Biology Equivalency Testing - HELP

I have been going round in circles throughout all of lockdown as I want to start a primary PGCE and so I need to get my Science GCSE/equivalent. I was initially going to take an exam with A Star Equivalency but I have found some universities (i.e. UCL) don't accept the certificate from them so Equivalencytesting.com is probably a safer option. The annoying thing is Astar have been so helpful in providing resources and giving advice on revision material etc, always get back to calls and emails whereas Equivalency Testing are completely useless. ET have quite a different syllabus and it's a higher paper so more difficult. Their syllabus is sooo brief for instance Part 3. is just 'Drugs', no other detail. They won't give me any info on what revision materials to use so I just feel like I'm at my wits end. Would love to get it sorted before I have to go back to work full time but time is getting on. Just want to know if anyone else has had similar issues or done the exam in the last few years??

Hey
I recently sat biology with ET and im still waiting for my results. I only did it through them because they were the only company that UCL accepts. I agree, it has been quite frustrating getting in contact with them but it's expected since they're a small company. As for revision, i used bbc bitesize.

Hey! Sorry to hear that you are going through a tough time... I had the same problem with equivalency.com which is why I opted to astar equivalency. However I am lucky as my uni accepts it. Do you need it by september this year or next year? Have you applied for your pgce already? and have you tried speaking specifically to UCL (If thats where you want to go to explain the situation to them? They may make allowances esecially with the current climate and allow astar?? Positive thinking! Im sure you will get this sorted! Kelly

Hey Kelly, thanks for your response!

I'm hoping to hear back about a course currently but if I don't get on I will be applying again for 2021 entry, in that case I will take it with ET just to keep my options open. That being said, the more courses I looked at the more were asking for different providers (London Met for instance have an entirely different test with the University of Birmingham). Astar actually advised me to get in touch with UCL too, they said they hadn't heard of anyone having issues before but when I did UCL said it would be unfair to accept someone now when they've turned people away for not having it previously (makes sense). I'm just crossing my fingers that I'll get on the course I'm waiting for so I can just take it with A star and be done with it haha

Hey
I recently sat biology with ET and im still waiting for my results. I only did it through them because they were the only company that UCL accepts. I agree, it has been quite frustrating getting in contact with them but it's expected since they're a small company. As for revision, i used bbc bitesize.

I have been going round in circles throughout all of lockdown as I want to start a primary PGCE and so I need to get my Science GCSE/equivalent. I was initially going to take an exam with A Star Equivalency but I have found some universities (i.e. UCL) don't accept the certificate from them so Equivalencytesting.com is probably a safer option. The annoying thing is Astar have been so helpful in providing resources and giving advice on revision material etc, always get back to calls and emails whereas Equivalency Testing are completely useless. ET have quite a different syllabus and it's a higher paper so more difficult. Their syllabus is sooo brief for instance Part 3. is just 'Drugs', no other detail. They won't give me any info on what revision materials to use so I just feel like I'm at my wits end. Would love to get it sorted before I have to go back to work full time but time is getting on. Just want to know if anyone else has had similar issues or done the exam in the last few years??

What ever you do, do NOT pay for the revision materials from equivalency testing. It’s a waste of money!! I just bought an Edexcel revision off Amazon and worked through that. Much much cheaper.