GCSE’s as an adult. Anyone done it.

[Paranoidmarvin]

I hated school so much. Did terrible as I was bullied.
I went to a very small private school and they didn’t do many courses and there were a few that I would have loved to have done.

I must be the last person in the world to realise that I can just actually sign up and do some of these courses as GCSEs online. They don’t have any requirements for doing them.

Now. I’m nearly 50. But have lots of free time. Am I really stupid at thinking I could just do this. It is a subject that really interests me.
Anyone done this.

Not stupid at all.
Learning when you really want to learn is amazing.
I didn't as well at school as I could have done and didnt go on to further education.

I trained in my field in my 40s and loved it. I loved studying and even the essays, because I wanted to learn.
Even if you don't do anything with it in terms of work, its just great to get your brain active.

Go for it.
What subjects would you choose?

I work in education with plenty of adults your age who are doing their maths/English for first time - if you fancy meeting people and being taught face to face (but not too close!!) that might be an alternative option.

It's not stupid at all, and a good thing to keep your brain going!

Yes. I did an iGCSE in Biology in order to apply to do a PGCE ( you need it a science one for primary).
It was very hard work because I crammed 2 years study into 3 months!
It was pretty much a full time job.
I got an A!

It's quite (very) expensive to do the online GCSEs. I think I paid around £600 for the course materials.
I had a tutor who marked my assessments.
To do the exam itself you will have to find a school who will take you, or go to an exam centre. You pay extra for the exam. It's a bit of a faff to be honest!

I took GCSE German at night school just because I wanted to when I was 27. I was the youngest in the class by about 35 years. Go for it OP!

I can imagine that some subjects are easier than others to study in this way. Which ones are you interested in OP?

Depending on which subject you are doing, there are tons of free resources online so you can self-study, you don't necessarily need a course.
You would just need to pay to take the exam at a local exam centre or school.

I have done a few over the years and A levels, there a few places local to me that do adult classes. I enjoy doing it and have made a few good friends. I Find it easier to have classes as I feel accountable and more inclined to study throughout the course, the online course I did left me studying last minute.

I did Physics in a year as an adult because I wasn't allowed to do it in school and that still rankled 15 years later.
I got an A - so proud of myself!

I did my science GCSE as an adult so that I could be a primary teacher. Go for it! It is hard work but no one can ever take it away from you.

I’m going to do it. I’m really nervous. Don’t care if I don’t pass. Just want that learning and online tutorials etc. I’m excited.

I did maths and English 10 years ago as I only had poor grades cses. Go for it, I did really well. If you don't have a c or above in these subjects you should be able to do them for free. I used my local adult education centre.

@ElizabethMainwaring

It's quite (very) expensive to do the online GCSEs. I think I paid around £600 for the course materials. I had a tutor who marked my assessments. To do the exam itself you will have to find a school who will take you, or go to an exam centre. You pay extra for the exam. It's a bit of a faff to be honest!

You don't "need" an online course though. Many mature students will be able to self study. A couple of CGP books and a couple of sample past papers should be all you need for many GCSEs, obviously you'd need the texts if doing English Lit and may need some kind of practical facility if doing science.

I went through accountancy exams (16 in total) by entire self study. I can't remember the costs of the study guides - maybe £25-£50 per subject I suppose and then I bought past paper booklets for exam practice (maybe a tenner per subject). It was said that each exam (16) were A level equivalent. I got pretty average marks in the real exams, nothing special, but I got just enough to pass. If you want to get top marks, then you do need a course I suppose.

Also, if you want the "social" aspect, then again, you'd need to go to physical lessons at a local college (if you can find one that does them for mature students).

Perhaps Open University would be a better fit rather than random GCSEs or A Levels? I hear good things about it for mature students.

My sister did GCSE maths this summer at 43 & got an A. She's got 2 jobs & had to study & go to night school but she did it & we're all very proud of her - it's also boosted her confidence & belief in her own abilities. Go for it & good luck!

I did Spanish and German GCSE just for fun in my mid to late 20s - both in the evenings. It was a year long course.

I got B's in both though think I'd have got As if I'd taken it more seriously.

Take a look and see if your local colleges offer any adult learning OP. If you've got plenty of time it may well be nicer than doing them online and give you a bit more interaction.

PS My mum did an A level course in the History of Art in her late 60s - she got an A

Me! English and Maths, at 50. Loved it and got good grades.
I'm glad you're going for it!
Can I ask what subject?

I have worked with children for 25 years. But just got the basic qualification at that time.
They now do a psychology children’s gcse. Which was the one I thought of doing. Just to add on. But they do a normal psychology course as well which looks really interesting.
But then they do a criminology one which I have done lots of reading on that subject as well.
Think I will do the children’s one and see what happens.
I’m just so happy as I didn’t realise I could do all of these online. I love learning new stuff. And I have always felt cheated even now that I missed out on so many courses.
My own downside is. I passed my English gcse ( I think it was along time ago ). But defiantly didn’t pass my maths. So if I want to do anything else I would have to re do my maths. I still have nightmares about being in a maths class as that was where most of my bullying was done.
But. I know it’s something I can do now. And that would be a massive huge enormous things for me to pass my maths gcse.

My mum did her GCSE maths at 62. She believed all her life that she was crap at maths. She got an A.

I'd recommend the OU as well. I didn't do A levels and my GCSEs were average. I did really well with OU ( though haven't finished the degree yet!)

Not stupid at all, I teach GCSE maths and have lots of adult students (local college) it's a free course if you don't already have the equivalent grades.

My courses are full and oversubscribed though. Teaching started today - if you want to do it enquire now!

I did a social sciences module with OU that had both criminology and some child psychology (among other things) in it, in case that would be of interest? There's GCSEs it too... Just as another option!

@Badbadbunny
Yes. Sorry. I was quite aware that you don't need to pay to do it online.
However, I needed to do it quickly and with guaranteed results, so I chose to throw money at it.
I was just giving my experience.

@ElizabethMainwaring it’s fine. All ideas and how to do this is amazingly helpful.

Looked at OU. Looks more advanced and scary !

I was rubbish at maths at school, and passed with a B at 50. It's much better doing adult education. If you need extra help (I did) look at hegarty maths on YouTube.