[joomuru]

Hello, I am bilingual in Italian and english and only recentely found out you can take exams of courses that arent offered at your college. Well, I was wondering if your own college will let you take an exam if there is no need for study and learning before hand, I had a look at all the practice papers and corriculum and I could take the paper now and get an A since its my mother tongue (lived there most of my life and I am italian). I didnt have time to ask the head of college as it was time to break up for summer, but do you have any advice on how to apply for a particular exam and do you have to pay? thank you

(going in year 13 next year so would have to take as level and a level in one year)

[tiny hobbit]

(Original post by joomuru)
Hello, I am bilingual in Italian and english and only recentely found out you can take exams of courses that arent offered at your college. Well, I was wondering if your own college will let you take an exam if there is no need for study and learning before hand, I had a look at all the practice papers and corriculum and I could take the paper now and get an A since its my mother tongue (lived there most of my life and I am italian). I didnt have time to ask the head of college as it was time to break up for summer, but do you have any advice on how to apply for a particular exam and do you have to pay? thank you

(going in year 13 next year so would have to take as level and a level in one year)

Ask your college. At my college, you could take the exam but you'd have to pay the entry fee.

[Shelly_x]

Your college might let you if you ask them, though you'll probably have to pay the fee. You could also go to another college that does that exam already as a private candidate.

[Clare~Bear]

You'd have to pay. But if it's your first language then unis might not count it, but some do, so you might be best of checking with the unis you're thinking of applying to.

A-level italian is meant for native english speakers who then learn Italian. It's not as difficult as Italian exams for 17/18 year olds in Italy. It also works the other way; if you did English in Italy as a 17/18 year old, it would be easier than a-level English.

Plus you might be fluent in it, but I'm not sure what A-level Italian would entail, you might have to analyse/write about a story or poem perhaps, that would have been taught to other candidates in lessons so you couldn't go into it without any revision.

[Productoflabour]

I don't understand why you would want to. If you spent most of your life in Italy as you say than any institution would disregard this A-level and it's subsequent point's as it's your mother tongue.

I mean if your just doing it for kicks by all means, but if your doing it to gain the edge on your UCAS then I think your time would be better spent elsewhere.

[kpwxx]

(Original post by joomuru)
Hello, I am bilingual in Italian and english and only recentely found out you can take exams of courses that arent offered at your college. Well, I was wondering if your own college will let you take an exam if there is no need for study and learning before hand, I had a look at all the practice papers and corriculum and I could take the paper now and get an A since its my mother tongue (lived there most of my life and I am italian). I didnt have time to ask the head of college as it was time to break up for summer, but do you have any advice on how to apply for a particular exam and do you have to pay? thank you

(going in year 13 next year so would have to take as level and a level in one year)

Your college will most likely let you sit it yes; you need to speak to the exams office. They will arrange it for you and let you know if you're expected to cover the fees.

As others have said above it's not advisable to take this instead of others, as some unis or companies won't regard it as highly because it doesn't require the study it would for a non native speaker. But other than money I see no reason not to take it on top of other stuff- it won't take any additional effort on your part and it will at least be a way to formalise that you speak Italian.

Xxx

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[joomuru]

(Original post by Productoflabour)
I don't understand why you would want to. If you spent most of your life in Italy as you say than any institution would disregard this A-level and it's subsequent point's as it's your mother tongue.

I mean if your just doing it for kicks by all means, but if your doing it to gain the edge on your UCAS then I think your time would be better spent elsewhere.

Well, I dont see at which point they would necessarily know that Im am a native speaking italian as I dont have the accent at all and always had English nationality. Its mainly to boost my points and you need a modern language for many uni courses I am interested in but didnt know at the time when selecting them :') I lived in england since year 9 and completed all english sat tests whilst living in italy, so I dont think its fair for them to disregard it :')

[Productoflabour]

(Original post by joomuru)
Well, I dont see at which point they would necessarily know that Im am a native speaking italian as I dont have the accent at all and always had English nationality. Its mainly to boost my points and you need a modern language for many uni courses I am interested in but didnt know at the time when selecting them :') I lived in england since year 9 and completed all english sat tests whilst living in italy, so I dont think its fair for them to disregard it :')

I understand now, given that have you possibly thought of contacting them, explaining the situation and seeing if they will allow the Italian A-Level? If they wont allow that try asking them that if you did an AS in, Spanish say, if that would meet the requirements given that your already fluent in another language.

I can't imagine it being to difficult for you to pick it up?

[thatitootoo]

(Original post by Productoflabour)
If they wont allow that try asking them that if you did an AS in, Spanish say, if that would meet the requirements given that your already fluent in another language.

I can't imagine it being to difficult for you to pick it up?

This is a great suggestion for OP! Dutch is my second language, (with English being my third ) And I'll be doing this with AS German next year!

Though, I suppose if OP followed your suggestion, they would have a much easier ride than me...for Italian is much more closely related to Spanish than Dutch is to German! Tbh, if I could speak fluent Italian, I would also give A-level French a shot & possibly even A-level portuguese!

É possibile!