A step by step guide to exams for home educators
Taking exams as a private candidate in England
Exam tips for home educators
Taking exams as a private candidate can feel like a minefield to navigate through and it is easy to feel daunted and confused by the process.
Use this guide of exam tips for home educators to help you steer your way through and come out smiling on the other side.
Taking exams as a private candidate: the process
- Choose a subject
- Select an exam board and specification
- Find an exam centre
- Book exam centre
- Order core text books
- Create a timetable
- Consider learning options
- Supplement learning with revision resources
- Use effective revision techniques
- Practise and refine exam technique
- Prepare for exam day
- Taking the exam
- Results day
- Options beyond the exam
I will discuss each of these steps later in this article, but will first give some background and options available to home educated students taking exams as private candidates in the UK.
Taking exams as a private candidate in England: the facts
At the time of writing (2024) home educators are not required to sit any formal exams, undertake any type of formal assessment or attain any national standard, so sitting exams is a personal choice.
However, many home educated children do choose to sit exams. Probably, the most commonly sat exams are I/GCSEs, although there are many other alternative exams and awards open to home educators.
Many GCSEs (but not all) have a coursework or practical element which needs to assessed or moderated by the school. It is possible for home eduators to do GCSEs which contain these elements, however it can be difficult and expensive to organise, so most will opt for IGCSEs. The ‘I’ in IGCSE stands for ‘international’ which simply means that they are exam that can be taken all around the world. The important thing to know is that they are equivalent to GCSEs and are just as acceptable to universities and employers as a standard GCSE.
Taking exams as a private candidiate potentially offers more choice, as you can take subjects (such as Astronomy, Latin and Classical Civilisation), and specifications (where you can choose a specification with, for example, a greater emphasis on physical geography or particular era or that has particular texts to study in English) not normally offered in mainstream schools.
It is also possible to sit A levels as a home educator/ private candidate.
Some home educators will choose to attend their local college on a part-time basis where they will have the opportunity to sit the core subjects (Maths and English and sometimes Science). This will be funded by the college. If you choose this option do check out how this is facilitated: there have been several cases of home educators being placed in a class with other students who are retaking their exams. This can mean that your child will not be able to sit a paper at a higher tier (meaning that the highest grade they are able to achieve would be a C) and there could potentially be disruptive behaviour.
Many home educators stagger their exams over several years – sitting a few each year. This helps to reduce the pressure on their children as they do not have to sit lots all at once. It also allows time for more extra-curricular interests. Financially, it also makes sense as the (considerable) cost of taking the exams is spread out. There are just a handful of Local Authorities that fund exams for home educators, so expect to pay for them yourself. Costs include exam fees, invigilator fees, admin fees, postage, travel and overnight accomodation costs if there is no exam centre nearby, text books, support resources and tutors if needed.
Many home educators never take formal exams and will still go on to become entrepreneurs, secure highly paid work or study at university.
Read on to find all the essential exam tips for home educators so that your child can be fully equipped as they embark on their I/GCSE or A Level study.
1. Choose a subject
If your child does choose to sit I/GCSEs or A Levels, then the first thing they will need to do is choose what to study.
There are several factors to consider when choosing what subject to study.
To help your child make a decision talk to your child about:
- Their interests
- Their strengths
- Their career aspirations
Brainstorm a potential list of subjects that they enjoy learning about, are good at, or that might be necessary or useful for their intended career. If they don’t have any clear career aspirations yet (which is perfectly normal) then just let them choose the subjects that they are most passionate about. They will be far more likely to engage with learning the content and doing well if they are interested in the subject. If they still aren’t sure, then opt for the subjects which they find the easiest.
One thing to bear in mind is that most employers expect a minimum of a C (or Level 4) grade in Maths and English Language.
2. Select an exam board and specification
The four main exam boards in the UK are:
Some boards are more accessible for home educators – with Edexcel and Cambridge offering a good range of IGCSEs (i.e. exams without the coursework/ practical elements).
For each subject offered there will sometimes be several options: for example there might be ‘History’ as well as ‘Classical Civilisation’, or for English Literature you could look at all the different boards and specifications/ syllabus’ to find one that has a range of texts which you find more appealing.
An important factor to consider is the number of past papers that are available to sit. If it is a new spec then there may not actually be any past papers available. This will mean that it could be quite difficult to gauge how your child is doing and which areas they still need to work on.
Cambridge/CAIE is a good board to use as they typically set more exam series (3 sets of papers/year) than other boards so can have more past exam papers available to practise with.
