Gcse

NR2010

I'm in year 9 and in my GCSE options I couldn't get computer science, in which I want to make my carrier. Can I give exam of computer science along with gcse not in school but separately. I'm doing gcse in school.

Reply 1

MindMax2000

Universities Forum Helper

Original post by NR2010

Yes, you can do GCSE Computer Science externally or as a separate subject to what you do in school.

What you would need to note:

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You don't need a degree, A Level, or GCSE in computer science to go into tech. If anything, the appropriate professional IT certificate specific for the role that you want to go into make more sense.

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You don't need GCSE Computer science to go into A Level Computer Science

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You don't need A Level or GCSE Computer science to go into CS degrees

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Your skills in computer science is more important and relevant

To answer your question:
As you have not done computer science before, I would recommend that you should do it as a course as opposed to self studying the subject.
GCSE computer science does not have a coursework component i.e. it's 100% exams (all except under the WJEC exam board), so you would be able to just sit the papers at minimal cost:
https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/computer-science-and-it/gcse/computer-science-8525/specification-at-a-glance
https://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/gcse/computer-science-j277-from-2020/specification-at-a-glance/
https://qualifications.pearson.com/content/dam/pdf/GCSE/Computer%20Science/2020/specification-and-sample-assessments/GCSE_L1_L2_Computer_Science_2020_Specification.pdf
https://www.eduqas.co.uk/umbraco/surface/blobstorage/download?nodeId=15772
https://www.wjec.co.uk/media/jymdzl0a/wjec-gcse-comp-science-spec-2017-e-04-05-2020.pdf

You can google for online GCSE computer science courses, but you should note that each course follows the specific specification of the individual exam board (the above for UK), and there is a difference between UK GCSE and International GCSE. If you are based in the UK, you should do the UK GCSEs (the above exam boards) as opposed to the iGCSEs. The iGCSE exam boards are EdExcel/Pearson (so check whether it's an iGCSE or just a GCSE), OxfordAQA, and CAIE/Cambridge Exams (and yes, they are the essentially the same organisations, but just under international brands).

To sit the exams yourself, you would need to do the following:

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Go to the private candidate section of the exam board's website

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Find an exam centre that is local to you and accepts private candidates

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Liaise with the exam officer of the exam centre

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Book your exam

If you are doing NEA/coursework as part of the GCSE, you would need to find a centre that would accept private candidates to sit the coursework as well (at extra cost).
The booking fees include the exam fee (set by the exam board) and the admin fee (set by the exam centre, which can be expensive based on the location).
You should contact about 5 exam centres, as not all will respond or would accept you.

If you have problems finding the relevant webpages to find the appropriate exam centres, see:
https://www.aqa.org.uk/student-and-parent-support/private-candidates/finding-a-school-or-college
https://www.ocr.org.uk/students/private-candidates/ (which will lead you to: https://www.jcq.org.uk/private-candidates)
https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/support/support-topics/understanding-our-qualifications/where-can-i-take-edexcel-exams.html (which will lead you to: https://www.jcq.org.uk/private-candidates)
https://www.eduqas.co.uk/home/student-support/private-candidates/ (which will lead you to: https://www.jcq.org.uk/private-candidates)
https://www.wjec.co.uk/home/student-support/private-candidates/ (which will lead you to: https://www.jcq.org.uk/private-candidates)

Reply 2

Jasmine6789

Original post by NR2010

Yes, you can sign up to be a private candidate for computer science at a private exam centre. Do ask your school about it though, they could provide more details.