Mock Tests, Predicted Grades & UCAS References

UCAS Assessment & Reference Service for Independent Candidates

For Private Candidates
Applying to university through UCAS as a private candidate can be challenging, especially if you need predicted grades and a UCAS referee.

At London Professional Training College (LPTC) we provide structured academic assessment for students
who are not currently studying in a school or sixth form.
Our service includes:

• Mock exams under formal exam conditions
• Predicted grades based on assessment
• UCAS reference submission (where appropriate)

Applying Through UCAS Without a School

• Students applying through UCAS as private candidates or home-educated students often need help obtaining predicted grades and a UCAS referee.
• London Professional Training College provides structured academic assessment for candidates who require predicted grades and a UCAS reference for their university application.

Who Is This Service For

• Private candidates
• Home-educated students
• Gap-year applicants
• Students whose school cannot provide a UCAS reference
• International students applying through UCAS

Example Student Journey

• Example: A student applying for Economics
• 1. Student books an Economics mock assessment
• 2. Sits Paper 1 and Paper 2 at LPTC
• 3. Papers are marked using official mark schemes
• 4. Academic review completed
• 5. Predicted grade issued
• 6. UCAS reference submitted before the UCAS deadline

Mock Exam Format

Mock exams are based on AS-level examination papers and follow official exam timings.

Most Subjects
Students sit Paper 1 and Paper 2 on the same day. A short break is provided between papers.

Mathematics and Languages
Students normally sit for one paper only.

UCAS Application Cycles

Predicted Grades

Predicted grades are based on:

• Mock exam performance
• Academic evidence provided
• Professional academic judgement
• In many cases, predicted grades may be one grade higher than the mock result to reflect the student’s expected performance in the final examination.
  
• Examples:
• Mock result A → Predicted grade A*
• Mock result B → Predicted grade A
• Predicted grades are not guaranteed and are issued only after the full academic review.
• London Professional Training College reserves the right to determine predicted grades based on academic evidence and professional judgement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are answers to some common questions about our mock exams, predicted grades, and UCAS reference process

1. Timetable: Timetable will be available in May for both 15th Oct and 13th Jan UCAS deadlines.
2. Fees: to be published in May 2026.
3. Mock test dates could be booked when filling out the application form
4. UCAS Reference Process: Your UCAS reference will be based on the responses from the reference questionnaire. Please submit your questionnaire once the mock test is confirmed.
5. Exam Duration: Each paper will follow the official timing set by the exam board.
6. Marking Scheme: The official published exam board mark scheme will be used for grading.
7. Grade Boundaries: The published grade boundaries from the same exam year will apply.
8. Marking Timeline: papers will be marked and ready for submission on or before the deadline
9. Academic Verification: We require confirmation of previous GCSE. A screenshot is sufficient for verification to approve the Education section where you entered your GCSE grades.

Predicted Grades

Predicted grades are based on:

• Mock exam performance
• Academic evidence provided
• Professional academic judgement

In many cases, predicted grades may be one grade higher than the mock result to reflect the student’s expected performance in the final examination.
Examples:
• Mock result A → Predicted grade A*
• Mock result B → Predicted grade A
If you have any further questions, feel free to reach out. We’re here to support you through your exams and university application process.