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Advice on sitting an A-level as a private candidate/in one year?

I'm currently in Year 13, but due to health complications and personal circumstances, I've decided to drop one of my A-levels and sit only two this year (managing all three would have just been too much). I plan to take a year out and do a third subject next year instead. At the moment, I’m studying psychology and biology and I'm dropping English Literature. I’d like to take sociology next year instead (I hate English so don't want to continue with it as realistically I don't think I'll haved the motivation to study for it). Ideally, I don’t want to take more than a year out, so I’m hoping to complete the full A-level within a year. I’m very academically capable and confident that I can handle the workload, but I’m unsure how to actually go about this. Is this possible? Are there any online courses that would allow me to complete an A-level in one year? Thank you

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by user01906002
I'm currently in Year 13, but due to health complications and personal circumstances, I've decided to drop one of my A-levels and sit only two this year (managing all three would have just been too much). I plan to take a year out and do a third subject next year instead. At the moment, I’m studying psychology and biology and I'm dropping English Literature. I’d like to take sociology next year instead (I hate English so don't want to continue with it as realistically I don't think I'll haved the motivation to study for it). Ideally, I don’t want to take more than a year out, so I’m hoping to complete the full A-level within a year. I’m very academically capable and confident that I can handle the workload, but I’m unsure how to actually go about this. Is this possible? Are there any online courses that would allow me to complete an A-level in one year? Thank you

Hi @user01906002,

It’s definitely possible to complete an A-level in one year, especially if you're academically capable and motivated. Many students do this, either through self-study or with structured support from online resources. If you’re comfortable working independently, you could self-study using textbooks, revision guides, and online resources like Tutor2U, Seneca Learning etc... You’d then register as a private candidate at an exam centre for your assessments.

Make sure you know which exam board you want to take, I think AQA is the most common for Sociology (?) - but please have a thorough look at which exam board works best for you.

All the best!
Danish
BCU Student Rep

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