A-levels via distance learning

notanothergreyhair

Hi,

My BF wants to take a couple of a-levels in his spare time. He took a-levels at the 'normal' time but he likes learning and wants to do a couple in his spare time.

Does anyone have any advice/experience of which company to use...or is there some way he can study at home by buying his own materials and just take an exam somewhere?

He is looking at taking history and pure maths, but this is not set in stone.

Thanks in advance, NAGH

Driving_Soon

Hey, there are many sites that offer home courses, but try this website

http://www.icslearn.co.uk/gcse-A-level/a-level

Hope this helps.

WillowCat

He could also look at Open University courses - the course materials are excellent!

redmel1621

Hi

I second The Open University.....excellent materials. Open entry so he wouldn't need any relevant qualifications, and the option to take the study to whatever level he wants to from a certificate (60pts of courses) to a full degree(360pts of courses)

The cost varies depending on the amount of points it is worth, but a 60pt course is roughly £600 per year, although depending on level of income/benefits received he may get some help to pay this....or he can put it on an ousba account which then allows it to be paid off monthly.

Mel x

omelette451

The OU is great but he doesn't need to use them if he doesn't want to. Syllabus details are usually available online for every subject (see the exam boards' websites) so he can find out what he needs to know; then it's just a case of finding the right books and materials, which shouldn't be too hard unless it involves coursework (e.g. art). Local libraries should be able to help. You can apply to the exam boards as a private candidate - usually they send you to the nearest centre where there are other people doing it, which is usually a school or college (it's in the Ts&Cs schools have with exam boards that they have to accept private candidates as long as they've got people doing the same exam - or they certainly did a few years ago when I was at school). It's probably a good idea to check which board your nearest school uses before you start otherwise you could potentially have to travel quite far (this information is normally available to prospective sixth-form parents, and is often on the school's website).

EDIT: The AQA website (they're the biggest exam board in England) has a page specifically for 'private candidates' and contains all the information you need to know. As a correction to what I wrote above it seems schools can choose in advance whether they will accept private candidates, but I should think it's quite likely that most would.
http://www.aqa.org.uk/admin/p_private.php

Oldernotwiser

I'm all for learning for it's own sake but I do feel that it's a bit pointless to keep amassing A levels for no good reason. Much better to take his learning to the next level.

If he wants to explore another subject area he can do this with the OU as you don't need any prior qualifications before studying. He may also be eligible for help with his costs, depending on his household income.

omelette451

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

I'm all for learning for it's own sake but I do feel that it's a bit pointless to keep amassing A levels for no good reason. Much better to take his learning to the next level.

If he wants to explore another subject area he can do this with the OU as you don't need any prior qualifications before studying. He may also be eligible for help with his costs, depending on his household income.

That's all very true, but A-levels can be a fantastic way to gain a 'rounded' education and gain a solid footing in several different subjects without being tied down too much. Once he's done them he'll know what if anything he wants to take further, either formally via the OU or informally by reading around the subject. That's certainly what I'd like to do at some point - if I ever get settled with a job and stuff...

Oldernotwiser

omelette451 wrote: »

That's all very true, but A-levels can be a fantastic way to gain a 'rounded' education and gain a solid footing in several different subjects without being tied down too much. Once he's done them he'll know what if anything he wants to take further, either formally via the OU or informally by reading around the subject. That's certainly what I'd like to do at some point - if I ever get settled with a job and stuff...

OU study always starts with a Level 1 introduction to the subject, so someone interested in doing History would do the Humanities Foundation Course which would cover History, Literature, History of Art, Music and etc. You can't get much more well rounded than that!

omelette451

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

OU study always starts with a Level 1 introduction to the subject, so someone interested in doing History would do the Humanities Foundation Course which would cover History, Literature, History of Art, Music and etc. You can't get much more well rounded than that!

True, but what if, like the OP, you think you may be interested in history or maths... Or have always wondered what psychologists or sociologists do all day... Or astronomers, for that matter...

Incidentally, what happens if you do know you want to study history? Do you still have to do the humanities course in music and literature?

Oldernotwiser

omelette451 wrote: »

True, but what if, like the OP, you think you may be interested in history or maths... Or have always wondered what psychologists or sociologists do all day... Or astronomers, for that matter...

Incidentally, what happens if you do know you want to study history? Do you still have to do the humanities course in music and literature?

If you haven't studied at this level before you do the broad based foundation courses so that you can decide which direction you want to go. In the OP's case they could do the Humanities introduction and the Maths introduction as well. If you're interested in psychology/sociology then you could do the Social Sciences foundation.

With the OU you can either study for a named degree in a specific subject or you can take a more "pick and mix" approach and follow your interests all over the place.

I've not been an OU student myself (although both my husbands have been) but my degree had a common arts first year, so it's not unusual, even at "bricks and mortar" universities.

notanothergreyhair

Hi,

Thanks for the replies everyone, it is very much appreciated.

Whilst I/He appreciate(s) the points raised about univeristy level study, he only wishes to study at the A-level level. He already has an undergraduate and Masters degree and he only wishes to pursue the a-levels for personal enjoyment, rather than to further work prospects.

Thankyou once again.

NAGH