Private GCSE English Language entry: no coursework

[FunnyItWorkedLastTime]

For complex reasons to do with SN DS got a GCSE English grade 4 a few years ago which didn't reflect his ability. He's a genuinely great creative writer, with a wide range of formal styles and vocabulary and perfect SPAG who was scoring 80/90% on that half of the exams and should be able scrape through the analysis half of the paper because he knows all the terminology.

I reckon that a grade 6 on average should be well within his powers, and would give a noticeable boost to his patchy CV. Current sixth form has been promising to get him a retake for eighteen months now and finally said no it's not possible (long story).

I still think that with some practice papers and a few hours feedback it's worth a shot: he performs pretty well under exam conditions. Money is pretty much no object.

Which boards do English Language GCSE with no course work? And how would you recommend going about private entry? We're in London but private online tuition would probably work better for him than an Easter crammer.

Coursework for Eng Lang has gone as far as I'm aware, at least AQA which is the main one used.
However there is the speaking assessment which although it isn't part of the grade is needed I think.

Is it really worth it and the deflection from his main course?

IGCSEs still have coursework but mainstream GCSEs no longer do, but as PP said there is a speaking and listening element that is compulsory.

Yeps no GCSEs still have coursework, only iGCSE. Agree tho, is it worth the hassle to move from a perfectly good 4 to a 6? Unis will be happy with a 4 as will
employers, esp if English is not his focus.

You need advice from home educators who take English without the speaking element or coursework. There are various options but I’m not in a position to look them up right now. I hope someone more useful comes along soon.

We are home educators. As a private candidate you can do IGCSE Edexcel English Language A
IGCSE Edexcel English Language B
or IGCSE Cambridge Board First Language English

There is no course work and you don’t have to sit the speaking assessments

My son sat IGCSE Cambridge at Tutors and Exams.
They have centers through the UK.

The cut off for registration for summer 2023 is normally end of Jan/ early Feb. So you will need to be quick.

if you PM me I can send you the name of a FB private group I am in for IGCSE English home educators.

The 3 exams listed above have very different syllabi and style of exam so it’s worth researching which would suit your child best.

I have had numerous dealings with Tutors and Experts and mentioned by @InTheFourthAtMalloryTowers and I recommend them.

Thank you very much all. I'll quickly research the speaking module and the various IGCSE syllabi.

Maybe the teacher assessed speaking element was what the school meant by coursework.

As someone at a school who switched from GCSEs to IGCSEs I can guarantee you that it’s much easier to get higher grades on IGCSEs. We didn’t change our teaching methods and our cohorts were v similar.