top of page

Exams and Qualifications

Where do I start?

Home Educated children, can in most circumstances, access exam provision.

Whilst exams are available many take some others take none. Most do them over a two or three year period rather than in one big sitting as is normal in school. Many people still feel that formal examinations are important in order to access college, university or get a career.

  • iGCSEs tend to be the popular option, as there is no coursework or practical element involved, though GCSEs changed in 2017 there are very few which now contain coursework in a standard GCSE. 

  • If you decide to take this route you could contact the local authority’s EHE adviser and ask if they know any nearby centres. This has not been included here as centres which offer the facility to private candidates changes on a very regular basis. 

  • Register the fact that your child is in Year 10 or 11 and you wish to receive support for examination fees.

  • If this is not fruitful then you could contact the exam board directly as they may know of a centre that accepts external candidates. Home Educators can also phone local secondary schools and colleges themselves to ask if they will take an external candidate.

  • You can book one or more exams at a time, beware there are deadline dates for doing so.

  • You will be liable for the full cost of the exam and any administration fee. What you can claim from the LA is a small sum and a token gesture rather than a full cover of the cost.

  • You will  need to make sure your child studies the appropriate syllabus for that exam board.

  • There is no minimum age for taking exams. It is for when and if your child is ready both in terms of knowledge and emotionally.

 

Many home educators prefer International GCSEs (IGCSEs) because, for most subjects, they involve no compulsory coursework and therefore can be studied independently and inexpensively. It is difficult for home educators to take GCSEs independently because many involve other elements like speaking tests, practical observations etc, and you would have to find an exam centre willing to facilitate this. Most simply won't do it, with the exception of a few independent exam centres - and even then, it can cost a lot per qualification. They can be done but a lot of work with your exam centre is required and it is best you start this perhaps up to a year in advance.

GCSEs which do not include controlled assessment, and therefore are straightforward to take for home-ed students, include maths, psychology, sociology, English literature, history, and some languages. From 2017 more subjects opened up, but there are still 'non-examined elements' like speaking and practical activities for sciences and English language, for instance. Most modern foreign languages have speaking assessments in both GCSE and IGCSEs so you will have to shop around to find an exam centre which will cover these. Geography GCSE requires you to have the exam centre certify that you have carried out fieldwork exercises; while most home-educated candidates will indeed be doing fieldwork, the difficulty is getting this certified by the exam centre, so International GCSEs are the usual option here.

Exam boards offering IGCSEs are Pearson Edexcel and CAIE (Cambridge Assessment and International Examinations, which is a sister company of OCR), and AQA, whose IGCSEs are called the AQA Certificate. NB: CAIE was formerly called CIE (Cambridge International Education.) See the Exams page for the links to various Boards.

 

There is no set way to study for IGCSEs so you can use any method that works for you. All that matters is that you cover the syllabus for the subject. Go to the Boards summary of the syllabus and often there are some resources available. You can find the Specifications (which include syllabus information) and Teachers' Guide, for all available subjects, on the exam board websites. You don't need correspondence courses, although some families do find them helpful.  Many find they get along fine with just a good textbook and free online resources and past papers, and complimentary You Tube videos. If you ask locally there might be tutor or cooperative groups running or people with a similar subjects 

It is important to get the right textbook for your exact syllabus. You will generally need to order a "Student book" - this is a complete course tailored to the syllabus, with plenty of practice questions. You cannot usually get these textbooks on the high street so will need to order them online either direct from the exam board or through third party sellers of second hand books. The books available from high street shops are usually revision books or practice books, which are supplements to the full course. They don't contain all the detail or explanation found in a full course textbook. 

 

How long does it take to study for an exam?

A GCSE was quoted by JCQ at approximately 50 hours study per GCSE/IGCSE.  How you choose to organise your study is down to you. There are home-ed students who have studied for only a very short time and got a good grade! Usually though, a few hours a week over one or two years is the norm. Most people find that studying a subject several times a week works better than having just one tutorial or intensive session or they become immersed in the subject until complete. But there is no right or wrong way it is dependent on each child, time available and most certainly interest in the subject. 

How much does it cost?

As an external candidate you are responsible for all costs of study and sitting exams and you are responsible for finding and registering with an exam centre.  In West Berkshire there is currently a scheme whereby the Local Authority will pay for exam entry fees up to a capped fee, subject to certain conditions. Your child must be in academic years 10 or 11. You make contact with EHE Officer and request fees to be paid.  You are unlikely to receive any financial help from public funds and exams are the only thing which receives any form of support.

If you study IGCSEs / GCSEs independently, then the cost of study is only the price of a textbook and exam sitting, so it can cost less than £100 per qualification for the actual study materials. Don't panic-buy and over-spend on books and courses. It is easy to waste lots of money on unnecessary materials at first. Take things more slowly and review the subject as most subjects really only need one good textbook.

See further down about 'additional' costs for sitting exams.

Which exam board should I choose?

