Online A Levels: Can You Sit A Level Exams From Home?

Yes, you can sit an A Level exam from home if you choose a Pearson Edexcel International A Level, which is sat online while a live Pearson invigilator watches over you. Plenty of adults looking into online A Levels assume the exam itself still means a trip to a hall, but that is just one of several myths worth clearing up.

If you are weighing up studying A Levels online, it helps to separate what is true from what people tend to guess. Below, we go through the most common misunderstandings one by one, with plain answers taken from the providers’ own guidance.

At Functional Skills Maths Level 2, we know that many adults who finish a maths qualification start wondering what the next step could be. If A Levels are on your list, we recommend looking for a provider who explains clearly how exam entry, ID checks and results work before you book anything.

Myth 1: Every A Level Exam Has to Be Sat in an Exam Hall

This one is partly true. UK A Levels from boards such as AQA, Edexcel, OCR and WJEC, as well as Cambridge International A Levels, can be studied online but are always sat at an exam centre. In that case, Pass arranges the centre and registers you as a private candidate.

The Pearson Edexcel International A Level is different. Pass is one of the only providers in the world offering these exams from home, and it enters you with Pearson as a remote invigilation candidate. You can sit them anywhere in the world where Pearson offers remote invigilation in your country.

Myth 2: You Need a Special Reason to Sit at Home

You do not. Sitting from home is open to anyone, with no evidence or reason needed. Pass Learn says the option tends to suit:

• school leavers and adults returning to study
• home-educated learners
• people resitting a subject
• anxious test-takers who find exam halls hard
• learners without an exam centre nearby

For working adults, there is also no travel or time off work for each paper. If you are thinking about A Levels as an adult learner, Pass Learn notes that you sit the same specifications, papers and marking as everyone else.

Myth 3: Nobody Is Watching, So It Must Be Easier

Home exams are not a soft option. According to Pearson’s remote invigilation service page, a live invigilator can see and hear you during setup, the exam and submission. You cannot see or hear them, and they only talk to you by typing in a chat box.

Each invigilator looks after a limited number of students, and sessions are recorded and monitored for quality and safeguarding. Before each series, Pearson gives every student a unique username and password.

Myth 4: All You Need Is a Laptop

A laptop is only the start. Pass Learn’s guidance on remotely invigilated A Level exams lists everything you will need:

• valid, in-date photo ID (a passport, national identity card, driving licence or UK citizenship card)
• three devices: a laptop with a webcam kept on mains power, a phone with Pearson’s app and a charged backup recorder
• a printer and scanner with plenty of ink and paper for paper-based subjects
• a quiet, private room rather than a shared space
• a responsible adult, such as a parent or guardian but not your tutor or teacher

There are two ID checks. After you book, the exams team asks for a photo of your ID with the details Pearson needs, and then you hold your ID up to the camera at the start of each familiarisation session and each exam. The responsible adult is there when you log in and then stays available outside the room, supervising any toilet break and calling Pearson’s helpline if the connection drops.

Pearson’s familiarisation session, which includes a tech check, is compulsory. Without it, Pearson removes the entry with no refund.

Myth 5: Every Subject Works the Same Way Online

Subjects vary quite a lot. Some are typed onscreen, while others are handwritten in a PDF answer booklet that you print, then scan and upload page by page.

The online A Level History exam is one of the onscreen subjects, with four two-hour papers covering depth, breadth, thematic and international studies.

Psychology is paper-based, and its four units run from social and cognitive psychology through to clinical psychology. You can find the details on the online A Level Psychology exam page.

Law has just two papers of three hours each, one on the English legal system and one on the law in action. The online A Level Law exam uses five compulsory 20-mark questions per paper.

Geography covers units such as Global Challenges and Contested Planet. Its fourth unit lets you choose a research option, as set out on the online A Level Geography exam page.

Economics mixes multiple-choice, data response and essay questions across four units. The online A Level Economics exam runs from markets in action to the global economy.

Business has four two-hour papers with source-based sections and 20-mark essays. Marketing, strategy and global business all feature in the online A Level Business exam.

Myth 6: You Can Sit Whenever You Like

Exams follow Pearson’s series, so there is no booking for any time of year. The main points to know are:

• Pearson runs International A Level series in January, Summer (May/June) and October
• Psychology, History, Geography and Law are booked for the Summer series only
• Economics and Business offer both Summer and October
• exams start at 07:00 or 10:00 UK time, so check your time zone if you live abroad

You book the whole subject, which covers every paper. If you only want to resit some units, speak to an adviser first.

Myth 7: A Home Exam Counts for Less

The qualification is the same whichever room you sit it in. Pearson Edexcel International A Levels are described by Pearson as globally recognised qualifications, comparable to GCE AS and A levels.

UK universities accept International A Levels grade for grade, although it is still wise to check the entry requirements for your course. Results come from Pearson on the results day for your series, along with a Pearson certificate.

Myth 8: You Must Take a Course to Book the Exam

The course is optional. You can book the exam on its own or bundle it with study materials built around the specification. Pass A Level describes flexible online A Level study that you can start any time, with a personal learning plan and worked solutions designed for independent learners.

Conclusion

Once the myths are out of the way, the picture is fairly simple. A Pearson Edexcel International A Level can be sat from home with a live Pearson invigilator, but it still takes proper preparation, the right equipment and a responsible adult on hand. If you want to see the subjects, series and support available for studying A Levels online, Pass Learn’s guide is a good place to start.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a UK A Level from AQA or OCR be sat from home?

No. UK A Levels and Cambridge International A Levels are always sat at an exam centre. Only the Pearson Edexcel International A Level can be sat online from home through Pass.

Is the familiarisation session a practice exam?

No. It is not a mock and your answers are not marked. It is there so you can check your set-up and get used to the system before the real exam.

Can I sit the exam from another country?

Yes, where Pearson offers remote invigilation in that country, as the service is not available everywhere. Exam times are in UK time and the same ID rules apply.

Can a 16-year-old sit an International A Level at home?

Yes. Pass Learn says 16-year-olds can sit these exams with a responsible adult present.

Written by

Pass Functional Skills Team

We help thousands of students each year with revision, courses and online exams.