[Subrak]

Hey there - I'm wondering if anyone has any experience sitting an exam as a private / external candidate.
I'm currently doing a self-study a-level mathematics course... and I'm hoping to sit the exam early next year, or sometime next summer.
But, after doing the research - I just can't find any definate facts.

Does anyone know of any institutes that allow private candidates?

Thanks for your help either way!

Sub.

[carnationlilyrose]

(Original post by Subrak)
Hey there - I'm wondering if anyone has any experience sitting an exam as a private / external candidate.
I'm currently doing a self-study a-level mathematics course... and I'm hoping to sit the exam early next year, or sometime next summer.
But, after doing the research - I just can't find any definate facts.

Does anyone know of any institutes that allow private candidates?

Thanks for your help either way!

Sub.

Just phone round your local schools and colleges. Most will allow it.

[VanessaXD]

There should be test centres in your area where you can take the exam? i would check on the internet

[joker12345]

(Original post by Subrak)
Hey there - I'm wondering if anyone has any experience sitting an exam as a private / external candidate.
I'm currently doing a self-study a-level mathematics course... and I'm hoping to sit the exam early next year, or sometime next summer.
But, after doing the research - I just can't find any definate facts.

Does anyone know of any institutes that allow private candidates?

Thanks for your help either way!

Sub.

I think AQA have a list of private centres that do AQA exams somewhere, I'm sure the other boards will have similar things.

[tsr1]

I know someone who did their maths privately, they went to some center to sit the exams.

[J.Nalbandian14]

Go on the AQA website and search for a centre, or if it is another exam board such as edexcel; have a look on their site.

[Data]

(Original post by Subrak)
Hey there - I'm wondering if anyone has any experience sitting an exam as a private / external candidate.
I'm currently doing a self-study a-level mathematics course... and I'm hoping to sit the exam early next year, or sometime next summer.
But, after doing the research - I just can't find any definate facts.

Does anyone know of any institutes that allow private candidates?.

If you look on the website of the exam board specification you are studying then you will find some advice and names of centres that may accept you. You then need to get organised (decide which exams you want to study when - you can check what's available when at http://www.education.gov.uk/comptimetable/ - make sure you have details like your UCI (unique candidate identifier) from when you last took GCEs/GCSEs etc) and then you have to ring round asking centres if they will accept you for the units you want to take.

The entry deadline for January is 21 October and for the summer is 21 March but most centres will have internal deadlines days or weeks before this.

Probably less than 10% of centres accept private candidates so don't get despondent - keep trying.

[Sam_Coburn]

I tried that...... -_-

All i can say is it's gotta be the biggest headache going..... I remember trying to do that for a GCSE... Couldnt find no place to take exam to start with.. and when i did, the prices were too high.
I wish you luck mate

[cool pilot dude]

(Original post by Subrak)
Hey there - I'm wondering if anyone has any experience sitting an exam as a private / external candidate.
I'm currently doing a self-study a-level mathematics course... and I'm hoping to sit the exam early next year, or sometime next summer.
But, after doing the research - I just can't find any definate facts.

Does anyone know of any institutes that allow private candidates?

Thanks for your help either way!

Sub.

Where about are you? If your in Birmingham, I can give you the name of some places. Try looking on the internet and contact your local schools (or even old school!) or tuition centres.

(Original post by carnationlilyrose)
Just phone round your local schools and colleges. Most will allow it.

Im thinking of going bcak to my old school to resit gcse science. Do you think if I tell the teacher in charge of the department if I can do the exams there and coursework they will let me? I will obviously be teaching myself... Also, would I be able to do it for free as Im 18? I dont mind paying if I have to. But, if Im 18 and they get funding, I dont see why they shouldnt be able to.

[WhyteBoar]

I am taking AS History as a private candidate; from experience, finding a centre is not always easy.

Ask your former school, or where you sat your A Levels (if you have done them before), if they will let you sit the exam with them.

Look at your exam board's website and contact as many centres on the list as you can. You may need to travel.

In my experience private colleges are far more likely to take you than state schools.

Be prepared to pay for the privilage.

[carnationlilyrose]

(Original post by cool pilot dude)
Where about are you? If your in Birmingham, I can give you the name of some places. Try looking on the internet and contact your local schools (or even old school!) or tuition centres.



