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Questions about doing one A-level privately, the other 2 with my 6th form

Ok so I’m 16 and in Year 12 at the moment. I attend an actual 6th form, where I study 2 a-levels, but I also do another a-level through a (legitimate) online home learning course. I’m wondering about the potential problems this might cause with applying to uni/sitting exams.

Of course, I’ll be sitting most of my exams at my 6th form, but I’ll also be sitting my third a-level’s exams a private candidate at a random nearby exam centre. Given that I’ll be both a private candidate and a candidate with my 6th form, will this cause any problems, like when I get my results or when I have to put down where I’m doing my a-levels UCAS?

Hopefully someone here can either reassure me that sitting one a-level as a private candidate won’t cause any problems or confirm my fears that it will. TIA.
Original post by xdr08
Ok so I’m 16 and in Year 12 at the moment. I attend an actual 6th form, where I study 2 a-levels, but I also do another a-level through a (legitimate) online home learning course. I’m wondering about the potential problems this might cause with applying to uni/sitting exams.

Of course, I’ll be sitting most of my exams at my 6th form, but I’ll also be sitting my third a-level’s exams a private candidate at a random nearby exam centre. Given that I’ll be both a private candidate and a candidate with my 6th form, will this cause any problems, like when I get my results or when I have to put down where I’m doing my a-levels UCAS?

Hopefully someone here can either reassure me that sitting one a-level as a private candidate won’t cause any problems or confirm my fears that it will. TIA.

This shouldn't cause you any problems. When you complete your UCAS application, you simply need to provide details of both exams centres, and the A levels you're taking via each.

Your sixth form will provide the academic reference, and will presumably help you with the application process itself.

The only potential issue would be with your predicted grade for the subject you're doing externally. Do you know if your distance learning provider will produce a predicted grade, or do they not do that? If they do, they'll need to provide it to your sixth form so it can be added to your application. (Only your referee can add predicted grades to your application.)
Original post by xdr08
Ok so I’m 16 and in Year 12 at the moment. I attend an actual 6th form, where I study 2 a-levels, but I also do another a-level through a (legitimate) online home learning course. I’m wondering about the potential problems this might cause with applying to uni/sitting exams.
Of course, I’ll be sitting most of my exams at my 6th form, but I’ll also be sitting my third a-level’s exams a private candidate at a random nearby exam centre. Given that I’ll be both a private candidate and a candidate with my 6th form, will this cause any problems, like when I get my results or when I have to put down where I’m doing my a-levels UCAS?
Hopefully someone here can either reassure me that sitting one a-level as a private candidate won’t cause any problems or confirm my fears that it will. TIA.

What online home learning courses are you using ?
Reply 3
Original post by DataVenia
This shouldn't cause you any problems. When you complete your UCAS application, you simply need to provide details of both exams centres, and the A levels you're taking via each.
Your sixth form will provide the academic reference, and will presumably help you with the application process itself.
The only potential issue would be with your predicted grade for the subject you're doing externally. Do you know if your distance learning provider will produce a predicted grade, or do they not do that? If they do, they'll need to provide it to your sixth form so it can be added to your application. (Only your referee can add predicted grades to your application.)


Thanks for the clarification.

Predicted grades shouldn’t be a problem, apparently my ‘tutor’ can provide one once I’ve submitted 4 or more assignments, and then presumably I can just pass that on to my referee at my sixth form and he can put it in the reference for UCAS.
Reply 4
Original post by fioonaaaaaa
What online home learning courses are you using ?


I’m studying A-level Spanish with Oxbridge home learning, though I’d hesitate to recommend them as a provider. They charge a lot for what you get. I can elaborate if you’d like.
Original post by xdr08
Thanks for the clarification.

Predicted grades shouldn’t be a problem, apparently my ‘tutor’ can provide one once I’ve submitted 4 or more assignments, and then presumably I can just pass that on to my referee at my sixth form and he can put it in the reference for UCAS.

Excellent. :smile:

Note that it may be that your sixth form would prefer to receive the predicted grade direct from the distance learning provider. (Some sixth forms are more paranoid than others about unscrupulous students "tweaking" the prediction if it's forwarded via them. So just check with your sixth form.)

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