The Homeschooling Guide to GCSEs: How to Excel

Homeschooling your child through their GCSEs can be a rewarding journey, offering them flexibility and a tailored learning experience. However, you’re bound to feel the pressure of making the experience a positive one which will enable them to achieve their full potential. It requires careful planning and understanding of the examination process. 

As educators, we’re experts at leading young people to success. This guide provides essential steps and tips to help your child excel in their GCSEs through homeschooling or elective home education (EHE).

How to Take GCSEs at Home

So, you’ve decided that your child’s best route to success in their GCSEs is via homeschooling or elective home education (EHE). There are a few steps to follow to make this happen:

• Choose options: Look at the GCSEs offered by the main exam boards and choose which options best suit you both.

• Register your child as a private candidate with a local exam centre.

• Organise programmes of study that cover everything your child will need to learn. You’ll need to look at the specifications for each course on the exam board’s websites, which break down the exact requirements. 

• Obtain course materials, such as textbooks and set texts.

• Note specific course requirements: Pay special attention to any coursework or practical elements involved in the GCSEs your child is taking - you will need to keep careful records of this. Your local exam centre or the exam board’s website will provide guidance.

• Get studying! Use online learning colleges or tutors to help, if this is financially possible.

• Remember revision time: Leave plenty of time for revision and exam preparation.

How to Register Your Child for GCSEs

In order to enable your child to take GCSEs as a private candidate, you'll need to:

1. Choose subjects and exam boards (e.g. AQA, Edexcel, OCR).

2. Find a local exam centre that accepts private candidates (search online or ask the exam board).

3. Register by the deadline — typically by February for summer exams.

4. Pay the exam fees, which vary by subject and centre.

Keep records of your child’s learning, especially if they’re taking subjects with coursework or practicals, as not all exam centres support these.

Choosing Your GCSE Subjects

In the UK, most students take between 5 and 10 GCSEs. While the core subjects of English Language, Maths, and Science are often considered essential, homeschooling gives you the flexibility to personalise your child’s learning.

When choosing which GCSEs to study, think about:

• Future goals: Does your child want to go to university, take on an apprenticeship, or have a job or career in mind? Explore which GCSE subjects will best support these goals.

• Strengths and interests: Choose subjects which your child has shown an aptitude for and which interest them. This will make the study process easier and help them to remain motivated. 

• Sixth form or college entry requirements: Keep the next stage in mind. What will your child want to do at age 16? Opt for a broad range of subjects to keep their potential pathways as wide open as possible if the picture looks unclear at this stage. 

Popular GCSE optional subjects include History, Geography, Business, Art, and Computer Science. If you're unsure, start with the core subjects, then build around them.

Read more: What’s Next After GCSEs? Here Are Your Options

Differences Between Exam Boards

There are three main UK GCSE exam boards: AQA, Edexcel (Pearson), and OCR.

Each offers a wide range of subjects. While these often cover similar content, they have different structures and assessment styles. For example:

• AQA often has clear mark schemes and excellent supporting materials for teaching and assessment.

• Edexcel is known for precise phrasing and structured layouts.

• OCR may offer slightly more challenging analytical questions.

For home learners, AQA and Edexcel are often the best option. This is because they are the largest exam boards in the UK, with more centres accepting private candidates and a wider range of online resources.

GCSEs Revision Strategies for Homeschool Students

Effective revision is key to GCSE success. There are so many benefits for homeschool students when it comes to revision. You have the benefit of tailoring your child’s schedule to suit their specific needs. 

You do need to get organised and ensure you have all the tools and resources you’ll need. Here are some top GCSE revision strategies for you to use with your child:

• Start early: Allow plenty of time to go over all the topics you’ll need to cover in all the subjects.

• Make a study plan: Work with your child to create a study plan. Break subjects into small, daily tasks.

• Use active methods: Flashcards, quizzes, and mind maps work better than just re-reading notes. Find the best strategies for your child and use a range of these.

• Use past papers: It’s hugely important to practice real exam questions under timed conditions, to get used to what will be expected on the day. Consult the answer papers and mark schemes provided by the exam board to see whether your child’s answers are on track. 

• Take breaks: A good revision routine consists of short, focused sessions with rest in between. This helps with memory and focus.

Read more:

Insider Tips for Smarter GCSE Revision

Find Your Perfect Revision Routine for GCSEs

How to Get 9s in Exams

Grade 9 is the top grade in GCSEs, and while it’s tough to achieve this mark, it’s not impossible. Here’s how to aim high with your child’s GCSE grades:

• Know the mark schemes: Understand how points are awarded so that your child answers ‘smart’ in exams. Look carefully at mark schemes and example answers to see what’s required for a 9 in each subject.

• Go beyond the basics: For each subject, look at what’s required to reach the top grades. For subjects which require essays and analysis, encourage your child to read around subjects to broaden their knowledge and understanding of topics.

• Work consistently: Top grades come from long-term effort, not cramming. You’ll need to ensure that there’s a clear routine that your child can follow each day.

• Stay motivated: Set small goals, track progress, and celebrate wins.

• Get feedback: You don’t have to go it alone. You can get additional support from tutors or online learning centres to check you’re on the right track. They offer support including marking services to see where you can improve.

Even without a school classroom, many home-educated students achieve 9s. With the right approach, focus and dedication, your child can too.

Revision Resources to Ace Your GCSEs

At Save My Exams, you’ll find everything you need to help you and your child prepare for GCSEs. We have comprehensive revision notes, exam questions, past papers and flashcards to aid your revision. 

Teachers and examiners write all our resources. That means notes, questions by topic and worked solutions show exactly what the examiners for each exam are looking for. 

That means that you and your child can revise for GCSEs with confidence that you’re preparing with the help of dedicated experts at hand. In fact, 91% of students who use Save My Exams report getting better grades.

Explore Our GCSE Revision Resources

References

Educating your child at home - GOV.UK
Elective home education: guide for parents
How to home educate in the UK - A guide to home education - BBC Bitesize
Elective home education - Brighter Futures For Children
Elective Home Education - Brighter Futures for Children
Find Your Perfect Revision Routine for GCSEs