Many parents are not even aware that there are different exam boards, moreover that they do the same exam in terms of subject. As a private candidate it doesn't matter which exam board you choose; they are all equally well regarded.  The main options are Edexcel, AQA, OCR, CIE or WJEC (Welsh Joint Examining Committee/).  WJEC exams can not now be taken in England, the English version of their subject falls under the brand Eduqas. You can pick and mix different exam boards for different subjects, it is common practice to do this, choosing the syllabus best suited to the students interests. DO check if your exam centre offers exams for that board however otherwise you will either have to change board or find another exam centre. Again it is not uncommon for external candidates to sit exams at more than one centre.

  • If there is a convenient local exam centre which is only registered with one exam board, it may make life easier just to stick with that board.

  • Look at the syllabuses for the subject you're interested in and see which appeals.  You can find this on each exam board website.

  • Textbooks and materials - see what is available to cover the syllabus you like, and whether answers are available. Sometimes, the availability of a good textbook with answers included can swing the choice of syllabus.

  • You can use more than one exam centre if necessary, but beware of exam clashes or difficult journeys if you end up having a morning exam in one centre and an afternoon one in another.

Is one exam board easier than the others? Is one more respected?

No, they are all worth the same. Many teachers have an opinion and think that 'everyone knows' exam board X is easier / harder, but there is no consensus about which exam board X is.

Exam board styles vary, and the difficulty may vary a little from subject to subject, but none is easiest overall, and none is more respected overall. An IGCSE is worth the same regardless of the exam board, and nobody is ever likely to ask which exam board you used. Universities do not have any preferences for particular exam boards.

However, one exam board may be better for you in a particular subject. The variation in styles means you may find that one syllabus suits you much more than another, so do read through the subject page and then post on the HE Exams group to help you choose the best one.

Where can I sit an exam?

You will need to find an appropriate centre which is accredited with an awarding body (usually referred to as an "exam board") such as Edexcel, AQA, OCR, CAIE, Eduqas or WJEC. Finding an exam centre can be difficult and you should start early. Popular subjects like Maths and English get booked up very early and some have limited spaces. 

 

The exam boards all have lists of schools which supposedly accept external candidates. Some centres do accept external candidates but don't want to be listed as such on the exam board sites, while others only rarely accept externals but are still listed.  Start with the EHE Officer, then ask the local home-ed community, then the exam board sites, then try contacting local schools to ask if they accept private candidates for exam sittings.

How do I register to take an exam?

You deal with the exam centre, not the exam board. Each exam centre will have its own procedures for making entries, please see what information the exams officer will need. For example this could be a passport or birth certificate and to meet in person unless you are previously known to them.

For summer exams, most exam centres take entries in December and January, though later entries are usually possible at a price because the exam boards charge 'late fees'.  However, although you will not formally make your entries before this, it is wise to find an exam centre as early as possible.  Ideally, when you are ready to begin studying for a qualification, make informal enquiries of local centres before you buy any materials, as their preferred exam board may influence your choice of syllabus. 

If there is a convenient local exam centre but it only uses one exam board (eg Edexcel, AQA, OCR, CIE), then you may decide to limit your choices to their syllabuses.  However, there is nothing to stop you travelling further afield to a different exam centre for one subject if you much prefer their syllabus.

Plenty of families do start a course and then look for an exam centre nearer the time.  If you want to sit exams in the summer of next year, it would be sensible to start looking for an exam centre in the autumn term beforehand.  Depending on where you live, you may have to travel - sometimes candidates stay overnight nearby to avoid a morning rush, if they live many miles from the exam centre. 

The cost of sitting the exams for a qualification varies considerably; it can be just the cost of the exam board fees (about £35) up to as much as £300 per subject. The cost varies locally. It may be false economy to travel a long way to a cheaper exam centre if the journey will be stressful. Also consider the route you have to take - a south coastward route in a popular tourist location may mean an overnight stay or very early journey start time as morning examinations candidates should be within the centre to register by 8.45/9.00 - traffic is at its worst at that time of day, prone to accidents which all add to the stress. The availability of rooms for just one night in popular summer sitting exams is also becoming harder to obtain as many smaller B&Bs and hotels won't offer midweek 1 night increasing their workload and decreasing their options for full week occupancy - so think very carefully about seaside locations.

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities and Access Arrangements

What if my child needs extra time, a scribe or a computer - can this be done?

Yes, home-ed students can still have access arrangements if they have special educational needs, but it can be very difficult to arrange as it involves extra work for the exam centre. External candidates simply do not have a right to extra time, it is based on normal way of working and on various other factors and potential specific assessments or diagnostics. See the page on Access Arrangements for further information. 

This can be very expensive and very difficult. It's not fair. It is one reason why families of children with SEN may find it easier to arrange a part-time college course for them to take exams; in this situation, the college should deal with all arrangements and costs.

This is also a good reason for considering very carefully whether removing children with SENDs from school just prior to exams where Access Arrangements are already in place is the best decision.

Schools do not have to take external candidates in any situation and the provisions of the Equality Act 2010 do not compel them to offer access arrangements to external candidates, so our approach to exam centres has to be one of asking for a favour, rather than demanding a right.

See the SEND page for further detailed information.

