Affording exams

[stuffedmk]

I have read time and time again that home ed can cost as much or as little as you like
My question is, if your child wants to do exams; GCSEs etc how does one do it with low income?
DS is nearly 9 and we are very seriously considering HE but we have very low income. I am not worried about the cost of general education (including things like clubs, day trips etc) but looking at the cost of exams is making me break out in a cold sweat !!!
I realise there is the option of spreading exams out but even so......
I guess I am willing to do what is needed to do the best for DS but in my present situation (which is unlikely to change if I am committed to HE) I would be looking at loans/credit to afford qualifications (should he want them) and that is assuming the bank would let me have the cash.
Does anyone have any wise words to calm my fears.....This really is my sticking point at the moment....I feel like if I can get my head around this one I will be able to dive in to the HE world. I just don't want DS to find himself in a situation where he is denied the opportunities that I so want for him just because of a lack of funds.

Could you maybe start putting awy some money now? Like really little amounts - say £1 a week or £2 a month? I don't know how much they cost, but over the next 7 years or so, it will add up and might be a help just to have a chunk of it paid.

Well yes, I guess so but they seem to be a few hundred each subject......Would be sooooo happy if someone came on here and told me I was reading the sites wrong lol

DS is still very young. Who knows if GCSEs will still exist in 5-7 years or what the LibCons will do with access to education?

However, if they do and DS wants/needs them:

• He could go back into school at 14 to do GCSEs with his age peers.
• He could wait and go to college and do them in a year after he is 16 (before 16, you often have to pay for college).
• He could do five GCSEs (usually the most that is required by a college) at home over a couple of years to spread the cost (which could be as little as £30 per subject if a school will accept him as an independent candidate).
• He could do OU courses instead of GCSEs/ A-levels and get funding.

Have you looked at the Home Education Exams site?

I think I have been looking at buying whole courses. How does one go about just doing the independent candidate thing.....I mean study wise....is it wise to buy books etc or just get some past papers for practice and to see what sort of thing is required.

Ah, I wondered what sort of cost you were thinking of!

Most people I know who are doing GCSEs just get books (lots of recommendations from people on the Yahoo! group linked to the Home Education Exams site) and then download past papers for practice. They also do not do a bunch of GCSEs over 2-3 years - they tend to do one or two at a time for about 6 months before the exams (in June and November). It means you do not have to spend weeks in revision because the information is fresh in the candidate's mind.

The syllabuses are all available on the web:

• AQA qualifications
• Edexcel qualifications
• OCR qualifications
• WJEC qualifications

People often find IGCSEs easier than GCSEs (they generally have no coursework). They also tend to be more academically rigorous.

OK cool! Thanks....feeling a bit happier now lol
I'm sure there will be changes before I need to think about this stuff but one likes to be prepared you know lol.
Have contacted the local HE group to see what sort of things they get up to.
I am definately leaving DS in school for the rest of the school year, but unless things change dramatically in that time that will probably be it for school.

Currently, to pay to enter the GCSE privately it is around £50 per subject.

If that helps.

But as others have said, will they be around in a few years time?

If you are doing it direct with the school, you just pay the exam cost. Which can be around £35 per subject. The £150 plus ones are more specialized exam centres such as Campbell Harris etc, who have to make their money somewhere. It really needn't be expensive. Email some of your local independent schools and ask if they take external candidates. If they do you have struck gold. If you are the only person taking said exam, then you may have to pay invigilators costs which can be around £10.50 per hour. If you are taking them in the summer along with all the school kids, then no invigilators costs. That is our experience anyway. HTH

Hi there, we are in the middle of GCSEs right now and have done them for £35 per subject (the entry fee) plus the cost of one texbook for each (around £10).

So I wouldn't worry unecessarily. The main cost is if you use tutors, but I honestly can't see the need. If you study the book and then download past papers, you have everything you need to pass (hopefully). Only a year ago the whole thing seemed really scary - now I wonder what I worried about!

Thanks!
Feel a bit now but taht is why I asked...in the hope I was reading the wrong thing....and I was Hooray!!!!

that even lol

FWIW we paid £33 per subject for DS's exam entries for EdExcel IGCSEs - we were lucky that the independent school he sat them at didn't charge us anything additional for administration (ie invigilator and other fees) - It will depend on where you go for the exams, as they can charge you if they want.