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How to Practise for a GCE e-Exam | SEAB Tutorials for Private Candidates

Three learners review open books together at a classroom table, with stacks of textbooks, stationery and a whiteboard in the bright room.

If you are a GCE private candidate with an electronic paper, start with SEAB’s e-Exam Resources for Private Candidates. Match your subject and paper code to the resource. SEAB provides familiarisation material for applicable components, including e-Oral and selected e-Written papers.

Use the tutorial to practise reading the screen, moving through the task and following the instructions shown for your paper. SEAB’s 2026 secondary GCE rules say candidates sit applicable e-exams at the assigned centre, where the necessary computing devices and IT support are provided where applicable.

  • Confirm whether your particular component is electronic.
  • Find the tutorial for your candidate type and paper.
  • Practise the interface separately from the subject content.
  • Check the assigned venue and follow staff instructions if something goes wrong.

Find the correct tutorial

Look at the subject and paper number in your syllabus or candidate instructions. A subject may have more than one component, so a resource for one paper does not necessarily apply to another. Use the private-candidate resource page when that is your registration route.

For an oral paper, check which preparation material you will see. The 2026 secondary GCE booklet describes video or picture prompts and, where the assessment uses them, reading passages or presentation topics on the eExam2 system. Match the resource to the actual format for your paper.

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Run two different practice sessions

First, practise the interface at an easy pace. Read the directions, locate where the next action is shown and work through the example. Make a note of any instruction you did not understand.

Then practise the subject task separately. For example, a candidate preparing for an oral component might watch a sample prompt and rehearse explaining one observation clearly. Once both skills feel familiar, combine them in a rehearsal using the published format for the paper.

Use the tutorial to learn the procedure. Check the syllabus and candidate instructions for timing, assessment requirements and any equipment you are expected to bring.

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On exam day, use the assigned centre instructions

Check the centre and reporting time for the electronic component. Follow the invigilator’s directions when you start, work through and finish the assessment. If the display, sound or input seems wrong, tell examination staff promptly and follow their directions.

The online tutorial and the Candidates Portal serve different purposes. The tutorial helps you practise the format. Candidate documents and official notices tell you where and when to report.

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Frequently asked questions

Does every GCE paper have an electronic version?

Check SEAB’s listing and your subject’s instructions. The electronic format applies to specified components.

Can I use an SEC tutorial for a GCE paper?

Match the qualification, subject, component and year. Use the resource identified for your actual entry.

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Official information

Consult SEAB’s e-Exam Resources for Private Candidates and the e-Examinations section of its 2026 secondary GCE rules. Guidance checked on 8 November 2026.