3. Find an exam centre
If you are taking exams as a private candidate you will need to find an exam centre that caters for private candidates. The number that do has always been fairly limited, and since Covid many are withdrawing this option.
An exam centre could be a school or college, or a commercial centre which specialises in accomodating external/private candidate exam sittings.
Try to choose an exam centre that is easy and fairly near to travel to – there would be nothing worse than a stressful or long journey on the morning of an exam. Unfortunately, due to the limited number of exam centres open to private/external candidates and/or the high fees charged by some centres, some private candidates are forced to travel several hours to get to a suitable exam centre. To avoid unnecessary travel stress on the day of the exam some private candidates will book an overnight stay the night before in the same town or city as the exam centre, so this may be something you will need to factor in, bearing in mind that each exam could have up to 4 papers to sit.
Find out prices for sitting exams
The cost of sitting exams as a private candidate varies greatly (often by hundreds of pounds) so it is worth getting prices from several centres so you are able to find one that is both affordable and can also accomodate the subjects/ boards that you wish to study/ use.
Check that the exam centre allows exams from the particular exam board/ subject of your choice
Not all exam centres accomodate every exam board or subject, therefore it is crucial that you check this with the exam centre before embarking on a period of study: it would be extremely disheartening to have studied hard for an exam only to discover that there is nowhere nearby to take it.
4. Book exam centre
The majority of private candidates take their exams during the Summer sittings (May/June), however it is also possible to take some exams during the Autumn sittings (October/November) and the Spring sittings (January). Not all boards/ subjects or exam centres have this option so you will need to check this.
For each centre there will be entry deadlines that you will need to adhere to and you will need to check this with each centre. For example to book a place for the sumer sittings you typically have to apply during the January before the exam.
Schools and colleges are under no statutory obligation to act as an exam centre and to do so they undertake lots of extra work on top of their usual duties: if they don’t think it is worth the extra hassle they can easily withdraw this provision. Bearing this in mind, it is always good etiquette to keep any communication polite and friendly, don’t over-burden them with excessive queries and to thank them for their time.
5. Order core text books
Once you have chosen your subjects, specifications and exam boards and found an exam centre, then you will need to purchase the text book that follows your exam syllabus. Each exam board usually recommends text books that match their syllabus – these can be found on their website under the resources / study materials section. You can also check online book stores, such as Amazon, to see the range of what is available. If possible check sample pages to see which one would be the best fit/ most appealing for your child. Also make sure to double check that it is definitely the correct text book for the syllabus and not one for an old specification: e.g. The syllabus for English Literature exams seems to regularly change – with new texts being introduced every few years or so. Once you have chosen the appropriate text book, it is always worth asking in local home ed facebook groups if anyone has a used one they are willing to sell you at a cheaper price.
Also, check to see if you need to purchase any additional texts: again English Literature has a range of texts/books which need to be studied – which will need to be purchased separately. The text book will give an overview, but not necessarily go into specifics for each text, so at a minimum you will need to get hold of a copy of each book (such as Animal Farm, The Woman in Black, etc.) as specified in the exam board and syllabus you have chosen. I would also recommend getting an in depth study guide to go with each text. In theory, for most subjects the main text book should be enough to get you through the exam, however, I would also recommend getting a few revision guides and practise question books. These are brilliant at summarising and reinforcing the key points and are significantly cheaper than the text books and well worth the money.
6. Create a timetable
Next you will need to create a timetable.
Decide how long you want to study for – will you cover the syllabus in two years (as is typically done in schools) or will you aim to cover it all in one year? Many home educators will opt for the latter. The advantage of this is that the content remains fresh in your child’s mind, which means that they do not have to go over it all again as much just before the exam.
You will most likely need to create three timetables: one long term plan where topics are assigned to particular weeks; a weekly study timetable and a focused revision timetable.
Don’t forget to leave time for hobbies, socialising and rest.
7. Consider learning options
Teaching your child yourself
You can opt to teach your child the syllabus yourself by using text books and any other suitable learning resources. As most home educators are not experts in every subject studied, they either choose to keep a few steps ahead by reading up on each topic before teaching it or learn alongside their child. By going through the text book with your child you will be able to quickly identify any tricky areas, and give immediate support as needed.
Self Study
If your child is paricularly self-motivated or has been unschooled then this might be the route for your child. Along with teaching them yourself, this is the cheapest option and only requires the purchase of the appropriate text book/s, and revision workbooks, if desired. In order to get through all the syllabus, you simply divide up the text book Contents page into daily or weekly sections so that they can all be covered in the timescale you have chosen. Depending on the motivation and ability of your child, the entire syllabus of a I/GCSE can be studied in as little as a month and an A Level in three months, although most would choose to spread it out over the course of an Academic year – starting in September and aiming to finish by the end of January. Sitting and marking past papers, along with focused revision would then begin around the beginning of February.
