gcse biology as an external candidate

[ehwhat]

Hi All

Looking for some experienced help, please! Someone I know is hoping to resit their GCSE biology in June next year, but for various personal reasons can not do this at their old school. They are therefore hoping to resit as an external candidate and whilst this is fine for the most part, the ISA is causing a bit of a headache!

The AQA website states that an external candidate must find an examination centre which will "host" the ISA, or use a previously obtained mark, but most examination centres are not happy to host ISAs of external candidates.

I know some IGCSEs do not use any alternative exam, whilst some, such as CIE use an "alternative to practical" exam. My experience with CIE however, is that the spec is difficult to navigate and the exam questions are often phrased in a non-student friendly style. My experience with other IGCSEs is more limited, so I don't know whether they also have an "alternative to practical" paper like that used by CIE.

So, my questions are:

1. Do you think it is worth looking at the IGCSE rather than the standard GCSE?
   
2. Do all IGCSE have a non-practical alternative to the ISA?
   
3. Which exam board would you prefer and why?
   
4. Any other useful relevant info?????
   

TIA

[ehwhat]

bump? please?

[crazymum53]

Does the pupil already have a mark for the biology ISA? If so the best bet is usually to carry it forward and only resit the exams. The ISA only counts for a low percentage of the course and the grade boundaries are quite close together so it doesn't really contribute as much to the final grade as the exams.
Have you tried asking your local FE college - they quite often provide practical facilities for external candidates? Another option could be to take a Biology GCSE in one year type evening class at an FE college.
I would try asking on the home ed board about the iGCSE. It's very popular with home schooled students as it doesn't have an ISA. There used to be an "alternative to practical" exam paper for iGCSE but this may be out of date by now. You could try downloading one or 2 iGCSE Biology papers from an exam board website and see if the style of questions appeals to the student.
It may also help if you give your location OP - there may be somebody who knows a suitable exam centre near to you.

[ehwhat]

Thanks for your reply!

The student does have a mark for the biology ISA, so this is probably the simplest option. The student has already asked around the local FE colleges, but due to other commitments can't get to them at the times they have stipulated for the ISA.

Thanks again for your help.