FAQs about taking exams as an EHEer
From HE Examinations
I'm so confused, HELP!!
The idea of taking GCSE/IGCSEs on your own can seem very daunting! The sense of responsibility and doubt can feel overwhelming. We have all been through this and come out the other side! Taking GCSE/IGCSEs is really very straightforward and very rewarding.
One thing to watch out for: 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 easy; most subjects really only need one good textbook.
Taking GCSE/IGCSE exams as a home educator
Many home educators take GCSEs, IGCSEs and A Levels as private candidates and do very well. Many achieve the highest grades and go on to universities in the UK and abroad. Many universities like home educators because they are often capable of working with more independence and dedication than their peers.
As a private candidate you are responsible for all costs of study and sitting exams and you are responsible for finding and registering with an exam centre.
How many can I take?
You can take as many GCSEs or IGCSEs as you like. Some EHErs take two or three exams a year over two or three years. Some study just a couple, while others study ten at once and sit them at 16. It is entirely your choice; but because of the cost, many EHErs prefer to stagger the exams.
What is the best age to begin studying?
You can begin studying GCSEs or IGCSEs when your child is ready. If you want to stagger the exams over three years then you might begin at 13 years old. Having said that, there are people who begin studying for GCSEs or IGCSEs at 11 and others who begin at 16.
How long does it take to study for an exam?
A distance-learning course provider once quoted 150 hours study per GCSE/IGCSE. Again, how you choose to organise your study is down to you. There are EHErs who have studied for only three weeks and got an A grade! Usually though, a few hours a week over one or two years is the norm.
How old must I be?
You can sit GCSEs or IGCSEs at any age.
How much does it cost?
If you study IGCSEs independently, then the cost of study is only the price of a textbook and exam sitting. The cost of sitting an IGCSE varies considerably; it can be just the cost of the paper (about £30) up to be as much as £150 per subject.
Where can I sit an exam?
You will need to find an appropriate centre. Finding an exam centre can be difficult and you should start early. A good place to start is by contacting all the schools and colleges (state and independent) in your area and ask if they accept private candidates for exam sittings. There is a wiki dedicated to crowdsourcing examination centres that accommodate private candidates: http://homeedresources.wikispaces.com/
Where do I start?
Many EHErs prefer IGCSEs because, for most subjects, they involve no coursework and therefore can be studied independently and inexpensively. It is difficult for EHErs to take GCSEs independently because, with the exception of Maths, they all involve controlled assessment.
Two exam boards offer IGCSEs: Edexcel and CIE.
There are dedicated textbooks available for many IGCSE subjects, just make sure you are buying for your chosen exam board. If you are looking for a textbook for Edexcel Biology for example, search on https://www.amazon.co.uk/ for 'edexcel igcse study guide biology'.
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. You can find the Specifications (which include syllabus information) and Teachers' Guide, for all available subjects, on the exam board websites:
Edexcel: http://www.edexcel.com/quals/igcse/igcse09/Pages/default.aspx
CIE: http://www.cie.org.uk/qualifications/academic/middlesec/igcse/subjects
Maths
You can take GCSE or IGCSE Maths as the GCSE does not involve controlled assessment. There is a general consensus that EDEXCEL GCSE Modular Maths is the easiest way to get the qualification, but that IGCSE is much better preparation for A level (most independent schools have switched to IGCSE). Choose your textbook acording to whether it is GCSE/IGCSE and the board eg search for 'edexcel gcse modular maths' or 'cie igcse maths' on Amazon.
In addition to textbooks, these are very useful maths resources:
http://www.livemaths.co.uk/subjects/view/7-to-16-Maths At £49 per yr, great value - covers all GCSE/IGCSE maths topics with hundreds of online video tutorials.
http://www1.conquermaths.com/ Conquer maths costs more but in addition to the tutorials, it includes deicated worksheets, solutions, marking and reports for each topic. It costs £157 per yr, but there is a 20% discount for HEs if you contact them for the code.
http://www.mathswatch.co.uk/# MathsWatch CD - excellent value at £6, only for PC (not Mac). Available from HE group: http://faregos.org/books-cds-for-faregos-students/
English
Dedicated textbooks for Edexcel IGCSE English Language:
Edexcel IGCSE English A & B Student Book with ActiveBook CD
Dedicated textbooks for Edexcel IGCSE English Lit:
Edexcel IGCSE English Literature Student Book with ActiveBook CD
Dedicated textbooks for CIE IGCSE English Language:
Collins IGCSE English - Cambridge IGCSE English Student Book Julia Burchell, Mike Gould, Geraldine Dunn, Steve Eddy, Keith Brindle
Physics, Chemistry, Biology
Dedicated textbooks for Edexcel IGCSE Physics, Chemistry, Biology:
Edexcel IGCSE Physics Student Book with ActiveBook CD by Penny Johnson, Steve Woolley and Brian Arnold
Edexcel IGCSE Chemistry Student Book with ActiveBook CD by Jim Clark
Edexcel IGCSE Biology Student Book with ActiveBook CD by Philip Bradfield and Steve Potter
Dedicated textbooks for Edexcel IGCSE Physics, Chemistry, Biology:
IGCSE Physics by Heather Kennett Study Guide for Physics (IGCSE Study Guides) Mike Folland
Study Guide for Chemistry (IGCSE Study Guides) by Bob Berry IGCSE Chemistry by Earl and Wilford
IGCSE Study Guide for Biology by Dave Hayward Complete Biology for Cambridge IGCSE with CD-ROM by Pickering
Science Practicals help:
For Physics: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wumOthzmgabnoZxGIKplS4tulOnypnnG1qPrJZv9pVw/edit?hl=en_US&pli=1
Science Chemicals and Equipment: http://www.paradigmshift.org.uk/html/shop.html
Course Providers
While many HEs study independently using just textbooks, some prefer to hire tutors or buy courses. The courses can vary considerably in quality and cost. There are a number of course providers who are marketing to Home Educators:
http://www.littlearthur.org.uk/exams.html Long established course provider for a range of subjects, £180 per IGCSE
http://www.catherinemooneytutoring.co.uk/ English Language and English Literature, £210 per IGCSE (plus £35 materials pack for Literature)
http://www.sammartell.co.uk/ Chemistry and Biology IGCSE, £160 plus books/equipment
http://www.oxfordhomeschooling.co.uk/ Wide range of IGCSEs. Sliding scale costs, £350 for one IGCSE
