Private candidate for chemisty but enrolled at a sixthform for my other alevels

I'm thinking of doing chemisty privately while doing the rest of my alevels at my school. My issue is the practicals for chemistry, is there a way I could do it at the sixthform im enrolled at (they didnt accept me for alevel chemistry which is why im doing it privately).

Reply 1

DataVenia

Volunteer Team, Clearing and Applications Advisor

Original post by Gsjdnl

I don't believe this is possible, I'm afraid.

Check with the exam board you're using for Chemistry, but I suspect they'll have something like the below on their web site (this is from AQA's web site, here, referring to A level Chemistry specifically):

"A-level Chemistry (7405)

Restrictions/special conditions for private candidates

The A-level qualification has the following condition:

Component 7405/C (practical skills endorsement)

The entering centre must be able to make appropriate arrangements for the practical skills endorsement to be completed and assessed.

This qualification is not available at schools and colleges in Northern Ireland."

Note that is the "entering centre" - i.e. the centre which enters you for the qualification - which is responsible for ensuring that the practical endorsement is completed and assessed.

Do you have an exam centre in mind? Have you contacted them to see if they're able to covere the requirements of the practical endorsement?

Reply 2

Gsjdnl

thank you for letting me know. i did some reseach and found a centre however it costs 500 just for the practicals. ive looked in other places and its just as much. so i might go with it unless u have a better place (preferably in birmingham)

Reply 3

DataVenia

Volunteer Team, Clearing and Applications Advisor

Original post by Gsjdnl

I don't have any better options for you, I'm afraid.

Do you know what course you want to study at uni, and to what unis you'd like to apply? The reason I ask is that although they normally require the practical endorsement, there are some which don't (or don't if you're a private candidate). So it might be worth checking before committing to that £500.

(It's a slightly risky strategy, as you might change your mind about the course/uni, or the uni might change its policy. But it's probably worth looking into.)