GCSE Study Packs

SHL IGCSE Study Packs are now available in English Language, English Literature, Maths, History (two options), Geography and Religious Studies.

GCSEs have been reviewed over the past few years. The controversy over coursework has resulted in its being reduced to "controlled assessment" in many subjects. But even controlled assessment can be rather problematic for the home educator.

SHL have researched GCSE and IGCSE (International GCSE) courses available from a number of examination boards, and we have selected courses which are based on examination only - there is no coursework to be assessed.

IGCSEs are very popular throughout the independent schools sector, and are highly regarded as being more challenging than GCSEs, while allowing all levels of ability to be measured. IGCSEs have a single-tier entry and results are graded from A to F just like GCSEs.

In the past, there has been political pressure from the Department for Education to dissuade state schools from adopting IGCSEs, despite their popularity, but the new coalition government takes a more pragmatic view and IGCSEs are now being chosen in favour of GCSEs in many schools. We have made each subject as straightforward as possible. We provide the weekly plan for the two years of study, and all textbooks and support materials to help you know exactly what your son or daughter needs to know in order to successfully complete the course.

We believe that a full education involves the development of research skills, the ability to sift and analyse information, to exercise discernment, to formulate hypotheses and to develop and defend opinions. We also recognise that good exam grades are important gateways to higher education.

To this end, we have selected student textbooks and teacher resource books and guides written by the top examiners in their field to help your child achieve the highest grades.

The textbooks contain typical exam questions with model answers to help you show your son or daughter how to gain the extra marks that can make all the difference to the final grade. We provide a study schedule for the whole two years, with revision time included, so that you always know you're on target to complete the course in time for the examination.

Of course, one of the advantages of home education is that your child can study at his/her own pace. You don't have wait until your child reaches the age of 14 before he/she begins to prepare for IGCSEs, nor does your child have to study for two years before he/she sits the exam. Your child can take some IGCSEs early, and some later, depending on their level of ability. We've arranged the study schedule so that your child can plan to have completed the whole syllabus in 65 weeks, or even 39 weeks if he/she wishes.

The textbooks we provide give you all the information your son or daughter needs to learn the subject fully. Our IGCSE study packs do not involve any external marking, as we believe that progression is much more effective through discussing each piece of the student's work, and marking it with the tools provided, highlighting exactly the additional material which would have produced a higher grade.

Just click on the links below for more information on each study pack, and if you have any questions please contact us.