Tuition helps you learn the subject. Exam registration enters you for a paper on the day. They are different services, run by different parties, and a student needs both handled.
We are a tuition team of teachers who teach online, one to one. Entry, sessions, results and access arrangements sit with your school or centre and with Cambridge. This page explains who does what and what to check.
What does a tuition team do?
We teach. A teacher looks at how you think through questions, finds where understanding breaks down, and builds your practice around your subject, your syllabus and your route. We work from the syllabus code and exam year you tell us.
We also help you use official Cambridge materials well. See using official papers lawfully for how to handle past papers properly.
What do the exam centre and Cambridge do?
| Task | Who is responsible | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| Publish the syllabus and updates | Cambridge | Read the subject page for your code and year |
| Enter you for subjects and a session | Your school or exam centre | Confirm the code, route and session with them |
| Set local closing dates and fees | Your exam centre | Ask and get it in writing |
| Publish official timetables | Cambridge | Check the official timetable, then confirm with your centre |
| Run the exams and exam day | Your exam centre | Follow its instructions |
| Apply for access arrangements | Your exam centre | Ask early; see access arrangements checking |
| Release results and handle enquiries | Cambridge and your centre | See the results and enquiries route |
| Teach and coach you | Your tuition teacher | Share your code, year and route |
Why does the difference matter?
Students sometimes assume that booking tuition covers their exam entry, or that a teacher can sort out a timetable clash. It cannot, because we have no access to your entry and no authority over it.
If something in your entry is wrong, the sooner the right party hears about it, the easier it is to correct. That party is your exam centre, which can raise it with Cambridge.
What should you check, and where?
- Your subjects and codes. Compare your statement of entry with the Cambridge subject page. Use our statement of entry checklist.
- Your session and local dates. Ask your centre; see checking local deadlines and sessions.
- Your official timetable. Read the Cambridge timetable and your centre’s confirmation, then compare them with your school plans using official timetable versus school calendar.
- Your syllabus. Follow finding the correct syllabus.
- If you enter privately, read the Cambridge page on private candidate responsibilities and use the questions to ask an independent centre.
A worked example
A parent books tuition for her son’s Chemistry and asks the teacher, “Can you also check that he is entered for November?”
The teacher explains that entry is held by the school. She suggests the parent ask the school for the statement of entry and compare the subject code with the Cambridge Chemistry page. The parent does, finds the code and route match, and gives the teacher the confirmed details.
The teacher then plans lessons to that syllabus. Each party did its own job, and nothing was left unchecked.
What if you are unsure who to ask?
Start with your exam centre for anything about entry, dates, rules and results. Start with the Cambridge subject page for anything about syllabus content. Start with us for anything about learning the subject.
If you are still unsure, read how our service works or see the paid trial terms. The school and tuition roles page explains how the two fit together day to day.
You may also find these guides useful: what a private candidate pays for.