Lift College's exam boards
Lift College teaches AQA specifications for ten A Levels (Biology 7402, Business 7138, Chemistry 7405, English Language 7702, English Literature B 7717, History 7042, Mathematics 7357, Physics 7408, Psychology 7182 and Sociology 7192) and WJEC Eduqas for Film Studies (A670QS). They are the same qualifications sat in UK schools and colleges, with the same papers and the same certificate. You do not need to find a centre that accepts your board: on the +Exams plan (£89.99 a month) Lift College enters you and books your seat at one of ten Tutors & Exams centres in England, with the entry and centre fees included. On Study (£49.99 a month) you can enter yourself as a private candidate; exam entry is only on +Exams.
Recognition of online A Levels
Yes, online A Levels are respected by universities. Universities assess the grade and subject on the certificate issued by the awarding body, and the certificate does not record where you studied. An A Level earned online carries the same UCAS tariff points as one from a school (up to 56 at A*), and private candidates can apply through UCAS as independent applicants. Some courses ask for specific subjects, grades or the science practical endorsement, so check the entry requirements of the course you want; our guides to what A Levels you need for medicine and for psychology show how two popular degrees set their requirements. For how the exams themselves work, see A Level private exam centres and can you do A Levels online?.
Why does the exam board matter for online A level learners?
For school-based learners, the choice of exam board is made by the school. For online adult learners the board is set by the course they choose; with a provider that leaves exams to you, you then need an exam centre that accepts private candidates for that board, while on Lift College's +Exams plan the seat is booked for you at a Tutors & Exams centre. Not all exam centres accept private candidates from all boards, which makes the practical logistics of board choice more important than the academic differences.
The good news is that the awarding body does not change how universities treat the grade. A grade A in AQA A level Biology and a grade A in Pearson Edexcel A level Biology carry exactly the same weight in a UCAS application.
AQA, Assessment and Qualifications Alliance
AQA is the most widely used A level awarding body in England by number of entries. It offers A levels in around 60 subjects, with particularly well-known specifications in Psychology, Sociology, History, English Literature, and the sciences. AQA is known for clear mark schemes and structured exam formats.
For private candidates, AQA is widely available at independent exam centres across England. Lift College teaches AQA for ten of its eleven A Levels and, on +Exams, books your seat at a Tutors & Exams centre for you.
Pearson Edexcel
Pearson Edexcel is the primary choice for many online and distance learning A level providers. It offers A levels and International A Levels (IALs), a modular version of the qualification that can be sat in stages, which has historically suited private candidates and international learners. Note that IALs and standard A levels are separate qualifications; confirm with your target universities which version is accepted.
Edexcel A levels are available at a wide network of exam centres across the UK. Pearson's support documentation for private candidates is detailed and accessible on their website.
OCR, Oxford, Cambridge and RSA Examinations
OCR offers A levels across a broad range of traditional and more specialist subjects. It is known for its A levels in Computer Science, Classical subjects, and law. OCR A levels are quality-assured by Ofqual and carry the same UCAS points as any other board's. The availability of OCR private candidate exam centres varies by region, check the OCR website to confirm provision near you before choosing this board.
WJEC, Welsh Joint Education Committee
WJEC is the primary awarding body for Wales and also offers A levels in England under its Eduqas brand. WJEC A levels are quality-assured by Ofqual (in England) and Qualifications Wales and carry the same UCAS points as any other board's. WJEC Eduqas is less commonly available at private candidate exam centres outside Wales, so if you are booking your own centre in England check availability first; Lift College's A Level Film Studies is WJEC Eduqas and, on +Exams, the exam is booked for you at a Tutors & Exams centre.
How UCAS tariff points work for A levels
All Ofqual-regulated A levels from all four awarding bodies are included in the UCAS tariff. The tariff points are determined by the grade achieved, not the awarding body. The points scale runs from 16 (grade E) to 56 (grade A*). Three A levels at grade B would earn 3 × 40 = 120 UCAS tariff points.
- Grade A* = 56 UCAS points
- Grade A = 48 UCAS points
- Grade B = 40 UCAS points
- Grade C = 32 UCAS points
- Grade D = 24 UCAS points
- Grade E = 16 UCAS points
Private candidate exam centres, what to look for
As an online learner, you sit your A level exams as a private candidate at an approved exam centre. Not all exam centres accept private candidates, and those that do may only accept candidates registered with certain awarding bodies. Key questions to ask when contacting an exam centre: Do you accept private candidates? Which awarding bodies do you support? When is the registration deadline for the upcoming May/June exam session? What are your private candidate fees?
If you book your own centre you pay the awarding-body entry fee and the centre's own fee, which the centre publishes; centres also set internal deadlines ahead of the awarding bodies' closing dates for the May/June series. On Lift College's +Exams plan both fees are included and Lift College enters you before the deadline.