How to go about being a private candidate for some AQA exams?

Elements

This is urgent because the deadline for entry to all summer exams on AQA that aren't resits is TOMORROW! :eek3:

Basically I'm planning on teaching myself and AS and hopefully an A2 too in Environmental Science in time off hte summer exam entries. Teaching myself in my own time as school doesn't offer it. Hence I'd be a private canddiate and paying for it myself too! How do I go about doing it? I've looked on the AQA website but am finding it hard to navigate and don't know how to go about doing it anyhow! :eek:

W9ould I be able to be a private candidate for them; all 6 exams of it, and still be able to sit my exams in the same centre as my other exams aka my school?

Help is urgently required and as always rep for appeasement is up for offers with this too! But this is more important than rep anyway!

Elements xXx

Don't worry that much if you don't submit by the deadline. If it's a couple of weeks late there'd be an extra fee of ~£10. Technically you can register the day before the exam, but I wouldn't advise this :p:

There isn't anything difficult in order to become a private candidate. Firstly you must find a school which accepts 'private candidate' entry. Do this by phoning up local schools and colleges. Or alternatively, here's an official list of AQA centres which accept private candidates.

You must have know your UCI number. Normally centres wouldn't give you a new UCI number, so you'll need to have this ready. This can be found on your results slip or certificate.

Then you'd have to fill in your person details, and the exam information (make sure you know the unit codes and everything). Depending on the centre, the cost per unit would be around £30. Theses centres tend to charge private candidates a little more than the standard.

Finally, here's AQA's private candidate booklet.

Reply 2

OP

Ancient Beast

Don't worry that much if you don't submit by the deadline. If it's a couple of weeks late there'd be an extra fee of ~£10. Technically you can register the day before the exam, but I wouldn't advise this :p:

There isn't anything difficult in order to become a private candidate. Firstly you must find a school which accepts 'private candidate' entry. Do this by phoning up local schools and colleges. Or alternatively, here's an official list of AQA centres which accept private candidates.

You must have know your UCI number. Normally centres wouldn't give you a new UCI number, so you'll need to have this ready. This can be found on your results slip or certificate.

Then you'd have to fill in your person details, and the exam information (make sure you know the unit codes and everything). Depending on the centre, the cost per unit would be around £30. Theses centres tend to charge private candidates a little more than the standard.

Finally, here's AQA's private candidate booklet.

Charge private candidates more?!? :huff:

Just looked at the AQA centres and my school isn't listed but I'm sure that some ppl in my school do other subjects from AQA there so that could be possible couldn't it? Have also just seen in the AQA Private candidate booklet that the deadline for all summer entries for GCSEs is tomorrow and that actually the GCE's deadline is for the 21st next month! :eek:

Easy mistake to make, :redface:

but thank-you anyway!X

Reply 3

I thought it was in March :mad:

Ah, well looks like I wont be sitting any exams as its half term here and schools are closed.

Reply 4

Elements

Charge private candidates more?!? :huff:

Just looked at the AQA centres and my school isn't listed but I'm sure that some ppl in my school do other subjects from AQA there so that could be possible couldn't it? Have also just seen in the AQA Private candidate booklet that the deadline for all summer entries for GCSEs is tomorrow and that actually the GCE's deadline is for the 21st next month! :eek:

Easy mistake to make, :redface:

but thank-you anyway!X

Reply 5

Greenmile

9

Actually, I was under the impression that the GCSE deadline had passed because I am doing GCSE chemistry and entered 2 weeks ago and had to pay a late fee.

Anyway, in relation to your problem, if your school are nice and they like you they can enter you for the exams and you can sit them there. But schools quite often aren't impressed with this sort of thing, so I don't know if you will get anywhere, but it's certainly worth asking.

Other than that, you could ring around other local schools and colleges and see if any of them are prepared to enter you for the exam. There is a good possibility that you will have to pay administration costs for this. As well as exam fees of £12 per module.

Try your school first, as that is going to be your cheapest and easiest way if they agree to it.

Reply 6

OP

kirstinx

I thought it was in March :mad:

Ah, well looks like I wont be sitting any exams as its half term here and schools are closed.

Yes that's what I said: the GCE aka AS and A2 summer exam deadline is the 21st next month aka 21st March.

