Has anyone homeschooled during Alevels & if so how did it go & how much did it cost?

I am considering homeschooling during a levels. I am currently in y11 and have never homeschooled before. I want to study a levels biology, chemistry and maths. How much would it cost because iv been looking online and everywhere says different. The maximum I would pay would be 400 for all 3 a levels.

Reply 1

Geo Lover 7

Original post by Ohio2trappy

@Orange Blossom and @elareare may be able to help.

Reply 2

StraightAce

Original post by Ohio2trappy

I know someone who homeschooled through A levels but it costed £2000 for all three.
Not sure how you'd be able to do Chem and Bio since you surely need to do practicals right?

Reply 3

Purple

I self taught my A Levels and now home ed my son - Even at the cheapest exam centre its going to cost you £300 per subject for the exams, unless you have a good relationship with your school and they offer to do it at the cost to them plus an admin fee, I've seen this happen on very rare occasions. However, if you're planning on going to study science at uni you will need to get the practical endorsements for your sciences which when completed privately can cost over £1000+ per science. That's before costs of revision materials, textbooks, equipment to practice the practicals, getting mocks marked etc.

Reply 4

PinkMobilePhone

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A fortune. It costs a fortune.
That's why I only home educate my kids through I/GCSEs and not through A Levels. I'd have to sell my kidney and my first born child.

The price you've said is your maximum, £400 for all 3 A Levels... not even in your wildest dreams my dude.

I paid £223.13 for my son to sit a single IGCSE this summer, and £113.75 for him to sit HALF of another IGCSE (Modular Maths, Unit 1).
That's a grand total of £336.88 for 1 and a half IGCSEs.

A Levels are WAY more expensive than IGCSEs.

(edited 1 month ago)

Reply 5

StraightAce

Original post by PinkMobilePhone

A fortune. It costs a fortune.
That's why I only home educate my kids through I/GCSEs and not through A Levels. I'd have to sell my kidney and my first born child.
The price you've said is your maximum, £400 for all 3 A Levels... not even in your wildest dreams my dude.
I paid £223.13 for my son to sit a single IGCSE this summer, and £113.75 for him to sit HALF of another IGCSE (Modular Maths, Unit 1).
That's a grand total of £336.88 for 1 and a half IGCSEs.
A Levels are WAY more expensive than IGCSEs.

Also I don't think it's actually possible to do science Alevels at home. You'd literally have to have a sixth form lab at home and probably pay for a tutor to oversee your experiments.

Reply 6

PinkMobilePhone

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Original post by StraightAce

Also I don't think it's actually possible to do science Alevels at home. You'd literally have to have a sixth form lab at home and probably pay for a tutor to oversee your experiments.

That's another valid point

Reply 7

Jl3000

Hey I’ve been home Ed for gcse and a levels.
Im currently sitting the same a levels you mentioned. Think I’m qualified to explain it all so here you go.

Taking exam cost only:

Basically the cost is done per paper and I can tell you it is impossible to do 3 a levels for £400 of anywhere near that unfortunately.

For three A-levels I paid just under £1500 total and that’s on the cheaper side as exam centres go. Some schools will let you pay to sit them there - usually private schools - but it doesn’t make much difference cost wise and your then restricted to their exam boards and subjects. I found exam centres the better option.

Some other people said you can’t do science a levels bc of the practical but this is completely wrong. I’ve done bio and chem alevel just the papers. You don’t have to do the practical - basically if you do them it’s a pass or fail, if you never sit them it’s N/A. So not a fail and every uni I have spoken to says it’s fine to not have a pass on it when your homeschooled. If you do want to sit the practical element there are some exam centres that let you, however it costs about £1000 give or take per science so not worth it imo.

Homeschool/Online school cost:

When I did GCSEs home ed I just used textbooks and free websites or YouTube and found that fine and all the information was there.

I did a levels last yr independent and honestly bombed the exams. But I had been at a sixth form and only switched back to homeschool 6 month before exams and changed some of my subjects and exams boards then so we won’t blame the grades on homeschool alone.

I’m resitting this year using an online college which again cost a ton but, my predicteds are all As. The college basically just gives you PowerPoints and marks assignments so not really like having a tutor or anything but still helpful. Definitely overpriced for the support you get but I found having the structure helped me.
It’s definitely possible to do your a levels completely independently and achieve high grades. However, I would recommend using an online college or a tutor for guidance.

Reply 8

zurox

Original post by Ohio2trappy

I’m doing it right now. Depending on where you live they can cost between 250-600 on one paper alone. And if you’re doing a science you have to be able to pay for the practical endorsement too, which I have done. A bit pricey but if you’re over the age of 16, I would say find a job, as this is the only way I was able to pay for everything. If you need any book recommendations or resources let me know! If not, then I would say you may have to stick to going to a sixth form as you wouldn’t have to worry about any of those costs.