Taking Another GCSE/A-Level

[Adasta]

I'm thinking about taking a GCSE in Spanish or Italian and maybe an A-Level in French since I already speak it pretty fluently. I won't need to study that much beyond buying one of those GCSE revision guides and getting my hands on the syllabus; I already do it on my own time and know native speakers with whom to practice.

I was wondering if any teachers/education types/knowledgeable folk could tell me how to go about sitting the exam? Are there any coursework elements these days? Could I just submit everything all at once?

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

IIRC you need to register somewhere like the local education college.

And well done you - all that language skill. I'm still struggling with English.

 

[Adasta]

The problem is that a lot of places offer courses of a year or so, but I don't need that. I only want to pay to be registered for the exam and fill it in on the day. I'm not looking for a class or for private tuition because I know I can do it myself or ask a few mates for tips here and there.

Some of these courses are £125!

Edit: 100th post. Some sort of landmark, there.

 

[ASC1951]

This seems to tell you what you need to know http://web.aqa.org.uk/admin/p_private.php

When I were a lad, you could just send in your application to the relevant exam board, pay the exam fee and roll up at the Tech for the exam. I reckoned that provided you knew how to study, you could pass (as opposed to getting a high grade) pretty much any A level without any third party tuition. I put that to the test by getting a C in Economics from reading the textbook half a dozen times; and was all set to have a go at History, until I asked myself why on earth I was doing more A levels.

It ought to be a simple procedure, but in the last 40 years we have acquired a vast bureaucracy whose jobs depend on not allowing you to do things for yourself. Add the 'prizes for everyone' system of continuous assessment and you may find that for most subjects it is next to impossible to do what you want to do.

 

[Adasta]

Thanks ASC1951 - that's a very informative link. It's not that expensive to sit one; I suppose it's the "setting-up" which is a pain in the arse.