NEA as a private candidate?

2

I want to take GCSE Computer Science as a private candidate next year (2025), and it looks like to sit the papers you need a signed form saying you've done the NEA. I couldn't find anything anywhere on how you go about doing this as a private candidate. I haven't yet decided which board to pick, so if one of them doesn't need the NEA (as far as I know, that isnt the case), I'd pick that. If anyone knows anything about this, any help would be much appreciated. Thanks.

Reply 1

ItzHex

4

For both AQA and OCR GCSE Computer Science there isn't any NEA. Which exam boards were you looking at which do have an NEA? I've never heard of one for GCSE Computer Science recently, only A-Level. However, most of the NEAs I've seen don't allow private candidates.

Reply 2

gdunne42

21

Original post by Tecknet

I want to take GCSE Computer Science as a private candidate next year (2025), and it looks like to sit the papers you need a signed form saying you've done the NEA. I couldn't find anything anywhere on how you go about doing this as a private candidate. I haven't yet decided which board to pick, so if one of them doesn't need the NEA (as far as I know, that isnt the case), I'd pick that. If anyone knows anything about this, any help would be much appreciated. Thanks.

Have you checked the AQA specification? https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/computer-science-and-it/gcse/computer-science-8525/specification-at-a-glance

(edited 11 months ago)

Reply 3

EnigmaChess

17

Edexcel definitely has no NEA (I sat as a private candidate) and arguably is the best exam board for CS in general, it's the only one with an on screen programming exam for example, so I highly recommend.

Reply 4

Tecknet

OP

2

Original post by gdunne42

Have you checked the AQA specification? https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/computer-science-and-it/gcse/computer-science-8525/specification-at-a-glance

My bad, in the specification, it doesn't say NEA, but there is a Practical Programming Statement that needs to be signed off. I was wondering how I should get that done privately.

Reply 5

Tecknet

OP

2

I muddled up the definition on NEA in my origianl post. What I meant was the Practical Programming Statement, which apparenlty is an Ofqual requirement. Since you're did it privately, how did you get the statement signed. Thanks

(edited 10 months ago)

Reply 6

EnigmaChess

17

Original post by Tecknet

I muddled up the definition on NEA in my origianl post. What I meant was the Practical Programming Statement, which apparenlty is an Ofqual requirement. Since you're did it privately, how did you get the statement signed. Thanks

I did it through my school, so not too sure.

Might be worth reaching out to the exam centre you plan on sitting the exams at and seeing if they can advise.

Reply 7

Tecknet

OP

2

Original post by EnigmaChess

I did it through my school, so not too sure.
Might be worth reaching out to the exam centre you plan on sitting the exams at and seeing if they can advise.

Ok, thanks! I'll reach out to them after school term starts.

Reply 8

connorfrancis

2

Original post by Tecknet

Ok, thanks! I'll reach out to them after school term starts.

Hi, I know it's been a while, but could I ask how that went? (I take it you'll be sitting the exam soon if all was successful). I'm hoping to take GCSE CS privately in 2026 (most likely OCR) and I was wondering the same thing about the Practical Programming Statement. Good luck on your exam if you're doing it!!

NEA as a private candidate?

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