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Guides and advice from people who run the exam hall
Plain-English guides to GCSE retakes, private candidacy, home education and revision from A-Team Academy, the team that runs JCQ-approved exam centres in Birmingham, London and Manchester and does this every day.
Written by the exam team 1 Oct 2026November 2026 entries close 1 Feb 2027May/June 2027 entries close
Retaking your exams
Resits
Private candidates
Sitting exams outside school
- How to take a GCSE outside school
The full private candidate route, step by step. - Booking a GCSE as a private candidate
Boards, spec codes, deadlines and the ID you need. - Exam dates and deadlines 2026/27
Every series and entry deadline in one place.
The 2026 home education rules explained
The Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act, in plain English.
Read guide →
Home education
Educating at home
- How home-educated students sit GCSEs
Exam access without a school, start to finish. - Our home education pathways
Live teaching with a guaranteed exam seat.
Study resources 
Tools for revision
Predicted Papers
Exam-style predicted papers and mark schemes, built around the current series.
Visit Predicted Papers →Revision guides and walkthroughs
Subject-by-subject revision advice is being written for this hub now. In the meantime, our holiday revision courses cover the same ground in person.
See revision courses →More guides are on the way.
We publish new articles as families ask us questions. If you can't find what you need, call us on 0121 517 0110 or message us on WhatsApp and we'll answer directly.
Not sure which route fits?
Tell us your situation and we'll confirm the right path within one working day.
