Help with re-doing a-levels outside of the classroom

Hi, I'm 20, in my A-Levels I received EED so would like to re-do them. Is it possible for me to study for them independently, without going to a 6th Form or college, and then to sign up to take the exams for say May/June time 2024? I have a job so it would be difficult for me to balance going to work and to a 6th Form College at the same time, but I have a lot of time to study. I have already been studying Biology and Chemistry at home using A-Level text books and I am doing well in practice papers that I do. I would also like to study Welsh, as welsh culture and history is fascinating to me, I have family in Wales, so taking Welsh language as a subject would be very convenient for me. However I understand most 6th Forms don't offer Welsh as a subject.

Reply 1

MindMax2000

Universities Forum Helper

21

Original post by JoelJWorkHard

Hi, I'm 20, in my A-Levels I received EED so would like to re-do them. Is it possible for me to study for them independently, without going to a 6th Form or college, and then to sign up to take the exams for say May/June time 2024? I have a job so it would be difficult for me to balance going to work and to a 6th Form College at the same time, but I have a lot of time to study. I have already been studying Biology and Chemistry at home using A-Level text books and I am doing well in practice papers that I do. I would also like to study Welsh, as welsh culture and history is fascinating to me, I have family in Wales, so taking Welsh language as a subject would be very convenient for me. However I understand most 6th Forms don't offer Welsh as a subject.

As you're older than 19, you won't be eligible to attend a 6th form college. You can attend an adult college if they offer A Levels, but you will very unlikely find a 6th form that would accept you (I don't know why they have this age requirement either).

In order to sign up for the exams, you will need to do it as a private candidate (unless you are doing it through a college). These are the steps:

•

Go to the exam board's website

•

Find the private candidate section

•

Find the list of exam centres approved by the specific exam board

•

Find an exam centre and liaise with the exam officer to book for your exams

Each booking has exam and admin fees set by the exam board. Unless you take practical assessments that you need to do, that's usually all that you need to pay. If you are sitting Biology or Chemistry for the first time, you will need to check whether the course that you want to do at uni (or whatever you are applying your A Levels with) will require you to do a practical assessment. If they do, you will need to do the practical assessment.
Booking for practical assessments is a pain, and you would need to look for a suitable centre to do them at. The key website I use for this is https://www.tutorsandexams.uk/exam-centre/a-level-science-practical-endorsement/. These assessments are charged by the exam centre and they can cost up to £1000 for each subject.
If you are not taking Biology or Chemistry for the first time, then you can check with the exam board whether you can transfer the practical endorsement from your previous A Levels onto your results for your retakes.

If you want to study through an online A Level course, you can. There are plenty of online colleges out there, but the courses can range from £395 to £1000 excluding exam booking fees (unless you want them to organise them for you).

I have problems finding an online college that offers Welsh as an A Level. You would have better luck finding an offline college in Wales that offers the A Level.

If you want to do an A Level in a subject other than Welsh and you want pointers, let me know.

Reply 2

JoelJWorkHard

OP

2

Thank you, that info was really helpful! Appreciate it! Best of luck in your studies

Reply 3

Ambergris

17

Original post by JoelJWorkHard

Hi, I'm 20, in my A-Levels I received EED so would like to re-do them. Is it possible for me to study for them independently, without going to a 6th Form or college, and then to sign up to take the exams for say May/June time 2024? I have a job so it would be difficult for me to balance going to work and to a 6th Form College at the same time, but I have a lot of time to study. I have already been studying Biology and Chemistry at home using A-Level text books and I am doing well in practice papers that I do. I would also like to study Welsh, as welsh culture and history is fascinating to me, I have family in Wales, so taking Welsh language as a subject would be very convenient for me. However I understand most 6th Forms don't offer Welsh as a subject.

If you don't have the ready funding just yet you may take out an advance learner loan.

https://www.gov.uk/advanced-learner-loan

As for Welsh you need to teach yourself if unable to attend a class based course. Starting with as you probably are already the board, GCSE syllabus, then A-level syllabus and books. In time there will be an online Welsh GCSE, A-level courses like there are for Latin, and Southern Irish advanced equivalent.

Welsh
That being said GCSE

https://getrevising.co.uk/resources?q=Welsh&sl=%2C&filter_kind=&go=
https://www.duolingo.com/course/cy/en/Learn-Welsh

Open University

https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/short-courses/lg001

Learn Welsh

https://learnwelsh.cymru/

Welsh Revise 2nd language pass papers

https://revise.wales/alevel-welsh2nd.html

If you are keen for this to happen then contact Welsh colleges which offer online A-levels or the Welsh government. Why? because if they don't know there is a demand they will be less inclined to run a course of the type you are interested in.

The Welsh government is looking to promote their language and culture. Having online academic and professional qualification may attract some of those from the very large Welsh diaspora. Also those who identify with the welsh culture. The Irish have this.