I am doing Private Exams Soon and Need Some Advice. What Do you Think of This?

[kmo0416]

I am going to do some A-Level exams at a private test centre and have paid money for the exams. I am really nervous not because I am worried about taking the exams but because I have social anxiety and so being in an unfamiliar place with strangers is freaking me out.

Has anyone had any experience of doing exams at a private test centre so that they could give some insight?

Are there likely to be other students there doing exams or will I likely be the only one there for the day? I don't want to be the only one as that would be so nerve-wracking? Is it likely that there will be young people in the exam centre or would it be mostly older people as I would assume that older people (me as an exception) would be more likely to do private exams since they can't use a school.

Will the invigilators/staff try to make small talk with me?

Tbh it will mostly be younger people, either doing resits, or like yourself self study from home due to mental health probs. I doubt the staff will talk to you, or even notice you, don’t take it personally but they will treat everyone like cattle herding them into the exam room to take the exam - that will be their focus, making sure everyone is sat down, has their paper, and isn’t cheating. They won’t care why you are there, how old you are, etc.

Could you take a visit to the venue beforehand? Even if it’s just the outside?

The obvious thing is to ask them and familiarise yourself with the journey and venue to reduce anxiety on the day. There may be others doing similar, if different subjects or perhaps gcses , at the same time. Is the venue an education provider with its own students?

Yes agree, go an see the exam centre. Have you flagged your anxiety? I work with a lot of private exam centres and they all have lots of smaller rooms that may be available to use – but it's a good idea to flag this to them beforehand.

I assess MFL speakings and I usually do chat briefly to the candidate beforehand, but then the exam is them talking to me so it makes sense. I would imagine for a written exam there won't be a lot of chat, especially if you are not keen.

There will almost certainly be other students there (unless you are taking a very unusual subject). There wil maybe be some older people taking the exam for fun but most students using exam centres are out of school for various reasons (HE, ND) and are usual exam age IME. Typically only a couple of students I assess in a season will be older than about 20.

Do you mean a school that also takes private candidates for exams? Or a very small test centre? I’m an exams officer in a school that takes lots of private candidates so could answer questions if that’s the case, but obviously only based on what I do with private candidates.

What sort of centre is it?

Are you doing 'standard' subjects like maths or history etc or are they more unusual subjects?
Standard subjects, I'm sure there will be others
Even with more unusual subjects, there are normally several subjects timetabled for the same slots, so there will be others taking other exams at the same time.

There’s nothing to be nervous about.

the test centres are very calm, quiet places. Other than the nerves about the tests themselves I find them quite soothing places - sort of like a library.

it depends on many factors, but you may have a real mix of people doing all different tests, or it may just be your test.

you will generally be expected to put all your stuff in a locker, and when you take your seat just have your pens, calculator, cup of water.

raise your hand if you need to go to the bathroom.

and that’s it really.

I did A level exams at a private centre last year. It was in a rugby club function room. About 60 of us in the room I’d say. I’m 50 and I certainly wasn’t the only ‘oldie’ there but it was mostly youngsters. A fair few international candidates too. Everyone waited beforehand in the bar . People pretty much kept themselves to themselves and did a bit of last minute cramming while we waited. Then an invigilator gave a quick run down of the rules and regulations before we went into the exam room. Honestly, once you are at your desk, you won’t notice anyone else. Good luck!

Suggest you ask to visit in advance.

Make sure you are aware of rules, e.g. clear pencil case, black pen, clear water bottle only with water, no calculator instructions.

Make sure you know whether you need to take ID with you on the day.

Good luck.

Yes good point about ID – the exam centre should tell you anyway but yes, it’s highly likely that you will need to produce ID (driving licence, passport) on entry.

Do you want to share the exam centre @kmo0416 and I can tell you what it is like if it’s one I know? Fine if not ofc.

It is one of the Tutors and Exams Centres around the country. There are centres in Birmingham, London, Bolton, Coventry etc.

Two of my sons have used different test centres.
In both there were other students doing the tests They were A levels too OP

In both the general idea is you go in.
Give them your exam number and photo Id ( although one centre already had a copy of that. They will tell you everything before though )
You wait till everyone is called.
No one knows anyone so there’s no big group chats that you aren’t part of.
You’re called in, given a seat and when it’s time the exam starts.

One of my sons has social anxiety and he had no issues.
The rooms were relatively small, nothing like the big exam halls at school .

One of my sons used one of these in London it was all fine.

Ah I know these well (not the London one) and they have a number of smaller rooms as well as bigger ones - but yes, nothing like a big school
hall. Still suggest going to look.