Im thinking of going bcak to my old school to resit gcse science. Do you think if I tell the teacher in charge of the department if I can do the exams there and coursework they will let me? I will obviously be teaching myself... Also, would I be able to do it for free as Im 18? I dont mind paying if I have to. But, if Im 18 and they get funding, I dont see why they shouldnt be able to.

All you can do is ask. My school allows private candidates to sit external exams and so does the one my husband works at, but you will have to ask your own place as each school has its own rules. I don't teach science so I have no idea how they organised practicals/ISAs or whatever it is they do. With my subject, English, it's never more complex than pen and paper. If you are not a pupil at the school you will not be funded and will have to pay your own fees.

[loyaltyisroyalty]

I have sitten some every college ive spoken to has agreed but the prices vary make sure you contact every local college well in advance as when time passes so does the fee.

[Molski]

^^ what they said

I sat my exams as an external/private student and yeah, I just found a list of colleges that let private student sit exams, contacted them and asked about the fees etc. and that was that =D

I think it will be hassle free with A level maths, since there's no coursework
Work hard and good luck!

[cool pilot dude]

(Original post by carnationlilyrose)
All you can do is ask. My school allows private candidates to sit external exams and so does the one my husband works at, but you will have to ask your own place as each school has its own rules. I don't teach science so I have no idea how they organised practicals/ISAs or whatever it is they do. With my subject, English, it's never more complex than pen and paper. If you are not a pupil at the school you will not be funded and will have to pay your own fees.

Well, with English you hav to do coursework, right? I know I did when I did AQA.

If its the same with your board, do you guys charge the candidate for marking the coursework? and how much?

I can sit IGCSE science if I wanted to. But, When I did that, it sucked so much! it was sooo hard, soo much to learn and I didnt even really learn anything...

[carnationlilyrose]

(Original post by cool pilot dude)
Well, with English you hav to do coursework, right? I know I did when I did AQA.

If its the same with your board, do you guys charge the candidate for marking the coursework? and how much?

We haven't had an external candidate for English under the new syllabus yet, but there are now controlled assessments done in exam conditions instead of coursework, so there would have to be a charge for the invigilation and the marking. Don't know what it would be, though.

[Aylish]

Try my threads about private exam sitting

[mimx]

Try regular schools before colleges, they usually charge less. Just get a list of all them in your area and phone/email each one in turn. Average price I found for state schools was £25-50 per unit. London colleges asked for around £100/unit. Couple of independent schools wanted anywhere up to £500/unit. Ouch.

If you want to do something with a practical or oral exam then you're going to end up paying a ton at a college or specialist centre.

[AlesanaWill]

I did my AS levels as a private candidate via self-study. The best thing to do is ring around your local schools. I've found that grammar schools tend to be oddly accommodating of private candidates so you should perhaps try those. For Mathematics it shouldn't be too much of a problem as they just need to order in the papers for you. The school does not have to be taking the same exam board as you.

If you're on AQA, there is a list of exam centres for private candidates available to download. It's simply a case of emailing / ringing round these schools until you find somewhere. But there are enough places that do it. I didn't find it too much trouble at least.

[Subrak]

Gotta do what you gotta do, I suppose. I'm currently in Scotland at the moment (Aberdeen) - figure I might have to go down to England to sit the exams That said, if it allows you to do what you want to dedicate your life to... I believe the hardship will be worth it!! ^^

[Subrak]

I recently learnt that the College I'm attending doesn't actually award HIGHERS. It awards a certificate that, honestly, does f-all and limits my progression to a choice of two universities that even then are grouchy about accepting people with standard grades as bad as mine.
The only way forward, besides from giving up on my ambitions and possible social suicide, is costly external examination.

So here's the thing - I can't decide... Would it be better for me to continue this course - and try get the self-study a-level maths and a-level biology courses finished before next university-term start... (I want to sit these in private exam centers!) or quit the college course, finish the 2 A-levels I'm enrolled in (Probably get a better grade too) take out third A-level, and perhaps a GCSE in English?
I work 27 hours a week (Rent, etc) and the college only runs 2 and a half days, although it's classed as full-time... What's kind of ridiculous, honestly.

Any opinions? Any opinions on this annoying-as-hell situation would be highly appreciated - thanks!