Reply 7

OP

Greenmile

Actually, I was under the impression that the GCSE deadline had passed because I am doing GCSE chemistry and entered 2 weeks ago and had to pay a late fee.

Anyway, in relation to your problem, if your school are nice and they like you they can enter you for the exams and you can sit them there. But schools quite often aren't impressed with this sort of thing, so I don't know if you will get anywhere, but it's certainly worth asking.

Other than that, you could ring around other local schools and colleges and see if any of them are prepared to enter you for the exam. There is a good possibility that you will have to pay administration costs for this. As well as exam fees of £12 per module.

Try your school first, as that is going to be your cheapest and easiest way if they agree to it.

Well because you have to pay the centre that you're going to take the exams at and give your money for the actual exams to the school's excaminations offficer then the examinations officer will get in contact and send it to AQA HQ. So in effect it's good that I'm starting to sort this out now as I'll have to be ready in advance of March 21st...

How much do you reckon or know that the administration costs will be? :ninja:

Because I'm not made of money! :p:

Schools aren't impressed with private candidates? Even if it shows motivation and ambition? Crazy! :eek3:

They could profit from it too! :hmpf:

Reply 8

Greenmile

9

Well schools like to do the teaching! I was thinking more of the workload. If the school think you are taking on too much with an extra subject, they might refuse you on that basis. Just in case it affects your other subjects. But, if they agree to it, they probably wouldn't charge you because you wouldn't be a private candidate, you would be entered through that school along side your other subjects. Even though they don't teach that subject, they can still enter you for the exam as one of their students.

Admin costs will be whatever they want to charge you and will depend on the individual establishment. As I said, if you can pursuade your school to enter you, they quite possibly won't charge you.

A lot of school won't take private candidates, whereas colleges tend to be more receptive.

Reply 9

Elements

Charge private candidates more?!? :huff:

Just looked at the AQA centres and my school isn't listed but I'm sure that some ppl in my school do other subjects from AQA there so that could be possible couldn't it? Have also just seen in the AQA Private candidate booklet that the deadline for all summer entries for GCSEs is tomorrow and that actually the GCE's deadline is for the 21st next month! :eek:

Easy mistake to make, :redface:

but thank-you anyway!X

Yes, I've seen places charge private candidate entry as £45 per unit, even though it's something like £14.

Just because some schools aren't listed, it doesn't mean they don't accept private candidate exam sittings. Best thing is to phone them up.

Well they're people having lessons in the school aren't they? If so, they're not private candidates, and different rules apply.

Reply 10

Greenmile

But schools quite often aren't impressed with this sort of thing, so I don't know if you will get anywhere, but it's certainly worth asking.

Really? Some schools automatically enter A-level students for unit resits, even if the unit grade is a low A. I don't think they're not impressed with it, in fact they'd probably welcome it because why would schools want bad results?

Greenmile

As well as exam fees of £12 per module.

I'd be very suprised if she finds one that cheap (unless her own school can offer the exam sitting).

Reply 11

Admin costs are usually 10%

Reply 12

OP

Thank-you everyone: I'm adding you all to my to-rep list!

Reply 13

kellywood_5

17

Definitely ask your school first. I taught myself GCSE Spanish in Year 13, sat the exams at my school and didn't have to pay a penny, even though I entered late :biggrin:

Reply 14

When you attend the school the school gets funding for you and you aren't an external candidate so you shouldn't have to pay.

Reply 15

OP

kirstinx

When you attend the school the school gets funding for you and you aren't an external candidate so you shouldn't have to pay.

I'll use that point when I ask my school and if they start getting greedy with money! :p:

Reply 16

Doji

17

@ Ancient Beast Do you have the same UCI number from GCSE's? Or does it change when you go to college? Or is it like a number that is unique and will never change and is designated for you for you whole academic life?

Thanks
TGF

Reply 17

silent ninja

19

Just a note, you cannot sit an exam at your school centre both as a private and school candidate. I'm not sure if this applies if none of your other exams are AQA.

I tried practially all the schools in my city and none would accept private candidates-- i even tried colleges in Birmingham (nearby) and they didnt either. In the end i went with examstogether (.co.uk ?) as a last resort. They are extortionately high, about £55 a unit and £70 odd if the exam is done singly on a day.

So in conclusion, go with your school if at possible, twist the head's arm. It'll save you a headache and lots of money!

Reply 18

Grolsch

70 if there is two exams?

Reply 19