Last week we announced our third initiative, in as many weeks, to reduce our examination/assessment fees for any learner booking their exams directly with us. First we made swinging cuts to the fees we charge to access Post Results Services, secondly we applied a £75 discount to our A Level Science Practical fees and thirdly, reduced all of our GCSE Language fees with immediate effect.
In our last blog we mentioned how you could potentially save £100’s, if not £1000’s, by simply considering ‘where or how’ you make your examination entries, particularly those seeking to sit A Level Science subjects next Summer and beyond.
In today’s world, Distance Learning provides an invaluable and accessible pathway to education, providing tuition and coursework to guide you on your learning journey. There are numerous Distance Learning Providers (DLPs) out there, the vast majority delivering a first-class service to learners at a reasonable cost. But in addition to tuition, many DLPs offer ‘bundled’ packages that include written examination papers and/or A Level Science Practical’s, charged separately to your course fees.
However, what you may not be aware of is the high cost of booking your exams/practical’s directly with some DLPs, even though they don’t actually conduct the exams/practical themselves. These entry fees, additional to the fees you pay for tuition, can be far higher than booking directly with an established examination centre such as arc exams. The table below, using published A Level Science fees quoted on two DLP websites and compared to the fees we charge, illustrates this point perfectly.
| Per Subject | ||||
| Provider | Written Papers Fee | Science Practical Fee | Total Cost | £ Saving Booking with arc exams Directly |
| DLP 1 | £830 | £1,670 | £2,500 | £1,132 |
| DLP 2 | £530 | £1,150 | £1,680 | £312 |
| arc exams | £443 | £925* | £1,368 | |
*Book your A Level Science Practical with arc exams before 1st Dec 2024 and receive a £75 discount (£850 as opposed to our normal fee of £925) saving you even more money!
Instead of simply accepting and paying the bundled exam fees quoted by some DLPs, we strongly encourage you to spend just 5–10 minutes doing your own, online research. You may discover that, by booking assessments independently of your DLP, you can save hundreds, if not thousands, of pounds especially if you are entering for multiple A-Level Science subjects.
This small effort could make an enormous difference to your overall assessment expenses, allowing you to invest those savings elsewhere in your educational journey. Or alternatively why not use the money saved to treat yourself to a well-deserved break, after all that study. Go on, you’ve earned it!
If you’re located in or around the Midlands area, one way of ensuring you get great value is to book your written exams and/or practical’s directly with arc exams, using our online application form. To view the benefits of sitting your practical(s) with us just visit our dedicated CPAC website page.
If Birmingham is a bit too far for you to travel, consider visiting our partner website, BioGrad Education. They offer flexible options to accommodate your practical and written exam needs at one of their laboratories or partner exam centres.
At arc exams we believe that assessment affordability is key, recognising that exam fees need to reflect the value and services provided, but that they should remain within reach for all learners. That is why our approach encapsulates transparent, fair, and affordable pricing for all aspects of your assessment experience.
Be sure to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn to ensure you don’t miss out on any future announcements. And feel free to share the information published here with others, especially those outside of mainstream education, who would benefit from lower fees.
If you would like assistance in potentially shaving £100’s, if not £1000’s, off your examination bill, or to find out more about the assessment services we offer and how we can help you achieve the qualifications/grades you deserve, please feel free to email us or, alternatively, call us on 0121 777 9444 to have a chat about your requirements.