Private Candidate Exams
As well as those taking fully-taught National Qualification courses with us, many students contact us each year and ask if we can present them for the final exams. Such enquiries are typically from adults or young people who are learning the coursework independently or with another centre outside of The Education Academy Scotland.
Whilst there are some important quality assurance steps we need to take to ensure the candidate is ready for the final exam, the answer is often yes, The Education Academy Scotland can present external/private candidates for National 5 and Higher exams, including any externally assessed course work such as English folio pieces or Science assignments.
Exam and qualification options
Maths
National 5 Maths
- Exam only - £350
- Fully-taught qualification course without final exam - £600
- Fully-taught qualification course with final exam - £950
National 5 Applications of Maths
- Exam only - £350
- Fully-taught qualification course without final exam - £600
- Fully-taught qualification course with final exam - £950
Higher Maths
- Exam only - £350
- Fully-taught qualification course without final exam - £600
- Fully-taught qualification course with final exam - £950
English
National 5 and Higher English
- Final exam and submission of the externally assessed portfolio - £950
- Fully-taught qualification course without final exam or submission of the externally assessed portfolio - £600
- Fully-taught qualification course with final exam and submission of the externally assessed portfolio - £950
Sciences
Higher Human Biology
- fully taught course with final exam and assignment - £1500
- fully taught course without final exam or assignment - £1000
N5 Biology
- fully taught course with final exam and assignment - £1500
- fully taught course without final exam or assignment - £1000
N5/H Biology and H Human Biology - Private Candidate Entry
-
Final exam and completion of the externally assessed practical assignment - £1250
Higher Chemistry
- fully taught course with final exam and assignment - £1500
- fully taught course without final exam or assignment - £1000
N5 Chemistry
- fully taught course with final exam and assignment - £1500
- fully taught course without final exam or assignment - £1000
N5/H Chemistry - Private Candidate Entry
-
Final exam and completion of the externally assessed practical assignment - £1250
Higher Physics
- fully taught course with final exam and assignment - £1500
- fully taught course without final exam or assignment - £1000
N5 Physics
- fully taught course with final exam and assignment - £1500
- fully taught course without final exam or assignment - £1000
N5/H Physics
-
Final exam and completion of the externally assessed practical assignment - £1250
Key Assignment Dates - Sciences 2027
Online information sessions to prepare you for your practical assignment:
19/01/2027 18:00-19:15 N5 Biology
19/01/2027 19:30-20:45 Higher Biology / Higher Human Biology
25/01/2027 18:00-19:15 N5 Chemistry
25/01/2027 19:30-20:45 Higher Chemistry
04/02/2027 18:00-19:15 N5 Physics
04/02/2027 19:30-20:45 Higher Physics
In-person practical sessions to complete your lab work and gather your results:
06/02/2027 09:00-11:00 Higher Biology / Higher Human Biology
06/02/2027 09:00-11:00 N5 Biology
13/02/2027 09:00-11:00 Higher Chemistry
13/02/2027 11:30-13:30 N5 Chemistry
20/02/2027 09:00-11:00 Higher Physics
20/02/2027 11:30-13:30 N5 Physics
In-person reporting session to complete and submit your report:
27/02/2027 09:00-12:00 Biology/Human Biology all levels
06/03/2027 09:00-12:00 Chemistry all levels
13/03/2027 09:00-12:00 Physics all levels
In order to maximise success in the above exam and qualification options, it is advised to access the enhanced support available with our Monthly Masterclasses, Weekly Lessons and Grade Booster Days.
If you have been learning a National 5 or Higher course at another centre or independently via a self-study or home-educated model, then you can still take your final exam with us. The terminology here is that you would be a "private candidate" and The Education Academy Scotland (TEAS) will be your "presenting centre". You will of course need to register with us and meet the appropriate deadlines for coursework and registration.
For subjects like N5 and H Maths, this means you will come to us for the final exam, for subjects where there are additional externally assessed items of coursework - such as English folio pieces or Science assignments - you’ll need to come and take these with us too but TEAS will support through the entire process and all coursework and exam fees are included in your cost.
Before we register candidates for exams, we may set a short assessment to ensure that you are ready for the challenges of the final exam at that particular level. Many candidates come to us having already met the entry requirements for a particular course, so no assessment is required in such cases. It should be noted that your performance in this may result in the refusal to present you for that exam – but only in the case where we feel you have no realistic chance of success in the final exam.
If you would like to discuss the options above with us in more detail, or if you have a specific/bespoke request, then please contact: [email protected]
You can also take a fully taught qualification course with us too, learn more about our courses on our qualifications page.
The final exam diet is typically April/May each year which requires students to attend the final exam in-person at our exam centre in Glasgow.
Alternative exam venues may be possible on request.