Private Tutor
Taking exams as a private candidate doesn’t mean that you have to teach your child yourself. Many home educators do not feel that they have the knowledge or skills (or patience!) to do so and so will outsource this by employing a private tutor. Home educators may choose this option as it means that the work is planned out for their child and it provides the reassurance that the syllabus will all be covered. Private tutors are also familiar with the subject and exam process so will be able to prepare your child well for the exam. The added bonus is that they may be able to provide an academic reference should your child need it in the future (such as for their UCAS application for university). However, over the course of a year, and with multiple subjects, this can be costly, and it may be difficult to find a local tutor in every subject your child wishes to study.
Online learning
This is becoming an increasingly popular option and can be more affordable than using a private tutor. There is a good choice of providers, ranging from subject specific online courses to a more ‘pick and mix’ approach where you can download both paid-for and free printable resources to reinforce and extend learning. There are far too many providers to mention here, but You tube videos are a useful option to help with learning – although may not be matched to a particular syllabus and some can be liable to inaccuracies, whilst Twinkl has a growing library of I/GCSE (KS4 and KS5) resources.
Part time college
As already mentioned above, this is another possible route to gaining qualifications in the core subjects of Maths, English and sometimes Science, particularly if you are not confident teaching the subject yourself, your child is not able to self-teach or cost is a factor.
If this is an option that you are interested in, you will need to check whether your local college offers this – provision can be very patchy and is sometimes withdrawn at the last minute. If your child is not ready to sit GCSEs at the traditional age of 16 / Year 11, then it is worth noting that they can still often apply to study a more vocational course post-school age with no formal qualifications, as Maths and English Language GCSE can be studied at the college alongside their vocational course.
8. Supplement learning with revision resources
Revision books, workbooks and revision cards
In addition to the text book there is a vast array of different revision products available that your child can use alongside their studies. CGP are a popular brand, although sometimes they do not have a dedicated IGCSE version. These revision guides will provide a summary of the key facts and many will also have a workbook attached, which is useful as it provides valuable exam style practice questions. Not all workbooks, or text books, include the answers so this is something to check before purchasing. It is also possible to buy revision cards which can be a useful resource in the final weeks before an exam.
9. Use effective revision techniques
Index/ flash cards and Mind Maps
Once your child has covered all the syllabus, then recording key points/ facts on index cards can be a really useful tool to aid revision, as it means your child will have to condense the information down into the essential points, helping them to become more focused as they do so.
Creating a mind map is also a really helpful technique to use when revising, as it will help your child not only remember key points, but to also make connections. A3 paper or off-cuts of wallpaper will allow plenty of space for your child to record all their ideas and key points, rather than trying to squash it all down onto an A4 piece of paper. Using capital letters, underlining and coloured marker pens can also help your child remember key facts or information more easily, especially if they are a visual learner.
Effective note taking
Simply copying huge swathes of text from a text book is not an effective way to take notes as you are not actively engaged with the information. It is more effective to read the text, close the book and then write down the key points that you remember. In order to do this you will have to recall that information and so are more likely to remember in the future. To double check that you have not missed anything vital you can then go back to the text book and have a quick scan – using the headings and sub-headings to help. Another way is to use the headings and sub-headings and simply list them and then add in a few bullet points for each one – again recalling it rather than just copying it.
Discussion
Allowing time for your child to discuss their studies with you is also an important part of the learning process. This can be formally done, but could also just be as and when needed, perhaps whilst sharing a hot drink together. In fact, it is probably most effective whenever your child suddenly comments on what they have been learning as it will be fresh in their head and therfore more relevant.
By giving them time to discuss things with you, you will provide them with the opportunity to bounce ideas around and give them a way of verbalising their thoughts. By giving them the time to explain or to ask questions you will be helping them to make connections and deepen understanding.
Learning style and location
As your child is home educated they are in the privileged position of being able to learn when they want and where/ how they want – they do not have to learn between set hours or have to sit at a table in a hard chair. If they work better in the evening or the middle of the night then let them lie in and learn at a time that fits in with their body clock. If they prefer to learn outdoors or lounging on their bed listening to music … then let them! When they are relaxed, happy and comfortable they will learn far better. Taking them hot drinks and snacks also helps too!
