The Home Education Guide to A Levels: How to Study From Home

Thinking about studying A Levels from home? Maybe traditional school doesn't work for you, or perhaps you want to learn at your own pace. Whatever your reasons, home education for A Levels is absolutely possible.

Thousands of students successfully study A Levels outside of school every year. Some teach themselves, others use online courses, and many combine different approaches to find what works best.

This guide to home education A Levels walks you through everything you need to know about how to study them from home, from choosing your subjects to registering for exams and creating a study routine that works.

Key Takeaways

• You can study A Levels from home as a private candidate or through online courses - both routes lead to the same qualifications.

• You'll need to register for exams through an exam centre that accepts private candidates, usually by January for summer exams.

• Success comes down to three things: a structured timetable, the right resources, and consistent practice with past papers.

• Home education requires strong self-discipline, but it offers flexibility and the freedom to learn in the way that suits you best.

Can You Study A Levels From Home?

You don't need to attend a traditional school or college to take A Levels. You have several options depending on your circumstances and learning style.

• Self-study using textbooks, revision websites, and past papers is the most independent route. You're in complete control of your learning schedule and pace.

• Online courses or virtual schools provide structure with video lessons, assignments, and teacher support, whilst letting you study from anywhere.

• Working with tutors or attending a tuition centre gives you face-to-face help with subjects you find challenging, while maintaining flexibility.

• Many students mix and match these approaches. You might self-study some subjects whilst taking an online course or using a tutor for others.

Home education suits students who want flexibility in their schedule, prefer working independently, need to go at their own pace, or find traditional school environments difficult.

How to Plan Your A Level Home Education Journey

Start by choosing your subjects carefully. Check what A Levels your target universities or careers actually require. Don't just pick what seems easiest.

Select your exam board for each subject. The main ones are AQA (opens in a new tab), Edexcel (opens in a new tab), and OCR (opens in a new tab) (WJEC Eduqas (opens in a new tab) also offers A Levels in England and Wales). Check which boards your local exam centres accept for private candidates.

Download the specification for each subject. You can use the Save My Exams Specification database. This document tells you exactly what topics you need to learn and how you'll be assessed.

Plan your timeline realistically. Most students take two years to complete A Levels, but some accelerate into one year or spread learning over a longer period.

Decide how you'll study each subject. Will you self-study everything? Use online courses for some subjects? Get a tutor for the trickiest topics?

Create a detailed study plan before you start. Map out which topics you'll cover each week and when you'll do practice papers.

Resources for Studying A Levels From Home

• Save My Exams is your best friend for home education. You'll find revision notes covering every specification, past papers with worked solutions, and topic questions for focused practice.

• Textbooks recommended by exam boards give you comprehensive coverage of all topics. Check the exam board websites for their approved textbook lists.

• YouTube channels like Science Shorts (opens in a new tab) and Mr Bruff (opens in a new tab) offer free video explanations for tricky concepts across different subjects.

• Study forums and online communities connect you with other home-educated students. Reddit's A Level community (opens in a new tab) and The Student Room (opens in a new tab) are particularly helpful.

• Your exam board website provides past papers, mark schemes, and examiner reports - essential for understanding what examiners actually want.

How to Register for A Level Exams as a Private Candidate

Find an exam centre that accepts private candidates. Not all schools and colleges do, so start searching early. Use the JCQ searchable database (opens in a new tab) for this. 

Contact potential centres directly. Phone or email works best. Ask about their fees, registration deadlines, and which exam boards they work with.

Register well before the deadline. This is usually January for summer exams. Miss this and you'll wait another year or pay late entry fees.

Be aware that some subjects have practical or coursework components. Sciences need lab work, and English requires a Non-Exam Assessment. Make sure your chosen centre can accommodate these.

Exam fees typically cost £100-£200 per paper. So, budget for around £300-£600 per full A Level. Centre administration fees come on top of this.

Some exam centres charge extra for invigilation and admin. Get a complete breakdown of costs before committing.

Study Tips for Home-Educated A Level Students

• Create a structured weekly timetable that mirrors school hours. Treat your study time like a proper job with set hours and regular breaks.

• Break down each specification into manageable chunks. Don't just read through topics randomly - work systematically through the syllabus.

• Use active recall instead of passive reading. Test yourself constantly using our flashcards, practice questions, and past papers.

• Implement spaced repetition by revisiting topics regularly rather than studying them once and moving on forever.

• Track your progress using specification checklists. Tick off each topic as you master it so you can see how much you've covered.

• Practice past papers under timed conditions regularly. This is the most important thing you can do to prepare for exams.

• Stay motivated by joining online study groups, setting mini rewards for hitting targets, and varying your study methods to avoid boredom.

• Take proper breaks and maintain a healthy routine. Studying from home doesn't mean studying every waking hour.

Pros and Cons of Studying A Levels From Home

Pros

• Flexibility in pace means you can speed through topics you understand quickly or spend longer on challenging areas.

• You control your schedule completely. Study in the morning, afternoon, or evening - whatever works best for your brain.

• Freedom to focus on personal interests or needs without peer pressure or unnecessary social drama.

• Avoid distractions and pressures of traditional schools if classroom environments don't work for you.

• Learn in your own way using methods and resources that suit your learning style.

Cons

• Requires serious self-discipline and organisation. Nobody's checking you're actually studying or keeping up with the syllabus.

• Can feel isolating without daily peer interaction. You'll miss the social side of school and spontaneous study sessions with friends.

• You're responsible for all admin - finding exam centres, registering, tracking deadlines, and managing your own learning.

• Practical subjects like sciences can be challenging without access to proper lab equipment.

• No teachers to ask quick questions or clarify confusing points immediately.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is home education legal for A levels?

Yes, completely legal. In the UK, education is only compulsory until age 16, though some form of EET (education, employment, training) is compulsory until age 18 (opens in a new tab). After that, you're free to study A Levels independently, through online providers, or through any arrangement that works for you. You just need to register for exams through an approved centre.

Can I go to university if I study A levels at home?

Absolutely! Universities care about your A Level grades, not where you studied. As long as you sit official exams through a registered centre and meet their entry requirements, you're treated exactly the same as school students. UCAS applications work identically for private candidates.

How many hours a week should I study for A levels at home?

Aim for around 4-6 hours per subject per week as a baseline. That's roughly 12-18 hours total weekly for three A Levels. However, this varies depending on whether you're studying over one year or two, your starting knowledge, and how challenging you find each subject.

Do I need a tutor to study A levels from home?

No, but many students find tutors helpful for subjects they struggle with or for exam technique. Some students self-study completely using online resources, whilst others use tutors for all their subjects. It depends on your budget, learning style, and confidence in each subject.

Final Thoughts

A Level home education is a genuinely viable path. It's not easier than traditional school, but it offers flexibility and independence that helps many students thrive. 

As a tutor, I have supported a number of students through their independent A Level learning experience. They all flourished without the aspects of school they found especially difficult, and went on to get the grades that they hoped for. 

Success requires self-motivation, careful planning, and the resourcefulness to find help when you need it. But if you're willing to put in the work, there's no reason you can't achieve brilliant results.

The key is treating your home education seriously. Set up proper study routines, track your progress carefully, and don't leave exam registration until the last minute.

Thousands of students prove every year that home education works. With the right approach and dedication, it can be the route to achieving your A Level goals.

Resources

• AQA (opens in a new tab)

• Edexcel (opens in a new tab)

• OCR (opens in a new tab) 

• WJEC Eduqas (opens in a new tab) 

• JCQ searchable database (opens in a new tab)