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.