Rest and relaxation
Obviously working hard is likely to lead to better exam grades, but it is also equally important that your child takes time out to rest and relax. If they overwork they will become tired and their learning will not be so productive. It is far better for your child to take two hours out, and then study for an hour when they are feeling more refreshed and able to absorb key information, than to study for three hours when they are tired and absorb no information.
If they are tired let them lie in in the morning – teenager’s body clocks change as they get older, often meaning that they will naturally wake later and stay up later: if needed let them adjust their learning schedule to fit around this. I work far more productively in the morning and evening, whereas my teen daughter finds she works better in the afternoon.
Give them free time to pursue hobbies or to just unwind with a book, film, sport or craft activity, with friends or whatever will make them happy. When they are happy they will learn better and feel more equipped to deal with stress.
Self-care is incredibly important and will help both you and your teen keep a positive mindset and healthy body during exam season.
10. Practise and refine exam technique
Practise with past papers
This is where a huge amount of the learning happens, where concepts are reinforced and learning extended… and is therefore absolutely crucial.
Past papers can be downloaded for free from the exam boards website, as well as from other websites such as maths and physics tutor (which has more subjects than just maths and physics!) and papa cambridge. Just search the exam subject, board, spec code and qualification level. You can also search by date. It is important to note that more recent exam papers may be locked by the exam board and you may not be able to access them.
Mark exams together
Don’t be dispondent by your child’s first results. It is not unusual for children to get lower than a C grade on their first paper. By doing a past paper every week, or nearly every week, from February up until the exam date, it is likely that your child’s grade will go up at least 2 grades: in fact it is even possible to go from an E grade up to an A grade in just two months!
Don’t mark the exams for your child – it is essential to mark the exams with your child so that they can see exactly what is being asked for and how to answer. By going through each answer in the Mark Scheme with your child, not only will they be revising, but they will also be seeing exactly what they need to write to score top marks, and they will have instant feedback on what they still need to revise.
Be guided by the Assessment Objectives and Level Descriptors
When marking, analyse the Assessment Objectives (AOs) and Level Descriptors so that your child can fully understand what the examiner will be looking for. Carefully look through each paper and record which AO is being applied to each question so that your child is fully aware of how to answer each question, as each question is likely to have a different assessment focus. Also pay attention to Command Words (such as describe, explain, assess, evaluate) as these will give a clue as to how to approach each question.
Read Exemplar Answers/ Candidate Responses and Examiners Reports
Exemplar Answers/ Candidate Responses and Examiner’s Reports can be incredibly useful in helping to hone writing skills and exam technique and can be found on exam board websites or with a quick Google search.
Exemplar Answers are particularly useful for essay based exams/ humanities subjects and provide a point of reference to compare with. Candidate Responses are scanned answers from previous exam students and enable you to see candidates handwriting so that you can get an idea of the amount of writing needed for different mark questions (e.g. how many pages do you need to write for a 15 mark question?). A range of answers will be provided , along with a mark/ level and Examiner’s comments so that you can understand what a low, middle and high level response looks like and gauge your child’s level by comparison.
Examiner’s Reports discuss specific questions on a particular paper, highlighting where most or some candidates struggled and what they could have done to improve.
There is not always an Examiner’s Report and Candidate/ Exemplar Answers for every exam paper, so it is a good idea to find an Examiner’s report and Candidate/ Exemplar Answers and then get your child to sit the exam to which it is referring, so that you can go through it together after marking.
11. Prepare for exam day
Equipment
Exam centres have strict rules about what can be taken into the exam. These may differ slightly from school to school, but typically candidates are only allowed to take in a pen, plus a spare and maths equipment such as a ruler, protractor and standard GCSE level scientific calculator. Candidates are expected to write in pen so that answers cannot be changed so pencils would not normally be needed. Mobile phones and smart watches are not permitted – some centres will apply a blanket ban on watches of any kind (in case they are smart ones). If a pencil case is needed then it needs to be clear. Some centres may also allow a bottle of water – again this would need to be in a clear bottle without any labels (to eliminate the chance of anyone cheating by writing information on the label).
ID
If you are not known to the Exam Centre candidates should also take some form of photo ID and will need to sign in on arrival.
Route test run
Exams are inherently stressful, and there would be nothing worse than adding to this stress on the day of the exam itself, so a test run of the route is highly recommended. Make sure that when you do your test run that you do it on the same day and at the same time as you would need to for the real thing. Also check out whether there are any roadworks or diversions expected during the exam period.
Self-care
If your child is happy to, try to encourage them to take the day before the exam as a ‘rest day’. They are unlikely to learn anything new the day before and studying right up to the day of the exam is likely to lead to fatigue and stress, and could lead them to sit the exam in a state of stress, panic or exhaustion. By taking the day off on the day before they will feel rested, distracted form the inevitable stress surrounding exams and will be more likely to enter the exam with a positive mindset, not clouded by tiredness.
