in the year than many people expect.

How much are GCSE and A Level late entry fees?

The jump between bands is not the same for every subject, so look up your own entry. These examples come from our published exam fees:

The pattern is clear: a high late entry can cost well over one and a half times the standard fee. For A Level Mathematics, waiting until the high late period adds £330 to a single subject.

The size of each jump varies, and a few entries, such as the A Level Chemistry practical only entry at £900, cost the same in every band. Check your specific subject rather than assuming.

Can you still sit your exam after the deadline?

It may still be possible, but it is not guaranteed. Whether a late entry goes through depends on two things:

• The exam board accepting it. The later in the series an entry arrives, the more difficult it becomes for the board to include it.

• The centre having space. Exam rooms and invigilators are planned in advance, especially for popular subjects.

The sooner you act, the better your chances. A late entry in February is very different from one made a few weeks before the first paper.

Late entries and access arrangements

If you need extra time, a reader, a scribe or another access arrangement, timing matters even more. The JCQ deadline for processing access arrangement applications for June 2027 is 21 March 2027. Applications need evidence, and the centre has to submit them through the exam boards' online system.

If your entry is made after that point, there may not be enough time to put your arrangements in place. If you rely on access arrangements, treat the standard entry deadline as your real deadline.

What to do if you have missed the deadline

1. Contact the centre straight away. Explain which subject, board and specification you need. Every day counts once you are in the late period.

2. Confirm the current fee band. Look up your subject on the fee list so the cost is not a surprise.

3. Check your specification code. Rushed entries are where mistakes creep in. Make sure the code matches the course you studied.

4. Decide whether this series is right for you. If you are not ready, a later series may be a better use of your money. GCSE English Language and Maths are offered in November for candidates aged 16 or over, and many IGCSEs also run in November.

5. Be certain before you pay. Our refund policy allows refunds before the first deadline minus £30 per paper, but no refunds after the first deadline. A late entry is therefore a firm commitment.

How to avoid late fees next time

Late fees are almost entirely avoidable with a little planning:

• Put the centre deadline, not the exam board deadline, in your calendar.

• Decide on your subjects and boards in the autumn for summer exams.

• If you are unsure about one subject, enter the ones you are certain of first.

• Register an account early so your details are ready when you need them.

• Check the deadline page whenever a new series opens.

If you are already in the late period, follow our booking procedure to register, or email info@privateexamscentre.co.uk with the subject, board and specification code you need.