Is it possible to self-study GCSE Statistics

[wonderingstar01]

DD hoping to secure a place mid-term at a school which studies and takes GCSE Statistics in Year 9 which she's just started. At best she'll start at the end of half-term - 6 weeks into the year. At worst, after the Easter holiday.

If she starts in October then I think she could play catch-up with the rest of the class, although we'd source some online study courses to help her. She does have a natural maths ability and it's her favourite subject.

However, if she starts after Easter - effectively just before she could sit the exam - is it worth/is it easy for her to self-learn statistics and still sit the GCSE alongside her peers? Given her love of maths in general?

It's 25% controlled assessment so if she misses that it's probably not worth it. However, if she gets to the new school early enough mymaths has GCSE statistics on it so if she knows a login she could catch up through that.

Thanks noble. If it comes to it, perhaps we can agree something with the new school whereby she can be given the work and hand it in to them. Not sure if that would work or even if it would be acceptable but I suppose I can ask.

Some of the controlled assessment has to be completed at school in supervised conditions which would make it tricky.

Thanks ever so much for clarifying.

Another option might be to do it entirely independently of the school, in the same way home educated kids do exams. In this case you'd be looking at an IGCSE because that involves no controlled assessment. You'd source your own study materials and find an exam centre which will accept her to sit the exam there as an external candidate. If she does that then she can do the exam in any year she likes. There are costs involved, however.

Does your daughter love statistics enough that she would want to do that, i.e. would she choose to do statistics regardless of whether it's offered at her school and whether she does it alongside other kids?

Thank you Saracen. I think she might enjoy doing it and if she's going to do Maths and Further Maths down the line it might be an advantage. I'll research that some more.

Thank you ukrevision. The only thing I have discovered is that iGCSE in Statistics doesn't seem to be available as a subject. If there's the controlled assessment element of doing the GCSE, how would this work for self-study?

Hmm, you may be right. Statistics is available as a CIE O level, apparently: www.cie.org.uk/images/90876-2014-syllabus.pdf

If you want to explore this further, I am sure you would be welcome to join the home education exams email list where you can ask. Doubtless there will be other people there who have looked into the options thoroughly. groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/HE-Exams-GCSE-A_AS_Levels-OU-Others/info

We were looking at the GCSE Statistics content on the AQA website and it seems she's covered most of the syllabus already in the context of her maths classes. She's made a suggestion that she would ask her Maths teacher if it would be possible to manage the controlled assessment part of the course for her through my maths and she'll study at home and take the exam independently.

Thanks ever so much for the info Saracen. I will take a look at those two things.

Does "controlled assessment" mean homework?

No, controlled assessment is coursework, some of which needs to be completed in formally supervised conditions. It would be impossible for a student to self study at home. GCSE statistics requires an analysis of a large set of data that the students may collect themselves. A teacher needs to explain the task, guide their choices, monitor their work, sign it off and assess it.

The controlled assessment forms 25% of the final grade.

Thank you noble, I hadn't realised that. Maybe if enough parents lobby the school they could all do it. After all, they are covering most of the learning in regular lessons.

The coursework is a major pain in arse to organise.

It's not that useful a course, IMO, so I wouldn't make too much of an effort. If your DD is keen to self-study and prepare for A-level, there are much better options.

Thanks again. We've already discussed that she could do some self-study just so she keeps up but doing the exam isn't a big deal and won't get her any further.

Not sureIi would bother to be honest; if she does A level maths she will probably do a statistics module anyway.

I wouldn't bother with it unless she starts in October. Most of the content overlaps with the usual GCSE maths, and it's all covered again at A-level. As a course, it's not worth the amount of extra stress and hassle it sounds like it would be!
That's from a teacher who teaches it it's just a good way to get an extra GCSE without much hassle.

Thanks both. That's put my mind at rest. I thought it would be something that would hold her back if she didn't do it. Looking at the BBC revision guides, she seems to think she's covered the vast majority of it already.