Annual fee reviews are an important part of how any organisation evaluates and adjusts the pricing of its services. At arc exams, we follow the same process. Yes, we might be an outlier but to ensure openness and transparency, we will always communicate any price changes clearly and explain the reasons behind them.
When setting examination entry fees many factors are taken into consideration including;
- The fee charged by the Awarding Organisation to make the subject entry
- The number of examination papers sat for each specification
- The time allowance set aside for each paper
- Anticipated candidate/invigilator ratios for any given exam session
- Speaking test assessments, where required
- Handling and submission of non-examined assessment.
We charge a standard entry fee for each qualification and subject, regardless of which awarding organisation (AO) the candidate is entered with, despite AOs charging different subject fees.
Awarding Organisations recently announced their entry fee uplifts for academic year 2026/27.
For the 2026/27 academic year, we have reluctantly increased most of our entry fees by between 4.0% and 4.3%, rounded up to the nearest whole £1. This results in the most popular IGCSE/GCSE subjects increasing by £7 – £11, A Levels by £19 -£23.
To partially offset these increases, we’ve introduced dynamic pricing for our A level Science practicals (saving £290 if you book before 30th September), extending entry deadlines (thereby avoiding likelihood of you paying ‘late entry’ fees) and offering exam deferrals to a future exam series (potentially saving you £££’s in cancellation fees).
So why have we decided to increase our fees? Quite simply, the increase is unavoidable. Alongside rising Awarding Organisation fees, we also have a duty to ensure staff and invigilator salaries/payments remain fair and competitive. Additionally, like many businesses, we are facing higher operational costs — including rent, utilities, and other essential services
Our typical fee increases remain well below those of many other private examination centres. Over the last three years (26/27 v 23/24) arc exams entry fees have typically increased by 11%, compared to another provider who has typically increased their entry fees by 22% over the same period, despite already having some of the highest published private examination centre fees. It certainly pays to shop around!
While we regret any increase in exam fees, we hope you understand why a modest, measured, adjustment has been necessary. Please be assured that we remain committed to keeping our fees as low as possible. Our aim is to ensure fairness, maintain trust, and continue offering long-term value to all our candidates.
At arc exams, we believe in offering transparent and fair pricing, and we encourage you to compare options to ensure you receive the best possible value for you and/or your children’s needs.
Why not take a look at our Fees List to see the subjects we offer. Better still, give us a ( on 0121 777 9444 or : us at [email protected]
Great service starts with empathy, grows with trust, and thrives through consistency.