top of page

TAKING AS OR A LEVEL EXAMS?

Here's the information you need.

WHAT EXAMS AM I TAKING?

 

We follow the AQA exam board. The AS level will be composed of 2 exam papers and the full A level 3 exam papers. 

 

 

WHEN ARE MY EXAMS?

November 2023

If you are taking the exams in Autumn 2023 here are your final dates:

BIOLOGY

Paper 1         6th Nov 2023               AM      Duration: 2 hours

Paper 2         17th Nov 2023             AM      Duration: 1 hr 15 mins

CHEMISTRY

Paper 1         14th Nov 2023             AM      Duration: 2 hours

Paper 2         20th Nov 2023             AM      Duration: 1 hr 15 mins

PHYSICS

Paper 1         16th Nov 2023              AM      Duration: 2 hours

Paper 2         22nd Nov 2023             AM      Duration: 1 hr 15 mins

HUMAN BIOLOGY

Paper 1         2nd Nov 2023               AM      Duration: 1 hr 45 mins

Paper 2         10th Nov 2023              AM      Duration: 1 hr 45 mins

The timetable showing all subjects can be found here. Please note there are no more January exams. 

Summer 2024

If you are taking the exams in Summer 2024 here are your provisional dates:

BIOLOGY

Paper 1         10th May 2023           AM      Duration: 2 hours

Paper 2         7th Jun 2023               PM      Duration: 1 hr 15 mins

CHEMISTRY

Paper 1         17th May 2023           AM      Duration: 2 hours

Paper 2         11th Jun 2023             AM      Duration: 1 hr 15 mins

PHYSICS

Paper 1         22nd May 2023           AM      Duration: 2 hours

Paper 2         14th Jun 2023             PM      Duration: 1 hr 15 mins

HUMAN BIOLOGY

Paper 1         14th May 2023           PM      Duration: 1 hr 45 mins

Paper 2         10th Jun 2023             PM      Duration: 1 hr 45 mins

The timetable showing all subjects can be found here.

WHEN DO PROVISIONAL TIMETABLES BECOME FINAL?

 

It is very vague, but you may find this Edexcel pamphlet useful.

In it Edexcel state that, for Summer exams, the provisional timetable will be released by Feb 28th the year before and the final by June 30th. For Autumn exams the provisional timetable will be released by Oct 31st the year before and the final by Feb 28th. 

WHERE WILL I TAKE THE EXAMS?

Select an exam centre of your choice. Click here for an excellent guide to your local centres. This resource is developed by home educators. It’s worth ringing local private schools, colleges and state schools to see if they will accept you, even if they are not listed here. International schools are a good starting point for students that live abroad. 

We currently partner with Tutors & exams centres across the UK. You are entitled to discounted fees as a SWSS student. Please contact us for the discount code.

 

WHAT INFORMATION SHOULD I GIVE MY EXAM CENTRE?

Send them your subject’s information below. Students living outside the UK may need slightly different information. Please contact us with your country of residence if you need this.

 

PHYSICS

Physics (9-1) EDEXCEL International GCSE - specification code: 4PH1

Paper 1 code: 4PH1/1P

Paper 2 code: 4PH1/2P

​Specification link: click here

BIOLOGY

Biology (9-1) EDEXCEL International GCSE – specification code: 4BI1

Paper 1 code: 4BI1/1B

Paper 2 code: 4BI1/2B

Specification link: click here

CHEMISTRY

Chemistry (9-1) EDEXCEL International GCSE – specification code: 4CH1

Paper 1 code: 4CH1/1C

Paper 2 code: 4CH1/2C

Specification link: click here​

 

DOUBLE SCIENCE

Science (Double Award) (9-1) International GCSE – specification code: 4SD0

Biology paper 1 code: 4SD0/1B

Chemistry paper 1 code: 4SD0/1C

Physics paper 1 code: 4SD0/1P

​Specification link: click here

HUMAN BIOLOGY

Human biology (9-1) EDEXCEL International GCSE - specification code: 4HB1

Paper 1 code: 4HB1/01

Paper 2 code: 4HB1/02

Specification link: click here

If you’ve taken (I)GCSEs before also give the centre your candidate number (found on your results script).

 

 

HOW MUCH WILL THE EXAMS COST?

Fees are currently being reviewed, but previously Edexcel charged schools (per qualification not per exam paper):

Biology, chemistry or physics      £46.80                        

Double Science                              £93.90

 

You will likely need to pay admin and invigilator fees on top of this. These will vary depending on the centre and usually ranges from an additional £20 - £150. Shop around.

 

 

DEADLINES

You must organise and pay exams by set deadlines chosen by your exam centre. After this, you will be charged an extra fee or not allowed to take the exam. For summer exams you can start ringing exam centres in the September before. Deadlines are normally around February before the summer exams but some centres will have deadlines earlier or later. Check with them.

 

THE EXAM DATES CLASH WITH ANOTHER EXAM I AM TAKING. WHAT DO I DO?

Talk to your centre. They should have procedures in place to deal with this.

 

 

I AM ENTITLED TO SPECIAL RIGHTS IN MY EXAM

 

Talk to exam centres early and ask for their advice. Just because you are entitled to support/certain changes does not mean you will get it. Some exam centres are not equipped to deal with anything outside the ‘norm’. It is worth shopping around for a centre that suits your needs. Once you have found your centre, practice working under your exam conditions. For example, it can take time to accustom yourself to answering questions through a scribe or draw diagrams on a computer.

bottom of page