FSMQ Questions

Hello, I'm in year 11 and I've been studying for OCR Level 3 Additional Maths since year 10. My school does not offer this but I have been self-studying it and just need a place to write the exam. I have asked them about exam entry but have not received a yes/no answer as to whether or not I can enter with the school. While I wait for them to decide, I have been looking at all of the info online about private entry, but it's starting to get a bit confusing. I hope someone can answer some of my questions:
-How much would it cost to go private?
-What would happen if I find an exam centre, but the exam date clashes with one of my school's exams?
-What are the requirements to apply?
-Since I don't do it at school, I won't have a predicted grade for it - what should I put on my Sixth form application, especially as my school teacher will be confirming my grades?
-Is it completely independent of my school if I go privately or will I still have to approve it with them?

I'm not sure if any of these questions make sense, I'm quite confused.

Reply 1

Shayla Waggie

Original post

by Shayla Waggie

Hello, I'm in year 11 and I've been studying for OCR Level 3 Additional Maths since year 10. My school does not offer this but I have been self-studying it and just need a place to write the exam. I have asked them about exam entry but have not received a yes/no answer as to whether or not I can enter with the school. While I wait for them to decide, I have been looking at all of the info online about private entry, but it's starting to get a bit confusing. I hope someone can answer some of my questions:
-How much would it cost to go private?
-What would happen if I find an exam centre, but the exam date clashes with one of my school's exams?
-What are the requirements to apply?
-Since I don't do it at school, I won't have a predicted grade for it - what should I put on my Sixth form application, especially as my school teacher will be confirming my grades?
-Is it completely independent of my school if I go privately or will I still have to approve it with them?
I'm not sure if any of these questions make sense, I'm quite confused.

I think i should mention that nobody else in my year is doing this that i know of, how would it work out logistically if I did enter with my school, would I just be the only person in that exam hall? And would this be one of the reasons they say no? Is this selfish of me to be asking of my school if I'm the only one doing it?

Reply 2

whitehairguy

Original post

by Shayla Waggie

Hello, I'm in year 11 and I've been studying for OCR Level 3 Additional Maths since year 10. My school does not offer this but I have been self-studying it and just need a place to write the exam. I have asked them about exam entry but have not received a yes/no answer as to whether or not I can enter with the school. While I wait for them to decide, I have been looking at all of the info online about private entry, but it's starting to get a bit confusing. I hope someone can answer some of my questions:
-How much would it cost to go private?
-What would happen if I find an exam centre, but the exam date clashes with one of my school's exams?
-What are the requirements to apply?
-Since I don't do it at school, I won't have a predicted grade for it - what should I put on my Sixth form application, especially as my school teacher will be confirming my grades?
-Is it completely independent of my school if I go privately or will I still have to approve it with them?
I'm not sure if any of these questions make sense, I'm quite confused.

Hi, I will be doing the FSMQ as well, but entered by my school - they only enter around 30 students per year, but I really doubt that it'd clash with any of your other GCSE exams but it is still possible because not many schools do it. But for us since the school enters us for it anyways I'm assuming there's no clash(I do maths triple science geo comp and french). My school doesn't really care about FSMQ - it was optional anyways and doesn't consider it as part of the sixth form application nor does any of the other sixth forms I've applied to really cares about it. Also I don't think there's a requirement to apply, but please be confident with your GCSE maths exams first before you consider applying to do it.

Reply 3

DerDracologe

Study Forum Helper

Original post

by Shayla Waggie

Hello, I'm in year 11 and I've been studying for OCR Level 3 Additional Maths since year 10. My school does not offer this but I have been self-studying it and just need a place to write the exam. I have asked them about exam entry but have not received a yes/no answer as to whether or not I can enter with the school. While I wait for them to decide, I have been looking at all of the info online about private entry, but it's starting to get a bit confusing. I hope someone can answer some of my questions:
-How much would it cost to go private?
-What would happen if I find an exam centre, but the exam date clashes with one of my school's exams?
-What are the requirements to apply?
-Since I don't do it at school, I won't have a predicted grade for it - what should I put on my Sixth form application, especially as my school teacher will be confirming my grades?
-Is it completely independent of my school if I go privately or will I still have to approve it with them?
I'm not sure if any of these questions make sense, I'm quite confused.

The exam timetables have already been released, the FSMQ is on the OCR level 3 timetable so you can see if it clashes. The FSMQ is only one paper and likely to be your last summer exam because it’s usually put after all the GCSEs for some reason.

Reply 4

DerDracologe

Study Forum Helper

This was taken from a post by @gracexz (hope you don’t mind, just moving your advice from a previous thread with the same OP):
My school registered me for L2 FM, but I will be sitting FSMQ as an external candidate. Ican't remember the exact amount I paid, but it was around £200. If you want to find examcentres near you, then you can find them via typing 'JCQ Find a centre' on google. Thewebsite is pretty straightforward to use. It will give you a list of centres near you. I emailedaround 5 centres and asked them if they take private candidates for FSMQ examination.Two centres got back to me and I chose the one closest to me 🙂