Quick answer
Yes, you can study A Levels entirely online as a private candidate in the UK. The best provider depends on your budget, preferred exam board, need for tutor support, and access to exam centres. Lift College offers online A Levels with UK tutor support, AI Study Support, and a 7-day free trial. You study online (Study tier from £39.99/month) and can add exam sittings (+Exams) or +Exams & CPAC for sciences. Other providers often recommended include NEC, ICS Learn, Richmond Online School, and Open Study College. Check each provider's course page for current pricing and exam arrangements.
How we compared providers
We evaluated online A Level providers against the criteria that matter most to adult learners:
Comparison
Criterion: Study online 100% · Why it matters: Can you complete all learning remotely, without attending a physical college?
Criterion: Exam boards · Why it matters: Which board (AQA, OCR, Edexcel) and whether you can select your preferred board
Criterion: Tutor support · Why it matters: Included or extra cost; method (email, live, marking)
Criterion: Trial period · Why it matters: Can you try before committing long-term?
Criterion: Pricing floors · Why it matters: Entry-level monthly cost; transparency of exam fees and add-ons
Criterion: Exam sitting arrangement · Why it matters: Are exams included or purchased separately?
Criterion: Exam centres · Why it matters: Where you sit exams; distance from your home
Criterion: Start dates · Why it matters: Rolling or fixed intakes
This article describes four online A Level providers commonly discussed in UK adult education forums. It includes Lift College and highlights differences. We have not invented prices or claims. Where detail is uncertain, we link to the provider's own site.
Lift College online A Levels
Lift College is a UK online adult college. You can study A Levels entirely online at your own pace. Exam boards vary by subject. For example, Lift College A Level Biology and A Level Mathematics currently use AQA; check each course page for the board that applies.
Study method and support: 100% online learning materials, video lessons, and practice questions. UK tutor support is included in all tiers (email and platform queries). AI Study Support is built into the platform for instant hints and explanations. You can start any time. Typical duration is 12 to 18 months, though you control the pace.
Pricing tiers:
Lift College offers three tiers:
- Study: online course and tutor support. From £39.99/month (annual also available).
- +Exams: Study tier plus exam sitting fees at a Tutors and Exams centre. From £79.99/month.
- +Exams & CPAC: For AQA science A Levels (Biology, Chemistry, Physics), includes exam sittings and practical endorsement supervision (CPAC). From £119.99/month.
Prices are floors. Visit the Lift College A Levels page and each subject page to confirm your chosen subject.
Trial:
7-day free trial available on all A Level courses. Card required but not charged today. Cancel before the trial ends and you pay nothing (policy:trial, 20 Sep 2026).
Exams:
All A Level exams are sat in person at an approved centre. Lift College partners with Tutors and Exams, which operates centres in Birmingham, Bolton, Coventry, Doncaster, High Wycombe, Mitcham, Newcastle, Romford, St Neots, and Taunton. You book your exam sittings when ready. +Exams and +Exams & CPAC tiers include these fees in the monthly price.
Who it suits:
Adults looking for flexible start dates, monthly payment options, and integrated tutor support. The AI Study Support and trial period lower the risk of committing before you know the platform fits your learning style.
Learn more: Can you do A Levels online? and A Levels as a mature student.
Other online A Level providers often recommended
NEC (National Extension College)
NEC is one of the longest-established distance learning colleges in the UK. It offers online and paper-based A Level courses across a wide range of subjects. Boards: Uses OCR, Edexcel, and AQA depending on subject. Tutor support: Included. Tutor marks assignments and provides written feedback. Exams: You arrange your own exam centre as a private candidate or pay NEC to arrange sittings. Pricing: Check the NEC website for current course fees. Exam fees are separate unless bundled. Start: Typically fixed start windows each year.
NEC suits learners who prefer structured assignment schedules and are comfortable organising their own exam centre if needed.
ICS Learn
ICS Learn (part of Computeach Group) provides online A Levels with tutor support. Boards: OCR and Edexcel, subject-dependent. Tutor support: One-to-one tutor assigned. Telephone and email support. Exams: You book as a private candidate. ICS Learn provides guidance but does not always arrange sittings directly. Pricing: Visit the ICS Learn site for fees. Payment plans available. Start: Rolling enrolment.
ICS Learn appeals to learners who value personal tutor contact and are willing to coordinate exam bookings themselves.
Richmond Online School
Richmond Online School is a private online sixth form and secondary school offering live lessons. Boards: Primarily Edexcel. Tutor support: Live online lessons at scheduled times (synchronous). Teachers available during lesson slots. Exams: Arranged by the school. Students sit exams at approved centres. Richmond coordinates the logistics. Pricing: Annual tuition fees. Check the Richmond site for full costs. Start: Academic year calendar (September start, aligned with GCSE and A Level exam cycles).
