GCSE

IGCSE Study Packs for Home Educators — Exam Only, No Coursework, Study at Your Own Pace

Our IGCSE study packs give home educating families everything needed to achieve recognised qualifications — without coursework, without external marking, and without being tied to a school timetable. All textbooks, teacher guides and a full study schedule included. Written by the top examiners in each subject. Start any time of year and sit the exam when your child is ready.

✓ Exam only — no coursework or controlled assessment required

✓ Complete in 32, 48 or 64 weeks — start any time of year

✓ Textbooks written by chief examiners in each subject

Not sure which subjects to start with, or whether your child is ready? Call us on 07887 638 599, Mon to Fri 10am to 5pm. We have helped many families plan a full IGCSE programme around their child's strengths and timeline.

To sit IGCSE examinations, home educated students register as private candidates through an approved examination centre. We are happy to advise on finding a suitable centre in your area — just get in touch.

SHL has researched GCSE and International GCSE (IGCSE®) courses from a number of examination boards and selected those which best prepare home educated students for examination success.

IGCSEs are very popular throughout the independent schools sector and are highly regarded as more challenging than GCSEs, while allowing all levels of ability to be measured. IGCSEs have single-tier entry and results are graded A to G — equivalent to standard GCSEs and widely accepted by sixth forms and colleges.

In the past there was political pressure from the Department for Education dissuading state schools from adopting IGCSEs despite their popularity, but for some time now the government has taken a more pragmatic view and IGCSEs are being chosen in favour of GCSEs in many schools.

We have made each subject as straightforward as possible. We provide the weekly study plan and all textbooks and support materials, so you always know exactly what your child needs to cover to complete the course successfully.

We believe a full education develops 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 written by the top examiners in their field — chosen to help your child achieve the highest grades.

The textbooks contain typical exam questions with model answers, so you can show your child how to gain the extra marks that make all the difference to the final grade.

You are in complete control of the timetable

One of the real advantages of home education is that your child can study at their own pace. There is no requirement to wait until age 14 before beginning IGCSE preparation, and no requirement to study for two years before sitting the exam. Your child can take some IGCSEs early and others later, depending on their ability and confidence in each subject.

We have arranged the study schedule so your child can complete the whole syllabus in 64 weeks, 48 weeks, or even 32 weeks. This means they can begin at any time of year and prepare to sit the examination within 12 months, 18 months, or two years — whichever suits them best.

Our IGCSE study packs do not involve any external marking. We believe progression is more effective through discussing each piece of work together, using the marking tools provided, and identifying exactly what additional material would have resulted in a higher grade — turning every assessment into a learning opportunity.