Booking a GCSE course

Kent Adult Education GCSE courses will start in September 2026 and will run until the exams at the end of May/start of June 2027. We use the AQA examination board.

To be eligible for a place on one of our Maths or English GCSE courses, in addition to passing an assessment, you must meet the Adult Skills Fund eligibility rules in relation to residency and age. You must be aged 19 or older on 31st August 2026. Anyone aged 18 or under on 31st August 2026, will need to be referred to our 16-18 Study Programme Team.

The assessments are used to make sure you have sufficient skills to be able to complete the course. This is important as you will be undertaking, what is usually a two-year course, in just one year. The courses are fast paced and intensive. They require a high level of commitment as the course will require 3 hours per week to attend the online class and then at least 5-8 hours of home study per week, as set by the tutor. Only in exceptional circumstances will you be accepted onto both English and maths courses.

Our GCSE courses will take place online but in real time so you will be able to interact with the tutor and other class members. It is essential that you have access to a computer and a good internet connection to be able to participate, we do not recommend using devices such as smartphones to join the classes.

Exams will take place in person at one of our centres. You will be asked your preference but we will not be able to confirm until exam entries have been submitted in the New Year. Exam centre choices will be;

• Ashford
• Canterbury
• Gravesend
• Tonbridge

Preparing for the assessment:

To give yourself the best chance at assessment, it is strongly recommended that you do some preparation and revision. The following websites will give you some excellent preparation and revision tools:

BBC Teach Skillswise

This site provides a good grounding in the foundation skills in Maths and English. It uses examples that may arise in daily life and shows you how you can apply your Maths and English skills to them.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/skillswise

BBC Bitesize

Use the KS3 and GCSE sections of this site to familiarise yourself with the types of topics and styles of question that you may find in the GCSE exams. Once you've clicked on your subject area in GCSE (in your case, this will be either Maths or English Language), you will be asked to choose the exam board for the GCSE you are sitting. We use AQA as our exam board, so please click on that option for content tailored to AQA students.

KS3 link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/levels/z4kw2hv
GCSE link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/levels/z98jmp3

Both the Maths and English assessments are handwritten papers and MUST take place in one of our centres. Each paper has an 80 minute (1 hour and 20 minute) time limit. If you have a diagnosed specific learning difficulty that means you need extra time, different coloured paper or to take the assessment in a room by yourself, please choose this from the drop down menu when you book. 

Booking your assessment

To book an assessment you will first need to register via our website onto the AQA GCSE English and Maths Initial Assessment Pre Course Interview. to check your eligibility. Once any pre check approvals have been approved and you have successfully enrolled, you will be sent an email within 24 hours with a link to use our booking tool. The tool will allow you to easily choose the best date/time and, if needed, alter your assessment. It will also allow you to book to take the assessment at your nearest centre.

Please ensure you request any access or support requirements when booking your assessment, as we will not be able to provide on the day without prior warning.

If you struggle with the booking tool, you can call us on 03000 41 22 22 and state which centre you're trying to contact. Please be aware opening times for each centre differ and we cannot guarantee availability at your nearest centre.

After your assessment

Following your assessment, we will contact you via email within 14 days from submission to give you details of your result and any next steps. If you are unsuccessful in either assessment, we will refer you to our Skills team. They offer Functional Skills Maths and English classes which will help you with any missing knowledge whilst also gaining a recognised qualification that can help with employment or going on to further education.

If you are successful with your GCSE application, you will be given a password and told how to enrol on one of the courses below.

Online preparation courses are also available at different times over the summer for those who apply and are offered a place on one of the above courses early.

Maths - 20 August 2026 and 7 September 2026

English - 29 August 2026 and 5 September 2026

More information:

If you have unanswered questions or would like more information on the GCSE or the Functional Skills courses, you can find out more here or call us on 03000 41 22 22.