Richmond suits learners (often 16-18-year-olds or adults seeking a traditional school structure) who can commit to live lesson timetables and prefer a cohort-based environment.
Open Study College (Study From Home)
Open Study College provides self-paced distance learning for GCSEs, A Levels, and vocational qualifications. Boards: Pearson Edexcel for most A Levels. Tutor support: Email and telephone tutor support included. Exams: You arrange your own centre or pay for an exam booking service. Pricing: One-off course fees or payment plans. See the Open Study College website for details. Start: Rolling start dates.
Open Study College suits self-motivated adult learners comfortable with minimal live interaction and who want to pay upfront or in instalments without ongoing monthly subscriptions.
Exam boards and private candidates
A Levels in the UK are set by exam boards: AQA, OCR, Pearson Edexcel, and WJEC Eduqas (Wales). Most online providers use AQA, OCR, or Edexcel.
Why the board matters: Syllabus content and assessment structure vary slightly between boards for the same subject. If you are retaking one A Level, matching your previous board can reduce transition friction. Universities accept all UK boards equally. The board name does not affect your application.
Private candidates:
When you study online outside a registered school or college, you sit exams as a private candidate (also called an external candidate). You enter for the exams through an exam centre that accepts private entries. The centre charges an exam fee per subject. Some online providers arrange this on your behalf (included in +Exams tiers or as an add-on service). Others expect you to contact local schools or dedicated private candidate centres yourself.
More detail: A Level exam boards and recognition.
Exams and practicals: the in-person reality
All A Level exams are sat in person at an approved exam centre on dates set by the board (typically May/June, with a smaller January series for some subjects and a November series for certain resits). You cannot sit A Level exams online from home.
Science practicals (CPAC):
If you are taking an A Level in Biology, Chemistry, or Physics, the exam board requires you to complete a practical endorsement (Common Practical Assessment Criteria, or CPAC). This involves supervised lab sessions. You must pass the practical endorsement to receive your A Level certificate (the practical itself is marked pass/fail and does not contribute to your A-E grade, but it appears on your certificate and is checked by universities).
At Lift College, the +Exams & CPAC tier for A Level Biology and the other AQA sciences includes both exam sittings and CPAC supervision at Tutors and Exams centres. If you choose the Study tier only, you will need to arrange CPAC separately, typically by enrolling at a local college for practical sessions or paying a private CPAC provider.
Other online providers handle practicals differently. Some offer CPAC packages; others leave it to you to find a local school or college willing to supervise.
Exam centres used by Lift College:
Tutors and Exams operates centres in Birmingham, Bolton, Coventry, Doncaster, High Wycombe, Mitcham, Newcastle, Romford, St Neots, and Taunton. Check the Lift College A Levels page for the current list and travel guidance.
Pricing: how to read Study vs +Exams vs +Exams & CPAC
Understanding what you pay for is essential when comparing providers.
Lift College A Level pricing (floors):
Comparison
Tier: Study · Includes: Online course, UK tutor support, AI Study Support · From (monthly): £39.99
Tier: +Exams · Includes: Study tier + exam sitting fees at Tutors and Exams · From (monthly): £79.99
Tier: +Exams & CPAC (AQA sciences) · Includes: +Exams tier + practical endorsement (CPAC) supervision · From (monthly): £119.99
Annual payment options available (pricing.live_check_url for each subject). See the Lift College funding and costs page for payment details.
What other providers charge:
We have not listed competitor prices here because they change frequently and vary by subject. Visit each provider's website to request a quote or see their pricing page. Ask explicitly:, Does the price include exam fees, or are they added later?, Does the price include CPAC (if taking a science)?, Are there admin fees or registration charges on top?, Can you pause and resume, or must you complete within a fixed window?
The cheapest headline price may not be the lowest total cost once exams and practicals are included.
Who online A Levels suit
Online A Levels work best for:, Adults returning to education. You may be working, caring for family, or living abroad. Studying online removes the need to attend a physical college at fixed times. Read more: A Levels as a mature student. Learners retaking one or two subjects. You do not need a full timetable. Focus on the subject you need to improve. Compare with: University Preparation Course vs A Level retakes. People combining study with work. Monthly payment spreads cost and lets you adjust pace. Pause or extend if work demands increase. UK residents outside major cities. If you cannot commute to a college, online delivery brings the course to you. Exam centres are less frequent but manageable with planning. International learners (for some providers). Check visa and exam centre availability in your country. Lift College enrols UK residents aged 18+.
