GCSE Maths

Whether you enter for the foundation or the higher tier is largely a matter of personal choice and depends on your own aspirations. Many Oxford Open Learning students only need to obtain a Grade 4 or 5, for example, to get onto a further education course. If this is the case and you have no love of Maths then you should enter for the Foundation papers. The questions are more straightforward but they do require accurate answers.

If you want to go on and study a course which requires the use of maths, you will probably wish to study the higher tier.

It is worth noting that the Oxford Open Learning Trust, like most educational institutions, only accept students onto a Maths A level course if the student has completed the GCSE at higher tier.

This is mostly a matter of personal choice. Both offer two tiers and both will prepare you for further education.

If you are living abroad, then unless you want to return to the UK to sit your exams, you are probably better off sitting the IGCSE.

A fuller discussion of the differences between GCSE and IGCSE can be found here

Please discuss this with your Student Adviser when you enrol, or by phoning us on 01865 798022

We often find that with maturity and some life experience, even students who could not cope with Maths at school are able to face studying it at home.

You are not under time pressure, you have a tutor to help and there are now thousands of examples on the internet to help explain mathematical problems.

Things that were a complete mystery at school, percentages is often a good example, can suddenly become clear.

You can enrol any time you like, the earlier the better. The important thing to think about is when you wish to sit your exam and to give yourself plenty of time to work through your materials and revise successfully. Our cut-off dates for enrolment are usually November for the following summer exams or March for November sittings.

Once you have enrolled, you will get immediate access to your course online and your printed course materials will arrive a few days later.

All the information you need to book your exam with an exam centre can be found in the Student Information section of our website. Here you will find

• detailed instructions on what to do and how to approach exam officers if there is no online booking system
• the entry codes needed to book exams
• our map of examination centres that have helped our students in recent years.

Our experienced Advisers are also always available with a wealth of knowledge about how to locate exam centres and book exams.

OOL students have the advantage of not being tied to sitting with any one centre or organisation and several will offer discounts to our students. Tutors & Exams is one of the biggest operators. They have nine exam venues across the UK in; Birmingham, Bolton, Coventry, Doncaster, High Wycombe, Romford, St Neots, Taunton and Wimbledon.

Our map also shows plenty of other centres that are also very likely to help our students, they may also offer a discount and they could be cheaper. If you have the time it is always worth shopping around.

You should start to look for an exam centre as soon as possible after enrolling and preferably in the Autumn term before your summer exam. There is a lot of demand for Private Exam places and many centres are already booked up well before Christmas. The AQA Exam Board’s final date for booking summer exams without incurring late entry fees is the 21st of February, but do not expect to find many places willing to help at this late stage.

Resit exams are available in November but your choice of centres is likely to be more limited and you will need to confirm arrangements well before the start of the summer holidays.

First fill out our website application form giving as much relevant information as possible and at this stage you have not committed to anything. Once the application has been received and assessed by our Admissions Department, a Student Adviser will contact you to discuss the application, answer any more questions you may have and confirm your subject selections and cost before you get started.

We want you to be comfortable with your choice and clear about the way forward, therefore we do not employ any high pressure sales techniques and you are free to take your time before you commit to investing in any study programme.

Once you are ready, you can pay your Student Adviser in full or arrange to pay in instalments.

There is no upper age limit to studying for a GCSE and we get students who are retired and in their 70’s even 80’s. They often just want to study to keep their brains active and many don’t actually go the expense of sitting the exam. Our tutors love what they can learn from these students

However, most students have just started work and need an extra GCSE to progress or want to switch to a job which requires a qualification they do not have.

If you are under 18 years old then you need our sister company Oxford Home Schooling.

Not surprisingly, many people find the idea of sitting a GCSE with a group of 16 year olds very intimidating but you are quite likely not to be alone.

There is no denying that it can be uncomfortable for a grown up to sit in what is likely to be the cheapest place; a school. Also because of safeguarding, many schools will no longer allow unknown grown ups in to their premises, but there are other options.

The private commercial exam centres all allow grown ups to sit and consequently although you will be in the minority, you will probably not be the only one. Some private schools are still happy to accommodate adults and they will be likely to have the most experienced exam officers.

Exams are not easy for anyone but at least as an adult you will probably have done it before and have the life experience not to panic.

We can print you materials on different coloured paper and because you are studying at home you will be able to take all the time you need to complete your work, but unfortunately we do not have special needs teachers.

When it comes to exams, you may be able to apply for extra time, but if you do not have a current diagnosis then you will need to go through the process of getting one. This can be expensive and time consuming, so please let us know of any special requirements when you apply.

Most of our GCSE and IGCSE courses are fairly self contained and you should not need many if any extra books to complete successfully.

Having said that all students will benefit from reading around a subject and your tutor will be able to advise if any additional reading would useful. These days the internet is an enormous resource both for accessing free materials and buying cheap or second hand books.

The Maths course does have a recommended text book but it is not compulsory. You will find details in the course.

Yes, as well as the summer sitting you can also sit in November. The entry deadline is the 4th October.