There are various options for home educated students wishing to take GCSEs. These can be started at any age; some children take one at the age of about 12-13 and then one or two each year as appropriate.  Others may wait until they are 16 and then enrol part-time at a college to take GCSEs appropriate to their future careers. This allows full research and study into the subject rather than simply focussing on the exams, and trying to take as many as possible at once.

Note that different boards do have different requirements - eg for particular topics in science exams, or set books for English Literature. General GCSE class books or ‘revision guides’ (such as those published by Letts) will give an overview of the majority of what is required but you will need to see past papers, and probably use specific books required by your college or course.

GCSEs taken in schools usually include a significant amount of 'coursework'. This will consist of projects, essays or other work done during the year which is marked and counts towards the final grade in the exam. This is ideal for students who find exams particularly stressful: it can be encouraging to know that twenty to forty percent of the grade is already achieved.

However it can be more difficult for home educated students to manage coursework, because it must be marked by an independent person. The easiest thing is to take the IGCSE (International GCSE) exam, which has no coursework and relies entirely on the exam results for the grade. You will need to weigh up the convenience of a course which relies totally on the exam against the preferences of the student, and the pressure of everything relying on two days' worth of examinations.

If you're interested in discussing GCSEs and alternatives for home educators with others who are on the same path, there's an active yahoogroup you can join, called HE Exams GCSEs Alternatives.

Reasons for doing GCSEs - or not

It is important that GCSEs, if they are taken, are because the child wants to, and perhaps because it will be useful for future education or career options. But it is worthwhile doing as much research as you can: some A-level courses can be taken directly without the relevant GCSE, and some vocational courses or careers do not require any - or many - paper qualifications. Some people find exams extremely stressful; even if coursework is included, there is little point putting a home educated child under pressure like this unless it is their own decision.

There are three main ways in which home educated students have taken GCSEs: by correspondence courses where a tutor is usually assigned to give advice and mark work; by enrolling at a local college or adult education class; or at home doing their own research, choosing appropriate books and buying past exam papers. The latter is only really appropriate for exam-only boards.

The advantage of using a correspondence course or enrolling at a college is that a tutor is available who may be able to help more than a parent, and can grade work. The disadvantage is usually the cost, if your child is under 16. Most colleges offer free or inexpensive courses to those over 16 but will often charge high rates to younger students, if they admit them at all (see below for some which do). Some colleges will not admit younger students at all, particularly if they are popular and likely to be over-subscribed with older students.

Another advantage of a college is that they will usually arrange the exam room; with a correspondence course you usually have to organise that yourself, registering your child as an external candidate at a local school or college.

It may be possible to register a child in a school, perhaps part time with a flexi-schooling option, if the school allows this. The books and tuition will then be provided and you will probably not have to pay an exam fee. If your child is approaching 14 and wants to take several GCSEs, you may even want to consider a couple of years in a local school if you can find one which you like. Some home educated children have followed this option and obtained excellent results, even if they have had no formal teaching prior to this age.

For general help in most GCSE topics, look at: Learn.co.uk or BBC Education: GCSE help. There is also a wide variety of help at the TopMarks site. Select age 15-16 and the subject that interest you to find a list of useful resources.

If you are interested in past papers, a few are available online, some can be bought at bookshops, but others may need to be ordered directly from the relevant exam board. In any case you will need to check specific requirements for your year and board. Past papers with sample answers for maths can be found at the GCSE maths past papers site. Past papers in GCSE Information Technology can be obtained from this teaching and revision notes site.

Correspondence courses

Oxford Home Schooling
GCSEs and A-levels offered via correspondence, specifically for students educated at home. There's a student advisor, and a personal tutor who marks work and asists in any way needed. Consultations by phone at an inexpensive rate within the UK. Can be used by students abroad too, but they usually have to return to the UK to take the actual exams.

Oxford Open Learning
GCSEs, A-levels and some business courses via distance learning. This is intended for over-18s who need further qualifications for their careers or college courses.

Sheffield Online College
GCSE English and psychology, or A-level English, all done online, with exams centres arranged.For people the UK only, but students of 16-19 who are not in full time education do not have to pay any fees.

National Extension College (NEC)
This offers a wide variety of distance learning opportunities, including GCSEs and A-levels, with tutors to help with problems and mark assignments. They can sometimes offer facilities to take the exams in Cambridge.

InterHigh
Online tuition in National Curriculum subjects for students aged 11-16, including IGCSE provision in the final year. Started in September 2005; for students in the UK or abroad. Anyone wanting to take GCSE exams would have to find a centre - either in the UK or their country of residence (this is sometimes possible at ex-pat schools or British embassies).

Briteschool
Online virtual classrooms in up to eight subjects to IGCSE level. They also offer tuition for the European Computer Driving License (EDCL).

Little Arthur Independent School
A school offering packs and tuition for home educators aged 11-16, IGCSEs in the basic core subjects. They are based in the Scilly Isles, and exams must be taken at their centre.

First College UK
Online learning community with live classes for students aged 11 -17. Prepares them for IGCSE exams (which do not require graded coursework). Classes are held live four days a week, 09.30 - 14.00 GMT (UK time) for between 5 to 15 students.

Northstar UK
This is a Christian college set up specifically for online courses for home educated students, both in Key Stage 3 and GCSEs. Their site gives fairly extensive details, and it's possible to log on as a 'guest' and try out the software in advance. Assignments are completed and graded via email and a tutor is available to help, also via email. There are no age limitations, and any number of courses may be taken. Parents or students are responsible for finding an exam centre.

Christian Education Europe
A different option for Christian families is to use a curriculum such as ACE (Accelerated Christian Education) which, although American in origin, is now adapted for European students. This is linked with the ICCE (International Certificate of Christian Education) programme which gives a certificate equivalent to 5 GCSEs after sufficient study at the correct level, and goes on eventually to a diploma which is equivalent to three A-levels in addiction to 8 GCSEs. This diploma is acceptable at many universities as an alternative to A-levels, and provides a good alternative to the exam route. The cost is less than taking that number of GCSE courses by correspondence or paying full price at a college, and there are tests at home rather than formal exams. However the course is highly structured with a considerable number of workbooks, and a right-wing American Christian slant, so would not appeal to everyone.