Exams
Sitting exams
Just like most schools around the world, a big part of achieving qualifications is sitting exams. So, while our pupils can learn online at home, they need to visit a Pearson-Edexcel exam centre for their iGCSEs or A/AS Levels.
We advise that you contact your nearest exam centre as soon as possible to begin the enrolment process. Not all of the centres can offer practical (for some sciences) or oral (for some languages) exams, so it’s worth checking with centres as soon as possible.
Don’t worry – it’s normally a very straightforward process, but we encourage you to leave plenty of time to get organised before the exams commence. This will also help avoid any late fees.
The British Council Overseas Available In over 90 Countries
The British Council offer exams in over 90 countries across the globe, including iGCSE, AS Level and A Levelexaminations. They work with Pearson and several other UK awarding bodies, to offer these exams internationally.
If you are looking to find an examination centre that offers UK School exams in your country, then follow the link below to the British Council website. Use the ‘Take an Exam‘, search tool, which allows you to select your country of residence, and find out further information on the exam centres offering Pearson examinations near you. From there you will find an outline of the steps to take when enrolling your child as a private candidate.
For further information, please make contact with your local British Council office by searching for your country of residence.
If you would like to discuss further how the British Council can assist with examinations, please book a call with our Education Team.
iGCSEs International General Certificate of Secondary Education
Designed to be engaging, internationally appropriate and delivering the same standard as GCSEs, iGCSEs provide pupils with the skills and knowledge they will need to successfully progress onto A Levels, university and into employment. iGCSEs are 100% externally assessed, linear qualifications with no coursework – which means all exams take place at the end of the course.
Registration Key Dates
iGCSE Specification codes
These are the subjects we offer at My Online Schooling, together with their ‘specifications’ – the codes for administrators to find the correct paper.
Please note:
4EA1 = English Language A (option A – component 1 and 2)
4MA1 = Mathematics A (foundation or higher tier)
A/AS Levels and International Advanced Levels (IALs)
For AS, A Levels and IALs, it’s important to look into where and how you want to sit exams, as Pearson Edexcel offers three categories of subjects and different centres deal with different categories – far fewer centres cater to Group 2 or 3 subjects than to Group 1 (or iGCSEs).
Typically, pupils study three or four AS subjects in Year 12, before taking two or three of these subjects onto A Level in Year 13.
While AS Levels are standalone qualifications which do not count toward the A Level, the international equivalent (the IASL) can either be a discrete qualification or it can contribute toward the IAL qualifcation.
These subjects are offered both in the UK and internationally and are marked based on the exams alone, just like iGCSEs, and usually at the same centres. These are A-Level Qualifications.
- Mathematics
- Business
- Economics A
- Psychology
These subjects are offered in the UK only and involve additional assessment through UK exam centres earlier in the year, potentially at an extra cost – please contact exam centres and consider your ability to get to those centres before picking these subjects. These are A-Level Qualifications.
- English Language
- English Literature
- History
- Geography
- French
- Spanish
- Chemistry
- Biology B
- Physics
These subjects are only offered internationally but are marked based on the exams alone, just like iGCSEs, but these cannot be completed within the UK. These are International A-Level Qualifications (IALs).
- English Language
- English Literature
- Mathematics
- History
- Geography
- Psychology
- IT
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Physics
- French
- Spanish
- Business
- Economics
Registration Key Dates
AS/A Level specification codes
These are the subjects we offer at My Online Schooling, together with their ‘specifications’ – the codes for administrators to find the correct paper.