Exam Fee Increases for 2026: What Schools Need to Know

Key Points:

•  Exam entry fees will increase by 3 to 4.2% on average in 2026.

• AQA’s French and Spanish GCSEs will rise by 8.4%.

• Per-pupil funding is expected to grow by under 1% in real terms.

• Boards cite inflation, operational costs, and reinvestment in education as reasons for the increases.

• Some boards note their fees remain competitive or lower than others for certain qualifications. 

Fee Changes Across Exam Boards

A recent analysis of high-entry GCSE and A-level subjects provides a clearer picture of what schools can expect:

• AQA, the largest exam board, is raising most fees by around 3%, with French and Spanish GCSEs increasing by 8.4%. AQA notes this reflects the higher costs of delivering modern foreign language qualifications. They estimate this will bring in around £6.1 million in additional income. AQA also stated their EBacc subject fees remain generally lower than those of other boards.

• OCR will apply increases of 3.77 to 4.23%, with the largest rises seen in GCSE maths and business studies. OCR highlighted that their fees are aligned with inflation and support a comprehensive package including subject-specific resources, forums, and insights.

• Edexcel is increasing fees by 3.71 to 3.89%, depending on the subject. The board emphasised the support included within its fees, such as teacher access to scripts and performance data, as well as continuous investment in qualification development.

• Eduqas, part of WJEC, will apply a 3.72% rise across the board. The board noted the importance of covering rising costs while also funding the development of current and future qualifications.

Balancing Pressures and Planning Ahead

School leaders and sector representatives have acknowledged that the increases may add financial strain, particularly in a climate where other pressures such as staff costs and expanded provision are already challenging budgets.

However, some have welcomed the earlier publication of exam fees, which enables better planning and budgeting. Leaders are also being encouraged to review their internal approaches to exam board selection as a way to potentially manage costs. Options include:

• Standardising exam board use across subjects where educationally appropriate.

• Streamlining provision to fewer boards, which may bring operational efficiencies.

The Funding Context

While the overall schools budget is set to grow by £4.7 billion over the next three years, official estimates suggest this equates to an average of just 0.9% real-terms growth per pupil annually, once rising costs are considered.

Schools therefore continue to operate within tight financial parameters, making any new cost pressures such as exam fee rises an important consideration in resource planning.

Final Thoughts

Exam boards remain committed to reinvesting in education, offering subject support, and keeping fee increases in line with inflation where possible. At the same time, school leaders are navigating complex funding environments and looking for ways to maintain high-quality provision for learners.

As schools prepare for 2026, clear communication from exam boards and strategic financial planning will be key to balancing quality, affordability, and student outcomes.