On the day of the exam itself, encourage your child to get up in plenty of time so that they don’t start the day off rushing. Try to make the day as relaxed and calm as possible and make sure that they have a good breakfast and a drink before the exam so that they don’t feel distracted by hunger or thirst during the exam, as some exams can be 3 hours long.
12. Taking the exam
Check paper
It may sound like a silly thing to do, but prompt your child to check the cover page of the exam paper to check that they have the correct paper – there have been several instances of candidates being given the wrong paper!
Pacing/ time management and exam technique
If your child has done plenty of past papers (I would recomend an absolute minimum of 4) they should be familiar with timing and how long to dedicate to each section. They will need to stick to this during the exam – if they do not they will run over and then realise that they won’t have enough time left to complete the paper. This will then make them feel stressed which will have a knock on effect on how they perform in the rest of the paper.
If they don’t know an answer it is better to move straight on to the next question and then, if time permits, come back and attempt it at the end, rather than waste valuable time attempting to answer it.
There are many different exam technique strategies: common ones include working straight through from start to end; answering all the easy low mark questions first to get easy marks straight away; or answering questions you are strongest in first and then moving onto more tricky areas afterwards. There is no wrong or right way – only the right way for your child. It is essential to have completed lots of past papers so that your child can see which technique is most effective for them (this may also vary from subject to subject) and so that they are really familiar with the exam paper format and know what to expect.
If it feels like it is going wrong
Exams do go wrong – there may be an unexpected question or your child may have a mind blank. It happens. It does not mean that they will fail the exam. It is how they react to it feeling like it is going wrong that will make the difference between a pass or fail. Probably the best thing they can do is simply move on to the next question, or a question that they feel they can have a go at answering. Another strategy is to take a moment to gather themselves – perhaps take a few sips of water and do some focused breathing or count to 60 and then try and carry on when they feel calmer.
It is important to reassure them that it really is not the end of the world if they do not pass. They can re-take it at a later date if they still feel that they need it for their future career aspirations, or a new opportunity may arise.
It is also important to note that if your child is finding it particularly difficult, when they had previously done okay in past papers, chances are, that other candidates are also finding it difficult. If the majority of the cohort taking the exam scores lower than usual then the threshold boundaries will be lowered to cater for this. This means that a score of 50 may be a C grade one year but may be a B in a different year.
13. Results day
In person
Your Exam Centre should be able to give you the dates when the exam results are published, otherwise a quick Google search will let you know. A levels results come out a week before GCSE results. Most exam boards publish their results on the same as other boards, however, some boards may have a different date.
Exam Centres will usually open first thing in the morning so that candidates can attend in person to collect their results.
By post
If you are not able to collect your results in person, you can arrange to have your results sent by post.
14. Options beyond the exam
Re-marking / reviews
If your child does not get the grades they were expecting it is definitely worth checking the Threshold Boundaries.
Threshold Boundaries are used to demarcate at which raw mark the grade boundary changes e.g. a raw score of 68 might mark the point at which an A grade is attained. The threshold boundaries change from subject to subject and year to year. If there is a particularly strong cohort in one year and the average raw score nationally is much higher than usual then the threshold boundaries will be adjusted. This means that, for example, where a candidate in a previous year scored 68 and was awarded an A grade, in a year of higher than average scores they may be awarded a B grade instead.
If your child is just a few marks below a threshold boundary you may want to consider a re-mark. There will be a fee for this, which is refunded if your child’s mark changes. There is no guarantee that their grade will go up and it also needs to be noted that their grade could also go down.
Re-sits
The other alternative is to do a re-sit at the next exam series – so if the exam was previously sat in the summer then it may be possible to re-sit it in the Autumn if the exam is offered then, and if the Exam Centre can accomodate it. Again, additional exam fees will need to be paid.
A final note
Bear in mind that exams typically take place at a time in your teens life that can already feel stressful or traumatic: their hormone levels are in flux as their bodies change; they are becoming more independent and are developing their own sense of identity; they may feel under pressure both socially and academically and may feel angst about both their own future and the future of the world. With this in mind, try to be gentle whilst guiding them through their exams. Nagging will only create more stress and may be counter productive. Instead aim to be supportive by providing them with all the resources they need, tailoring learning around their body clock and learning style and by being someone to bounce ideas off.
If things become fraught, which is fairly common, then take some time out. They might need it – and you might too!
And if all else fails – eat cake!