The TSR Community Awards 2025 are now live >>

private candidate and self study advice?

like a title said, i am currently doing 3 AS level and one A level subject on year 13, and this is my final year in high school. the reason why because i failed 3 subject on year 11 and i got pretty good grade when i resit it. the thing is i want to study engineering in university and some university in Australia need 3 A level. so i was thinking about doing private candidate and self study at home.

i am currently doing AS math, AS physics and AS business this year at school and i will sit my exam on Oct/ Nov this year. and i need to resit my A level Chinese try to get high grade(which is pretty easy should not be a problem.)

i want to self study A2 math and physics outside of school and sit exam as private candidate,so in this case i will has 3 A level. But the thing is only 8 months i don't know if it that possible and realistic?

could you guys give some advices and you advice will be so important for me. Thank you!

Reply 1

DataVenia

Volunteer Team, Clearing and Applications Advisor

Original post

by boilair

Sometimes people expect to achieve the impossible. I reads a post the other day where someone was planning to do three full A levels (both years) in just four months!

Your proposal is isn't unreasonable. Most students will do three A2 subjects over, say, 10 months (Sep - June)? You're trying to do two A2 subjects over 8 months. So the timings work.

The thing which is less clear is whether independent study is for you. It's isolating and requires a lot of self-motivation. Is also requires you to source text books or on-line study materials yourself.

So the whole process of independent study isn't for everyone. But your timings are fine.