Getting a math GCSE for a 30yo?

[The Turbonator]

Does anyone know where or how I can go take a math GCSE exam or take a course which includes all the exams?

I've looked into it myself and the AQA website does list some schools that might accept external candidates, but what about the coursework that you then don't submit and won't count towards the final grade? It seems there are exam papers that don't require any supporting coursework (called a T2 exam I think) but from what I've read, the exam centres that accept external candidates, won't allow for special requirements including letting people do exam papers other than what their own students are doing.

I've looked at a few online, distance learning courses but they all seem a bit crap to be honest, with not very favourable reviews. Even the recommended ones don't organise the exams and it's still left up to you to arrange and pay for your examinations.

So has anyone got any better knowledge of this and give me some advice on how to finally go get my Math GCSE?

[thebraketester]

Private tutor? I think thats the route I would go down.

[Planet Claire]

I would suggest you get down to your local adult education centre and see what they offer.

[R Mutt]

I looked in to this for English but you could only do the fast-track course if you already had a degree. What a joke. I was considering cramming one in between jobs, I had no interest in taking a year to study when I was back working and I wouldn't need it anyway.

[loafer123]

Planet Claire said:

I would suggest you get down to your local adult education centre and see what they offer.

This is the best answer.

For example, West Kent College is reasonably near me and specialises in exactly this sort of thing;

https://www.westkent.ac.uk/courses/gcse

[WyrleyD]

I did mine when I was 40+ at the local FE college with all the re-sitters from the local schools, I was the only old'n in the whole college. I was quite surprised at the attitude of the re-sitters who attended the classes each week but did nothing in-between and expected to pass as if by magic, of course the majority of them failed again and a couple just scraped through.

[cobra kid]

WyrleyD said:

I did mine when I was 40+ at the local FE college with all the re-sitters from the local schools, I was the only old'n in the whole college. I was quite surprised at the attitude of the re-sitters who attended the classes each week but did nothing in-between and expected to pass as if by magic, of course the majority of them failed again and a couple just scraped through.

Same here when I started my Mechanical Engineering degree at that the age of 28. The attitude was quite startling.

[john2443]

FE college - my wife teaches English at one (Brighton so not close enough to be of any use to you OP!), students are over 18, mix of 'older didn't pass when they were 16' and 'English not first language'

Somewhere like Park Lane College in Leeds, other cities will have an equivalent.

Or as suggested, private tutor.

TBH, GCSE is pretty easy if you are tolerably intelligent and can think things through - my wife had to take maths a couple of years ago because her 1970s O level grade 3 wasn't considered good enough and we both did some test papers; they might be difficult as a 16 yr old, but as an adult with common sense they aren't.

Sample papers here https://mathsmadeeasy.co.uk/gcse-maths-revision/gc...

[john2443]

FE college - my wife teaches English at one (Brighton so not close enough to be of any use to you OP!), students are over 18, mix of 'older didn't pass when they were 16' and 'English not first language'

Somewhere like Park Lane College in Leeds, other cities will have an equivalent.

Or as suggested, private tutor.

TBH, GCSE is pretty easy if you are tolerably intelligent and can think things through - my wife had to take maths a couple of years ago because her 1970s O level grade 3 wasn't considered good enough and we both did some test papers; they might be difficult as a 16 yr old, but as an adult with common sense they aren't.

Sample papers here https://mathsmadeeasy.co.uk/gcse-maths-revision/gc...

[LosingGrip]

As suggested, have a look at adult learning centre. I got a D in English at school and needed a C for a job. It's not a GCSE but worth the same. Took around six weeks going once a week for a hour or so.

Was free as well.

[The Turbonator]

Thanks everyone!

I called a local college and spoke to a very helpful woman in the exam department. She told me that although they don't accept external candidates she gave the details of college that does. She also told me that the GSCE math exam has no coursework and it's just a case of sitting 3 exams.

Unfortunately I've probably missed the opportunity to sit it next month but I've got plenty of time to get stuck in and get prepared for next years June exams.

[21TonyK]

If you have a rudimentary understanding and need to learn specifics then i would pick up some used GCSE coursebooks and revision guides off Amazon, use BBC bitesize and youtube for tutorials and maybe a private tutor for a few sessions before the exam.

[TwigtheWonderkid]

Yes, youtube is your friend for GCSE. Every part of the curriculum is covered.

[lauda]

john2443 said:

TBH, GCSE is pretty easy if you are tolerably intelligent and can think things through - my wife had to take maths a couple of years ago because her 1970s O level grade 3 wasn't considered good enough and we both did some test papers; they might be difficult as a 16 yr old, but as an adult with common sense they aren't.

Sample papers here https://mathsmadeeasy.co.uk/gcse-maths-revision/gc...

Not sure what that says about the extent of my common sense! I had a look at one of those papers and didn't know where to start. And I'm a Chartered Accountant

[Cold]

"Math"


(All the sensible and informative answers have been by posted now )

[Planet Claire]

The Turbonator said:

Thanks everyone!

I called a local college and spoke to a very helpful woman in the exam department. She told me that although they don't accept external candidates she gave the details of college that does. She also told me that the GSCE math exam has no coursework and it's just a case of sitting 3 exams.

Unfortunately I've probably missed the opportunity to sit it next month but I've got plenty of time to get stuck in and get prepared for next years June exams.

The Maths GCSE paper changed in 2017 to the new 1-9 gradings. There are three papers, each 1.5hrs, one non-calaculator and two calculator papers.

There are November exams so potentially you don't need to wait until May/June 2020.

[Pothole]

Cold said:

"Math"


(All the sensible and informative answers have been by posted now )

I was going to ask if he was planning to take English as well...

[CopperBolt]

If I had a pound for every time Ive thought about taking a GCSE maths exam, I'd have £7.80.

[The Turbonator]

Pothole said:

Cold said:

"Math"


(All the sensible and informative answers have been by posted now )

I was going to ask if he was planning to take English as well...

I did actually write maths to begin with but Chrome kept auto-correcting it. I now realise that I must have a US version of Chrome and that I should have stuck with what I thought and not let a computer persuade me otherwise I did okay in all my other GCSE subjects but I turned up to my Maths exam late and never bothered to resit it. Yes I was a stupid boy!

Just to let everyone know, I've actually done 2 years of a Physics degree with the OU and have learnt some maths which is of and above a GCSE level. Hence why I was asking if I could just take a test and not do a whole course in it. I was prepared to pay for a course if that was the best option, even though I would pretty much just be paying the course fee to do a test.

[TwigtheWonderkid]

CopperBolt said:

If I had a pound for every time Ive thought about taking a GCSE maths exam, I'd have £7.80.

It's not for everyone. There are 3 types of people in the world, those who can add up and those who can't.