Independant study for A Levels

[Hecho]

Hi. I'm interested in studying A Level sciences, mainly for my own interest. What's the best approach to studying and preparing for the exams on my own? I'd like to do chemistry and biology ideally. Thanks!

You won’t be able to do A level sciences solely on your own. They require a practical element - you’d need to find a private centre to learn how to do these and do the actual exams at. It can get very pricey and these centres and few and far between. With self study and no tutor input you’d very likely fail - it’s blunt but it’s the truth as you won’t be able to accurately mark your own practice papers.

A levels really aren’t good for learning things out of your own interest - they are far more about learning the rigid subject specification and knowing how to answer exam questions.

I know a lot of people take them as independent candidates but not sure how they go about the practical elements. However there is almost certainly a way to take just the exam. I did A levels this year and for practicals all you get is a pass mark as a seperate practice endorsement you can fail that but still get an A* but then for us Unis wouldn't accept us. However I think you can just just the exam privately for sure

Dm me if you want to know any specific questions I'll try my best to help whilst this stuff is semi fresh I'm my mind!

DS2 only got a B for Physics GCSE, despite being predicted an A*. So his school wouldn't allow him to take it for A level. He was adamant he wanted to do it so taught himself, but school did administer the exams (we had to pay for him to enter as a private candidare). He got an A at A level.

Thanks very much everyone. Really interesting aspects I hadn't even considered (doh!). Particularly the practicals, and uni issues. It's mainly for my learning, and I know I'm better within a framework rather than random reading and rabbit holes. But if I go for it I'd like to keep the uni door open if possible. Cherry, blunt is good 😊. Medical, thanks so much for the offer, at the moment I only have general questions as I'm just exploring the route through. Your name suggests you'd be an excellent guide though! AnnaQuay, your son is admirable, I love the persistence it will serve him well through life.

If you are just doing it for general interest there are loads of free resources online you can just read through and then if u decide you like studying the subject can always choose to take the exam the next year. Do keep it mind the hardest thing about the exams isn't learning the content - in fact A levels are just a big memory test overall and then the hardest part learning how to answer the silly exam questions with dodgy mark schemes!

Yes, it's a good point about the exams/mark schemes. I think I'll do some general reading around and decide how much I want to dedicate my time before throwing myself into anything. Thanks so much for the sensible advice 😊

The NEC (National Extension College) has a good reputation.

The exams and practicals part varies in cost. Local to us you can sit the practical and exams at Greene's college as a private candidate and that's cheaper than going to the High Wycombe NEC centre near us.

But I agree with others that unless you need the A level qualification as a step to something else, you'll find MOOC university modules give you interesting materials e.g. MIT, EdX for free or at least less cost.