Exam Boards

Exams are taken throughout the country on the same day for each subject there are few exceptions. There is a provisional exam timetable published a year in advance. The time table is provisional and it can change but it is most unlikely to do so. Sometimes there are subject clashes which will be realised some time in advance. You must talk to your exam centre as to how they will be managed. Sometimes these clashes which are managed by the exam centre means you may have to be sequestered in a room and have no access to electronic devices which may connect to the internet or the outside world.

JCQ - Joint Council for Qualifications

JCQ is a membership organisation representing the eight largest national awarding bodies offering qualifications in the UK.  These qualifications include GCSEs,  A levels,  Scottish Highers as well as vocational qualifications. They do not govern CIE Cambrindge exams.

Alternative Qualifications

Alternative qualifications and courses to the 'mainstream' GCSEs, IGCSEs and A-levels are anything which students might use as a way of gaining recognition for their learning outside of traditional academic exams.

Alternative qualifications have been roughly grouped in three sections: Alternative Academic Qualifications & Curricula, Vocational qualifications and courses (listed by subject area) and Community/ Life skills awards

WARNING ABOUT ALTERNATIVE QUALIFICATIONS:

DO NOT RELY ON ANY QUALIFICATION BEING ACCEPTED AS 'EQUIVALENT TO' GCSES OR A LEVELS to fulfil the entry requirements for a course or job, unless you have had direct confirmation from the college, university or employer you're considering. Some course providers, curriculum providers etc may suggest that their qualification is "equivalent to" mainstream qualifications, but in practice there may be only a few institutions which will treat it as such. An alternative qualification might be great for your CV, and a good way to structure your learning - but if you want it to do more than that, check first.

Alternative Academic Qualifications

BTECs

BTECs are assessed mainly through practical work, and usually require attendance at a college or school, so there are limited options for home educated students. There are a few IT courses (see Computing section below) which can be completed from home, and some BTECs can be completed through Cadets (see further down) or national sporting organisations (see sports section). Students age 14+ can access some level 1 and 2 BTEC diplomas at colleges with a part-time, or (very occasionally) as infill students on courses intended for 16+, but otherwise BTECs are usually available from age 16.

Extended Projects, the EPQ, and essay competitions

Although the EPQ is hard to arrange from home education, there are some great alternatives where you can develop your own extended academic project and gain external recognition through entry in an essay competition, science fair etc. Some home-ed groups have had great experiences doing this.

Functional Skill

Functional Skills are UK qualifications in English, maths and ICT which can be taken year-round at a test centre. They have some degree of GCSE equivalence, eg they will meet the requirements of an Intermediate Apprenticeship, but are not substitutes for GCSEs in all situations.

International Certificate of Christian Education / ICCE / ACE

While these curricula may be a useful way of structuring education around your faith, you cannot rely on them being accepted as alternatives to GCSEs or A-levels in the UK.

Open University certificates, diplomas and degrees 

Some home-educated children have taken Open University courses to gain qualifications, or even to get into university. For degree courses, it is possible to apply for a Student Loan, in a similar way to applying for a loan for a brick-and-mortar university).

SATs (American) 

A few home-educating families have taken American SATs as a route into university both in the UK and in the USA, considering it to be easier and cheaper than IGCSEs and A-levels.

Post 16 College Places - Infill

Colleges in England sometimes admit children aged 14 or 15 who are being electively home educated, to take 16+ courses on an infill basis by arrangement for exceptional and gifted learners on to Level 3 courses. In order for their consideration the student must have disposed of (or in other words have) all the necessary requirements to meet the ESFA Funding Criteria, this is usually a minimum of 3 GCSEs but ideally 5. These courses are full time and as such the student then ceases to be home educated for purposes such as Child Benefit and Tax Credits.. This can bee seen here. 
14 -16 College Places - Direct Entry
Colleges in England sometimes Where can I sit an Exam

admit children aged 14 or 15 who are being electively home educated, to take a specific course which includes math and / or English if they do not have them. These courses are often vocational and are for one or two days per week. Not all colleges offer this. The 14 to 16 centres’ will offer a combination of vocational and academic subjects. They aim to attract students of all abilities who want early access to more practical forms of learning and/or wish to train for a technical profession or trade and who wish to study in a college environment. 


The courses that EHE students can do, are not limited to the 14-16 provision from the college, but can include any course at any level (though some may have prerequisites) as long as they are on a Part Time basis. Where the courses are Full Time, the student is no longer considered EHE.

Parents should take note, that the child has to be age 14 on 31 August in the year in which they enrol at a participating college – unfortunately, a child who turns 14 in September, can only attend college the following year.

Funding Information for Colleges

Where to Sit an Exam

The West Berkshire EHE Officer should have a list of all Schools in the area accepting external candidates.

There is a single commercial centre with multiple sites at Coventry, Wimbledon and Manchester

There is also a support group for Exams and Specialist support for Access Arrangements. To access the group via Facebook you will need to request membership of the group. The group is only open to home educators. If you require support for exam information for private candidates as you wish to sit outside the school sytsem but are not a home educator please make it known in your response to the questions.

bottom of page