You can begin to study correspondence theory courses at any point in the year. The correspondence course option is ideal if you prefer to work from 'hard copy' and have printed course notes to keep. We will send you full-colour printed course materials for each unit,  workbooks to help you summarise your learning and test papers for each topic. Your tutor can be contacted via email to support you in your studies.

You will also have access to the VLE (online classroom) and to the chat space for level 2 learners. The VLE is useful as a backup because it contains all the same course notes in electronic form, which can be useful in following up links; but it can also

• help you to keep in touch with other learners through the chat space,
• book your exam dates and get reminders,
• get updates when we receive new information from the RHS, with past papers and examiner comments whenever they are issued
• give you practice with self-marking online quizzes and with mock exams to help you get used to an online exam situation
• let you view interactive materials
• allow you to upload work for your tutor's comments, and notify her that the work is waiting
• give you the topic workbooks online so that you can complete them electronically

 Click here to enter the teaching website to see some examples of course materials in a sample online classroom ( you will be asked to log in as a guest).

Assessments:

This qualification is assessed by two RHS examinations. It is now an RHS requirement that their courses are only delivered by approved centres and that anyone studying the courses must be registered and pay exam fees at the start of their course. You pay these fees when you enrol, and we pass these on to the RHS when we register you at the beginning of your course.

You can study the course and choose not to take the exams, but the RHS does not refund the exam fees. You will not be able to achieve an RHS Certificate without passing the exams.

The two units are each assessed by a separate online examination:  examination 1 will cover Unit 1 (topics 1.1-1.4) and examination 2 will cover Unit 2 (topics 2.1-2.4). Each exam also covers relevant aspects of the four new 'Qualification-wide Outcomes'.

For each examination there are 100 marks available and each takes 120 minutes to complete.

The exams consist of three sections: section A , 20  'forced-answer' questions (e.g. multiple choice), 20 marks; section B, a series of short-answer questions, 50 marks; section C, choice of 2 from 4 questions, 2 x 15 marks.

You must achieve at least 50% in each unit and pass both unit 1 and 2 in order to be awarded the qualification. A final grade for the overall qualification will be calculated by amalgamating the marks for each unit and expressed as a percentage. Learners will be awarded the following grades for the complete qualification:
50-64% Pass
65-79% Merit
80%+ Distinction.

Examinations take place in February, June and October each year.

How the online exams work:

You will need a laptop or computer with a camera for examinations. When you are first registered for the Certificate, the RHS will send you an email prompting you to log in to their 'Candidate Portal' .  When your entry for an exam is confirmed, the RHS will send you another link to download a temporary piece of invigilation software, and provide a short test 'exam' (which is not marked) which will check that your computer is compatible and allows you to get used to the way the online exam works.

If for any reason you are not able to take an online examination, we can arrange a paper option with the RHS but this will involve travel to one of our centres and there will be additional costs from the RHS and also for personal invigilation. 

Online and correspondence enrolments with BEST give you access to the online classroom and tutor support for 18 months; during this time there will be at least three opportunities to take your exams.

The RHS expects that it will take no longer than 24 months to complete a Certificate, even if you should need to retake both your exams. As you can only be entered for exams by a centre, BEST will arrange exam bookings if you need them for a further two exam sessions during a 6-month ‘grace period’ after the end of your enrolment.   If you want to continue tuition and support for this period you will need to extend your enrolment for six months.

When you enrol you will be prompted to select the exam dates you will work towards - you will get reminders and have the opportunity to change this if you need to.   If you have a particular desire to enter for two units together rather than take them individually, please contact administration@bestinhorticulture.co.uk after your enrolment.

RHS fees : The RHS have made a decision that a Centre can only accept you on an RHS course if you commit to the complete assessment process when you start. Their fees for the new Level 2 theory qualification are currently £200 for registration and assessments.  In the month that you enrol the RHS will invoice us for their fees,  so these are now due at the beginning of the course as an itemised part of the initial payment, and we cannot enrol you for a unit or the complete course without charging you this fee.

Tuition: Printed course materials and tuition for both units will cost £700, or you  can enrol on each unit in turn for £400.  We also charge £60 towards the centre's administration of all the RHS examination processes.

This means that the total course cost is either £960 (£700 tuition + £60 administration + £200 exam fees) or £660 (first unit £400 tuition + £60 administration +£200 exam fees) followed by £400 for the second unit tuition and materials.