If you are a private candidate studying A Levels or International A Levels, applying to university may seem more complicated than if you were a student attending mainstream college. The biggest concern for most learners is who will provide predicted grades and a UCAS reference.
Thousands of private candidates get into university each year whether they are homeschooled, retaking exams or with an online school. This guide will explain how the process works and who can help you with preparing a strong university application.
Applying to university and predicted grades
When most learners apply to university, they must do so at least several months prior to the September they would begin.
For example, a learner starting a UK University in September 2027 must apply to UCAS by the following deadlines:
- 15th October 2026 – for university of Oxford or Cambridge and most courses in medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine/science.
- 14th January 2027 – for the majority of undergraduate courses.
The above deadlines happen before most learners have taken their exams and therefore they have no official grades to put on their UCAS application. This is why predicted grades are so important.
Predicted grades allow colleges and universities whether they are inside or outside the UK to make conditional offers before exam results are released. Our article ‘finding out the entry requirements for each university‘ explains UK university requirements further. You can also calculate your UCAS points and see what grades you require in order to apply to certain universities.
For example a University may offer a learner a place based on them achieving AAB grades in three A Levels.
School Student vs Private Candidate
For learners who attend school, sixth form or college, their predicted grades and reference is prepared automatically by their teachers. Private candidates don’t have this service freely available to them. Instead, they will need to find a suitable person to provide predicted grades and a reference.
Whilst this requires careful planning, the university will still assess private candidates on the same basis as school applicants. Please see our article ‘Private Candidate Exam Guide‘ for more information on private candidates.
Who can predict your grades?
Suitable people who can predict your grades include a private tutor, online school teacher, distance learning provider or a former teacher who has recently assessed your work.
How are my grades decided?
They are normally based on evidence rather than opinion. In order for a tutor to determine your grade, they would need to consider assignments including essay writing and observations. They would also most likely want to see some mock exam papers completed by the learner especially the qualification mainly consists of exams. For A Level courses, we would ask for a range of assignments along with some practise exam papers.
UCAS Reference
A UCAS reference is provided by someone who knows the learner’s educational ability. It provides information to the university that predicted grades alone cannot demonstrate such as the learner’s academic strengths, commitment to learning and suitability for the university. It can also explain the candidates circumstances currently, for example, home schooling or online learning.
References are submitted by the tutor/online school directly and therefore the learner isn’t able to upload their own reference to UCAS. This ensures that all information is reliable and independent.
What makes a strong UCAS reference?
A strong reference may discuss things such as:
- Academic performance – how well the learner is performing based on predicted grades
- Independent learning – how the learner has developed excellent organisational skills
- Motivation – any other projects independent to the course which helps their experience
- Personal qualities – qualities such as resilience, communication and teamwork.
International A Levels and UCAS
International A Levels are recognised in the same way a UK A Level is. Some learners will complete International A Levels over more exam series than just the one. Therefore, they may have already achieved grades for the IAS part of the A Level. If the learner already has some results, the UCAS application should include both:
- Achieved grades
- Predicted grades for the remaining subjects
What if my grades are higher than predicted?
You may have avoided a university in the first instance as you thought maybe you wouldn’t achieve the grades for it. If you achieve higher grades for your A Levels than what was predicted, this is great news and you might be able to apply for courses with higher entry requirements through UCAS clearing.
Common mistakes to avoid
Every year, few learners leave their predicted grades until the last minute or miss the deadline completely. It is important to ensure that you have a suitable referee several months prior to the UCAS deadline.
Can my exam centre predict my grades?
Most exam centres are in charge of registering learners for exams, conducting the assessments and issuing certificates. They are not normally teachers but instead assessors. You are also not able to predict your own grades.
The most important thing to bear in mind when applying to university as a private candidate is to prepare well in advance. Secure your academic referee whether it is a private tutor or online school in good time and ensure you can meet their requirements. Apply for your chosen University through UCAS as soon as possible and ensure you are aware of their entry requirements.
Whether you are a private candidate or not, you will be required to prepare strong evidence of your progress and have a well supported UCAS application.