GCSE Equivalent Past Papers

[HairsprayBabe]

Trying to help a friend pass a GSCE equivalent Bio exam so they can get on to a PGCE Primary course.

I have a Bio Bsc and was happy to help, we talked through the process and I asked if she could send me over any past papers so I can see what she needs to learn how she should answer questions etc.

There are NO relevant past papers - the company just charge you £400, give you a list of topics and say "good luck".

AIBU in thinking they want people to fail at least once so that they can charge another £400 for the re-sit?!

Has anyone sat one of these exams - what should she expect from the paper - I don't even know where to start in terms of helping her study!

Which exam board is it?

I would look at 'normal' GCSE specifications, revision guides, and past papers from the different exam boards.

She has booked through a company called equivalency testing - looking at their website they don't mention an exam board.

That was one of my first questions - they are legit but the reviews of the company are terrible, I believe she was recommended it by the uni she applied to.

You can get all the papers free, via the exam boards.

Your friend has been 'had'

You can download gcse past papers from exam board websites. This is an example

www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/biology-8461/assessment-resources

...is she sure it will be acceptable for PGCE purposes? It's a lot of money if not! She'd be better off just sitting the GCSE as a private candidate and self-studying with your support.

It isn't the same as a GCSE paper - the exam board is the company they don't outsource the exams to exam boards.

I sent her the current GCSE past papers for AQA Bio paper as I knew that you could get them freely - she is worried that they are totally different to the syllabus she has been given.

I just think it is so shady to withhold past papers like that - I am not sure how she is supposed to learn with just a random list of topics

Yes - the Uni accepts this as an equivalency.

The reviews basically say that the company don't provide much support for studying - not that the qualification itself is dodgy.

I understand it's not the same as a normal GCSE paper - but what other choice do you have?

I would go through the normal GCSE papers and compare them to her specification - answer the ones that are on her spec and ignore the ones that aren't.

This is what teachers have to do when there is a new spec and zero guidance.

Yes that makes sense - I just need to convince her of that!

Thanks for the advice - I was just shocked at how unhelpful the company were - I guess we were all spoiled at school with revision guides, past papers and the mark schemes all available!

The normal exam boards are 'charities' and make money from school's choosing them, so they need to be open and helpful (or at least appear to be).

I think there is much less competition for the type of exam your friend is sitting and so much more of a business-like approach.

You can download their specification here www.equivalencytesting.com/biologyscience.pdf
which should help.

I have to say though, this is a very strange setup. They don't say anywhere about who accredits them or similar. Make sure your friend really understands, and has it direct from her own university that it will count for equivalence.

I think it odd that they don't say what format their exam takes or how long it will take. And without past papers...

Yes, that is weird. I would have thought an IGCSE would have been a better idea!

I’d buy a CGP revision guide and highlight the relevant sections from the specification as the link in the previous post suggests. Then have a go at AQA past papers ignoring any questions that aren’t covered on your specification. I would suggest that she also looks at the private candidate option. There’s no coursework for GCSE’s now just a set of required practicals the students have to complete. I suggest that she watches lots of Freesciencelessons guy on YouTube for the most straightforward explanations of the basic concepts. Primrose kitten is good too.
I would also check out evening courses at a local college as it might be easier to access for her.