Cambridge International
IGCSE, O Level and AS and A Level subjects, taught against the Cambridge syllabus. See the IGCSE, O Level and A Level pages.
Exam boards · Private candidates
British Council exams, with the timeline planned for you
The British Council is not an exam board. In many countries it runs the exam venue, handling registration and exam days for UK qualifications and for IELTS. We prepare students for the papers themselves and help families plan the calendar around it.
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Private candidatesPlanning and preparation
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DeadlinesTracked with you
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IELTSVia British Council too
What the British Council does
The venue is not the syllabus
When a student sits a Cambridge or Edexcel exam as a private candidate through the British Council, the papers are still set and marked by the exam board. The British Council's role is registration, fees, timetabling and the exam hall. That distinction matters, because preparation has to follow the board's specification, while the calendar has to follow the British Council's registration windows.
Which boards and subjects the British Council offers varies by country and changes from year to year. We always check the current British Council exams page for your country with you, rather than relying on last year's list.
- Board, syllabus code and exam series confirmed before teaching starts
- Registration windows and late fee dates written into the plan
- Teaching against the board's own past papers and mark schemes
- Exam-day logistics rehearsed, which matters most for first-time private candidates
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Codes confirmed
Deadlines tracked
Exam-day plan
At a glance
How preparation for a British Council sitting works with us.
Who it suitsPrivate candidates, home schooled students and resit candidates
QualificationsCommonly Cambridge International and Pearson Edexcel, depending on the country
English testsIELTS, which the British Council co-owns and administers
Our roleTeaching, planning and deadline tracking; registration is done by the family with the British Council
Session length55 minutes, or 85 minutes as a double
Planning inputThe British Council's current exams list and fees for your country
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Windows
Late fees
Resits
What we prepare for
Qualifications commonly sat through the British Council
Each links to the course page that covers the teaching in detail.
Pearson Edexcel
International GCSE and International A Level units, where your country's British Council offers them. See the Edexcel page.
IELTS
Academic and General Training, with speaking mocks and writing marked against the band descriptors. See the IELTS page.
Always confirm the current list of boards, subjects, fees and dates on the British Council website for your country. Offerings differ between countries and change from year to year.
How it runs
A private candidate timeline
Worked backwards from the exam date.
01
Choose the board, subjects and series
Decide early, because some subjects with practical or coursework components are harder or impossible to enter privately.
02
Check the British Council's current list
Confirm that the subjects are offered in your country for that series, and note the registration and late fee dates.
03
Diagnose and plan
A free 45-minute trial class with a marked diagnostic, then a written plan that ends on the exam date rather than the textbook's last chapter.
04
Register on time
Registration is done by the family directly with the British Council. We put the dates in your plan and remind you before they close.
05
Rehearse the exam day
Timed papers in the final weeks, plus the practical business of sitting an exam in an unfamiliar hall, with the right documents and equipment.
Registration closes earlier than most families expect
Start the conversation at least six months before the series. A missed window cannot be fixed by teaching.
Worth knowing
Points families often miss
The practical details that decide whether a sitting goes smoothly.
| Point | Why it matters | What we do |
|---|---|---|
| Board versus venue | The board sets and marks the papers; the British Council runs registration and the hall | Teach to the board's syllabus and plan to the venue's calendar |
| Registration windows | Late entries cost extra, and after the final date entry is not possible | Deadlines go into the written plan with reminders |
| Practical and coursework subjects | Some components are hard or impossible to complete as a private candidate | Check alternative papers early, before a subject is chosen |
| Country differences | Subjects, fees and dates vary from country to country | We work from the British Council page for your country, not a general list |
| Results and certificates | Results come from the board, with certificates distributed through the venue | We review results against grade boundaries and advise on resits honestly |
Scheduling and fees
Booking preparation
Sessions follow the board you are sitting, planned to the British Council's calendar.
Free trial
A 45-minute live class with the tutor you would actually be assigned. They set a short diagnostic task, mark it live, and tell you where the gaps are. No card details.
Weekly slot
One fixed 55 minute session a week per subject, billed monthly in advance.
Exam sprint
A block of eight sessions in the six weeks before the series, built on past papers and examiner reports.
Planning session
A single 85 minute session to choose subjects, map the deadlines and build the year's timetable, with a written plan afterwards.
Cancel or reschedule at least 24 hours before your slot and the class is credited back to your tuition balance. Later cancellations are charged in full. Trial classes are always free. The full terms are in the refund policy. Fees for each plan are on the pricing page.
Questions parents ask first
British Council exams, answered plainly
Is the British Council an exam board?
No. The exam boards, such as Cambridge International and Pearson Edexcel, set and mark the papers. The British Council runs registration and exam venues in many countries, and administers IELTS.
Can you register my child for the exam?
No. Registration is done by the family with the British Council. We help you choose subjects, track the dates and prepare for the papers.
Which subjects can a private candidate take?
It depends on the board, the subject and your country. Subjects with practical or coursework components are the ones to check first, and we go through the options with you before a plan is written.
How early should we start?
At least six months before the exam series for registration planning, and a full year ahead for teaching if the student is starting a subject from scratch.
Do you prepare for IELTS taken with the British Council?
Yes. The IELTS test is the same wherever it is booked, and our IELTS course covers all four skills.
More answers sit on the full FAQ page.
Private candidate places open
Plan your British Council sitting
Tell us the board, the subjects and the series you are aiming at. We will map the deadlines and set a diagnostic in the free trial.
Contact us