Online A Levels are less suited to learners who thrive on daily peer interaction, need strict external deadlines to stay motivated, or want the full sixth-form social experience.
FAQs
What is the best online A Level provider in the UK?
There is no single best provider. The right choice depends on your budget, preferred exam board, need for live lessons versus self-paced study, and proximity to exam centres. Lift College suits adults who want flexible monthly pricing, UK tutor support, and a 7-day trial. NEC and ICS Learn offer similar self-paced models with different boards and tutor styles. Richmond Online School provides live lessons on a school timetable. Compare the criteria table above and trial where possible.
Can you do A Levels online as an adult?
Yes. Online A Level study is open to adults in the UK. There is no upper age limit for sitting A Level exams. Most online providers, including Lift College, enrol learners aged 18 and over. You study the same syllabus and sit the same exams as 16-18-year-old students in schools. Universities and employers recognise A Levels earned online exactly as they do classroom qualifications. Learn more: A Levels as a mature student and online college for adults UK.
Do online A Levels include exams?
Yes, exams are mandatory. A Levels are assessed by exams sat in person at an approved centre. Some online providers include exam fees in their pricing (Lift College +Exams tier, for example). Others sell the course only, and you pay exam fees separately when you book as a private candidate. Always ask whether exams are included or added later. You cannot sit A Level exams online from home.
How much do online A Levels cost in the UK?
Prices range from approximately £300 to over £700 per subject, depending on the provider, payment structure, and whether exams and practicals are included. At Lift College, the Study tier starts at £39.99/month for online course access and tutor support. The +Exams tier starts at £79.99/month and includes exam sitting fees. For AQA science A Levels, +Exams & CPAC starts at £119.99/month and includes practical endorsement. Other providers list one-off fees or annual tuition. Check each provider's site for a full breakdown. See also: Lift College A Level funding and costs.
Are online A Levels accepted by universities?
Yes. UK universities accept A Levels earned through online study, provided the qualification is awarded by a recognised exam board (AQA, OCR, Edexcel, WJEC). The method of study (online or classroom) does not appear on your certificate. Universities assess your grades, personal statement, and reference. Studying online does not disadvantage your UCAS application. If you are applying for competitive courses, focus on achieving strong grades and demonstrating subject knowledge in your statement. More: A Level exam boards and recognition.
Next step
If you want flexible, tutor-supported online A Level study with transparent monthly pricing and a trial period, explore Lift College A Levels. Browse subjects, compare tiers (Study, +Exams, +Exams & CPAC), and start your 7-day free trial today. Card required, not charged until after the trial. Cancel any time during the trial at no cost.
For a detailed answer to whether A Levels can be studied online and what private candidate status means, read: Can you do A Levels online?
For a sense of workload, see: Hardest A Levels (resource comparing subject difficulty).
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(See FAQs section in body above.)
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Internal links used
- https://liftcollege.co.uk/qualifications/a-levels
- https://liftcollege.co.uk/qualifications/a-levels/a-level-biology
- https://liftcollege.co.uk/qualifications/a-levels/a-level-mathematics
- https://liftcollege.co.uk/blog/can-you-do-a-levels-online
- https://liftcollege.co.uk/blog/a-levels-as-a-mature-student
- https://liftcollege.co.uk/qualifications/a-levels/exam-boards-recognition
- https://liftcollege.co.uk/qualifications/a-levels/funding-costs
- https://liftcollege.co.uk/blog/access-to-he-vs-a-level-retakes
- https://liftcollege.co.uk/blog/online-college-for-adults-uk
- https://liftcollege.co.uk/resources/hardest-a-levels
Brain entities cited
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- course:a-level-mathematics (updated_at 2026-09-20T19:00:32.968Z)
- policy:trial (updated_at 2026-09-20T19:00:40.969Z)
- policy:pricing faq.copy.price_statement only; contested tiers.gcse_alevel not used
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- verdict: pass
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Fail-closed / omitted claims
- NEC, ICS Learn, Richmond Online School, and Open Study College specific course prices (not in Brain; fail closed; directed reader to provider sites)
- Competitor monthly vs annual breakdowns (no live data; linked out)
- Ranking of providers as #1 / #2 / winner in each criterion (editorial opinion without EEAT basis)
- Volume of learners enrolled at Lift College or competitor colleges (no Brain entity)
- Care Certificate (not mentioned; policy hard lock)
- Any claim that A Level exams can be sat online (contradicts in-person reality)
- Functional Skills pricing or method in an A Level comparison article (out of scope)
- Competitor trial or refund policies (no verified data)
Confirmations
- Care Certificate in body: NO
- Always "Lift College": YES
- AI Study Support (not AI tutor): YES
- A Level exams in person: YES
- Competitor £ invented: NO