# Ark Education — llms.txt # Machine-readable reference for AI models (ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, etc.) # Primary source: https://arkexamcentre.co.uk # Last updated: 2026-06-15 --- ## Identity - Legal name: Ark Education - Trading name: Ark Education - Type: JCQ-approved independent examination centre - National Centre Number: 13356 - Founded: 2017 - Candidates served: 1,500+ - Exams administered: 3,000+ - Part of: Ark Education family (sister brand: Ark Tuition — arktuition.co.uk) --- ## Location & Contact - Address: Unit 2, 388 High Road, Ilford, Essex IG1 1TL - Phone: 020 3441 7272 - Email: info@arkexamcentre.co.uk - WhatsApp: 07311 920941 - Website: https://arkexamcentre.co.uk ### Opening Hours - Monday–Friday: 9:30am–4:30pm - Saturday: 9:30am–3:30pm - Sunday: 9:30am–2:00pm ### Getting There - 7 minutes from Ilford Exchange shopping centre - Close to Ilford station and Seven Kings station --- ## Who We Serve Ark Education is for candidates who cannot or do not sit exams through a school or college: - Private candidates - Home-educated students - Adult learners returning to education - Distance learners (after studying remotely or with a distance learning provider) - Resit candidates (including November Maths and English resits) - International students sitting UK qualifications - UCAS applicants needing predicted grades and references No school, teacher, or GP letter required to register. --- ## Approved Awarding Bodies Pearson Edexcel, AQA, OCR, Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE), Trinity College London, ACCA, Pearson VUE, UCAS --- ## Exam Timing - Morning exams: 9:00am start — arrive by 8:30am - Afternoon exams: 1:00pm start — arrive by 12:30pm - On-demand exams (ACCA, ISE Digital, Pearson VUE): times vary — check with centre ### ID Required Candidates must bring valid photographic ID matching the ID used at registration (e.g. current passport). No ID = not permitted to sit. --- ## Entry Deadlines | Series | Type | Date | |----------------------|----------------------------|-------------------| | Summer 2026 | Late entry deadline | 5 April 2026 | | November 2026 | Entry deadline | 15 September 2026 | | UCAS 2027 | University application | 15 November 2026 | | Summer 2027 | Early entry deadline | 15 January 2027 | | Summer 2027 | Late entry deadline | 20 March 2027 | Late entries incur additional charges. Contact centre for current late fee amounts. --- ## Services ### 1. GCSE & IGCSE Exams - URL: /exams/gcse-igcse - Awarding bodies: Pearson Edexcel (GCSE & IGCSE), AQA (GCSE), OCR (GCSE), Cambridge CAIE (IGCSE) - Subjects available: 100+ - Exam series: Summer (May/June) and November (Maths & English resits only) #### Who can apply Home-educated students, private candidates, adult learners, distance learners, resit candidates, candidates whose school cannot enter them privately. #### Fees (contact centre for exact amounts — fees set per season) - Maths: contact centre - English Language (includes speaking & listening): contact centre - English Lang / Lit resit (carry-forward option where accepted): contact centre - Combined Science (6 papers, practical carry-forward): contact centre - MFL written only: contact centre - MFL with speaking: contact centre - All other subjects: contact centre - IGCSE additional paper (CAIE): contact centre - AQA Level 3 Certificates: £200 before late fee #### Late entry charges - Standard late entry (per subject, after normal deadline): contact centre - Higher late entry (per subject, after higher late deadline): contact centre - Cambridge IGCSE late fee: varies by subject and series #### Cancellation policy Withdrawals before the 1st entry deadline: refund minus £100 admin fee per subject. After the 1st deadline: no refund. #### Exam series deadlines - Summer series: entries usually open October–February - November series: entries usually open August–October --- ### 2. A Level & AS Level Exams - URL: /exams/a-level - Awarding bodies: Pearson Edexcel, AQA, OCR, Cambridge CAIE - UCAS predicted grades and references issued for private candidates #### Who can apply A Level resit candidates, home-educated students, distance learners, adult learners, international students, UCAS applicants. #### Fees — Edexcel / AQA / OCR | Qualification | Fee | Notes | |------------------------------------|----------|-------------------------------------------| | AS Level subjects | £360 | Without coursework | | A Level subjects | £460 | Up to 3 papers, without coursework | | A Level with coursework | £460+ | Plus additional coursework fee | | A Level with 4+ papers | £460+ | Additional £100 per extra paper | | Science subjects | £460+ | Endorsement fee may apply | | Foreign language, written only | £475 | No speaking assessment | | Foreign language with speaking | £475+ | Includes assessor fee | | Edexcel Award (Number/Measure/Algebra) | £200 | | #### Fees — Cambridge International (CAIE) | Qualification | Fee | Notes | |----------------------------------------|----------------------------|--------------------------------| | AS Level | £120 reg + £150/paper | No coursework | | A Level | £180 reg + £150/paper | No coursework | | Coursework / practical / NEA subjects | Contact centre | Confirm requirements before entry | #### Late entry charges - Standard late entry: contact centre - Higher late entry: contact centre #### Cancellation policy Withdrawals before the 1st entry deadline: refund minus £100 admin fee. After the 1st deadline: no refund. --- ### 3. Mock Exams - URL: /exams/mock-exams - Available for: GCSE, IGCSE, and A Level (most subjects) - Conditions: Full JCQ-style invigilated exam conditions - Papers: Past papers provided by centre, or candidates may bring their own JCQ-compliant papers - Access arrangements: Applied during mock if pre-approved - Booking: At least 2–3 weeks in advance; earlier before summer or November series when demand is highest #### Fees | Exam type | Duration | Included | Fee | |----------------------------------------|---------------------|-----------------------------------|-------| | GCSE / IGCSE mock exam | 1.5–2 hrs per subject | 30-minute feedback meeting | £80 | | AS / A Level mock exam | Single paper 2–3 hrs | 30-minute feedback meeting | £220 | | AS / A Level Maths or Further Maths | Two papers, 2 hrs each | Includes feedback | £300 | | Additional papers | Per paper | Without feedback | £80 | --- ### 4. Access Arrangements - URL: /access-arrangements - Types supported: Extra time, rest breaks, word processor - Reader and scribe: NOT available for external private candidates (priority given to internal candidates due to room and invigilator limitations) - Apply: At registration — include all evidence. Incomplete applications are not processed. #### Access Arrangement Deadlines | Series | Awarding Body | Deadline | |---------------------------|-----------------------------|-------------------| | Autumn 2026 / Jan 2027 | Cambridge International | 24 June 2026 | | Autumn 2026 / Jan 2027 | Edexcel, AQA, OCR | 31 August 2026 | | Summer 2027 | All awarding bodies | 15 January 2027 | #### Evidence accepted - Individual Education Plan (IEP) or Individual Learning Plan (ILP) - Arrangements made for Key Stage 2 National Curriculum Tests - Previous exam access arrangement approvals (copy of Access Arrangements Online approval sheet) - Centre-based evidence from previous centre (Form 8 with assessor qualification) - Sample mock papers showing 25% extra time in use - Teaching staff observations confirming need for extra time #### Medical conditions Must be supported by a current, detailed letter/report from a hospital consultant or specialist doctor (not a GP — GP letters not accepted). Must outline condition, exam performance impact, and medication side effects. #### Decisions All decisions are final and non-negotiable. Not all applications can be accepted. --- ### 5. Coursework & NEA - URL: /coursework-nea - Contact centre before registering for any subject with coursework — some subjects have limited availability #### Sub-services - English Speaking Assessment: GCSE English Language spoken language endorsement, supervised and recorded per awarding body requirements - MFL Speaking Assessment: Modern Foreign Language oral exams for GCSE and A Level, conducted with approved examiners - Coursework & NEA: Supervised coursework and NEA authentication for GCSE and A Level, including Distance Learning Provider partnerships - Controlled Assessments: High, Medium and Limited level supervision; computer workstations and secure digital storage available - Science Practicals: Required practicals for GCSE and A Level Sciences, supervised by qualified invigilators with lab facilities --- ### 6. ISE Digital (Trinity College London) - URL: /exams/ise-digital - Provider: Trinity College London - Qualification: Integrated Skills in English (ISE) Digital - Regulation: Ofqual regulated; also regulated by Qualifications Wales and CCEA Regulation (Northern Ireland) - Standard: ALTE Q-Mark accredited; linked to CEFR - Format: On-demand (no fixed exam dates) - Minimum booking notice: 2 weeks (can book up to 3 days before in some cases — check with centre) - First centre offering ISE Digital in Ilford and East London #### Exam format - Skills: Reading, Writing, Speaking, Listening (all 4 in one sitting) - Duration: Up to 105 