[WhyteBoar]

I am being driven mad at the moment trying to secure a centre which will let me take the Edexcel History AS and A2 exams because of the coursework.

Has anyone managed to get a centre to accept them? I will be taking a distance learning course as I work full-time, and the provider assures me that the tutor can mark the work and send it to my centre for submission to the awarding body.

The last email I received from a centre refused on the basis of coursework and then followed by saying that an organisation such as NEC could mark the coursework... I don't see the difference?

I am reluctant to fork out money by registering with the distance learning company unless I can find a centre who will, in principle, agree to let me take the exams.

I don't envy those of you trying to find a centre to take practicals.

Any advice is much appreciated!

[Mr. Approachable]

If I were you I'd take the process I did- call the exam board and ask for a list of local approved centres. Then call each one and wait until one says yes.

Hope it works out

[WhyteBoar]

This is what I have started to do. The awarding body actually have a map with centres who have accepted private candidates for each course, which you'd think would be very helpful...

I guess I just got a bit disheartened when a couple of the replies from these centres said they couldn't help.

In doing a bit more searching it seems that a couple of the London based centres are more helpful if you are willing to pay their fees... just waiting for replies with fingers crossed!

Thank you for your reply, it is good to know that others have been successful.

[Data]

(Original post by WhyteBoar)
I am being driven mad at the moment trying to secure a centre which will let me take the Edexcel History AS and A2 exams because of the coursework.

Has anyone managed to get a centre to accept them? I will be taking a distance learning course as I work full-time, and the provider assures me that the tutor can mark the work and send it to my centre for submission to the awarding body.

The last email I received from a centre refused on the basis of coursework and then followed by saying that an organisation such as NEC could mark the coursework... I don't see the difference?

I am reluctant to fork out money by registering with the distance learning company unless I can find a centre who will, in principle, agree to let me take the exams.

I don't envy those of you trying to find a centre to take practicals.

Any advice is much appreciated!

The problem is that the centre has to sign to say that the coursework was completed under the correct conditions and marked in accordance with the rules. If this is done by a distance learning learning centre then the centre can't, in all honesty, sign this. Many centres will only accept private candidates for exams for specifications they already do. For coursework it is even more difficult if the centre does the same specification as they have to moderate all the work before submission and may well decide to change your marks in the process (to bring them into line with their marking), leading to potential arguments.
The ways round this are:

• to use one of the distance learning providers (like NEC) formally approved by the exam board.
  do A level History with AQA (who mark private candidates work directly so the centre doesn't have to)
  Do History with CCEA who have a no coursework option.

On the up side, you do not have to do all the units with the same centre so you could arrange to do the exams somewhere close to home and submit the coursework via a different centre if you have to.

[Shelly_x]

I asked about 40 colleges/sixth forms and found two that were willing to let me sit as a private candidate...

[WhyteBoar]

Thank you for your replies. I guess I need to expect that this will be difficult.

I wish to take the Edexcel syllabus because of the unit content. I have an interest in late medieval history and the Wars if the Roses; eventually I'd like to do a part-time MA in medieval history (already have an unrelated undergraduate degree), but can't afford the fees at the moment. Doing this course is my way of getting myself back into study mode.

There is one distance learning provider who offers the units I would like to take; everyone else offers modern history units, which is a shame. If anyone happens to know of any other distance learning providers who aren't obsessed with the 20th century, I'd love to know

I understand why the centres have a problem with the coursework. I wasn't aware that NEC were an approved distance learning provider with AQA, it explains why NEC have been suggested to me by one of the centres I contacted.

I guess I don't like to make things easy for myself. Thank you for your help and suggestions. If you are taking this course and have centre, I'd love to know where.

This was posted from The Student Room's Android App on my HTC One X

[WhyteBoar]

Well, should anyone else struggle to find a centre, don't give up.

I was reaching the stage where I was considering taking my AS with Edexcel and my A2 with AQA, even though it meant I would have to compromise on my Unit 3 content.

Hopefully I have found two centres who, in principle, will accept the coursework. So fingers crossed that by the time I get that far, they haven't changed their minds!

[Tw1x]

(Original post by Shelly_x)
I asked about 40 colleges/sixth forms and found two that were willing to let me sit as a private candidate...

Can I ask what colleges they were, because I live reasonably close to Leeds? I know a few in London will accept me and I will travel there if needs be,but if there's closer I'd be extremely relieved

[Shelly_x]

(Original post by Tw1x)
Can I ask what colleges they were, because I live reasonably close to Leeds? I know a few in London will accept me and I will travel there if needs be,but if there's closer I'd be extremely relieved

I'm doing mine at Ralph Thoresby School, but there will be some a lot closer than London! You just have to email/ring and find out.

[Tw1x]

(Original post by Shelly_x)
I'm doing mine at Ralph Thoresby School, but there will be some a lot closer than London! You just have to email/ring and find out.

Thanks, I have emailed like 30 places in the last year or so, just have to keep trying. But again, thank you

[Shelly_x]

(Original post by Tw1x)
Thanks, I have emailed like 30 places in the last year or so, just have to keep trying. But again, thank you

30 is nothing in the grand scheme of things, just work your way through the list of schools in your area, email them all. If they say no then branch out further away until you get somewhere with one of them

[WhyteBoar]

I have found so far that tutorial colleges and independant schools much more receptive to my request than state schools. I don't know whether it is because they are business orientated so see as another revenue stream, or if its just a resource issue.

[dg2009]

which london places take coursework? any in kent?

[Data]

(Original post by dg2009)
which london places take coursework? any in kent?

It's not as simple as some and some don't. Some will take AQA coursework (as it's marked by AQA) but not other exam boards as they generally require the work to be marked by the centre.

[WhyteBoar]

Westminister Tutors may mark the coursework, but it will cost you.

The other option would be to take your A2 with NEC as a few centres will submit the coursework marks to Edexcel if it has been submitted via NEC - who are using the Edexcel specification at the moment.

Due to the moderation procedures required most centres will not touch coursework. I read the coursework submission/moderation information in the course specification today, and I can easily see why.

It is a real shame that the awarding bodies don't offer more help with the marking of coursework. AQA is a start, but it doesn't suit everyone.