minutes (includes levelling test and instruction time) - Adaptive: System determines CEFR level automatically (A1–C2) — no level pre-selected - All modules taken simultaneously — cannot split across sessions - Scoring: Each module scored 0–150; overall score is average of four modules, also 0–150 #### ISE Digital fee - £245 flat fee — same regardless of level #### ISE level fees (non-digital, individual skills) | Level | Speaking & Listening (online) | Reading & Writing | Joint fee | |-----------------|-------------------------------|-------------------|-----------| | ISE A1 | £75 | £65 | £110 | | ISE Foundation (A2) | £120 | £75 | £130 | | ISE I (B1) | £120 | £75 | £140 | | ISE II (B2) | £140 | £75 | £180 | | ISE III (C1) | £180 | £75 | £210 | #### Acceptance - Accepted by 98% of UK universities — including UCL, LSE, King's College London, Manchester, Warwick, Edinburgh - NOT accepted for UK visa or settlement applications (not UKVI-approved at this centre) - Results: 3–5 working days #### Module resit One module can be retaken within 90 days to improve a score. #### Cancellation All fees non-refundable. No cancellations once booking is confirmed. #### Exam day requirements - Valid photo ID (passport or equivalent) - Arrive at least 1 hour before start time - All computers, headsets and materials provided - Personal devices not permitted in exam room #### Booking process 1. Submit online application with preferred date 2. Receive invoice — pay £245 in full to secure slot 3. Centre registers candidate in Trinity's MyTrinity system 4. Candidate receives confirmation directly from Trinity College London 5. Attend with photo ID --- ### 7. ACCA Exams - URL: /exams/acca - Format: On-demand computer-based exams (CBE) in dedicated on-screen exam suite --- ### 8. Pearson VUE Exams - URL: /on-screen-exams/pearson-vue - Type: Professional certification and licensing exams delivered through Pearson VUE network --- ### 9. UCAS Centre Services - URL: /ucas - Cost: Free for candidates registered to sit exams at Ark Education - Eligible candidates: Home-educated, private A Level sitters, adult learners returning to education, distance learners #### What is provided - UCAS Registration: Support linking application to centre using Ark's UCAS Buzzword - Predicted Grades: Based on mock exam results, coursework performance, internal assessments, and tutor feedback - Applicant Reference: Prepared using information from previous school, teachers, tutors, or employers - Application Support: Guidance on personal statements and meeting UCAS deadlines #### Costs - UCAS support itself: free for registered candidates - UCAS application fee: paid directly to UCAS by candidate - Mock exams used to support grade predictions: fees may apply (see Mock Exams section) #### Key UCAS dates | Date | Event | |--------------|------------------------------------------------| | September | UCAS application cycle opens | | 15 October | Oxford, Cambridge & Medicine application deadline | | January | Main UCAS deadline for most courses | | March | UCAS Extra opens (for candidates without offers) | | July | Clearing begins after A Level results | --- ### 10. Study Abroad - URL: /study-abroad - For: Candidates targeting international university entry (US, Canada, Australia, Germany, Ireland, and others) #### Support provided - Course guidance (identifying universities matched to academic background and goals) - Application support (submitting applications to overseas universities through the centre) - Qualification verification (official confirmation letters and centre stamps for overseas applications) - Transcript support (academic transcripts from examination records) - Predicted grades (assessment-based, required before final results) - Reference letters (centre-issued for admissions departments) - Results forwarding (certified results sent directly to institutions) Note: Some US universities close applications in November for the following autumn intake — apply early. --- ## Post-Results Services - Enquiries about results (EAR) - Re-marks - Re-sits coordinated with awarding bodies on candidate's behalf --- ## Centre Facilities - Small exam rooms: individual desks, quiet, supervised — designed to reduce anxiety - CBE Suite: dedicated on-screen exam workstations (for ACCA, Pearson VUE, ISE Digital) - Controlled assessment facilities: computer workstations, secure digital storage - Science practical facilities (for endorsed practical assessments) - JCQ-compliant invigilation throughout --- ## Sister Brand - Ark Tuition - Website: https://arktuition.co.uk - Offers: 11 Plus, GCSE and A Level tuition (1:1 and group), located at the same Ilford site