The GCE Advanced Level (A-Level) is a subject-based school leaving qualification generally required for university entrance in the UK. Despite the increased popularity of the IB, A-levels remain the traditional qualifications offered by schools and colleges in England and are highly valued by employers and universities worldwide.
Contrary to school leaving qualifications in other countries, an A-level is subject-based. This means that you are free to choose the number of subjects you would like to sit at A-level and each individual subject is examined separately. Although schools and colleges will usually require you to have a GCSE in the subject you would like to sit at A-level, there are no previous learning requirements when you sit your exams as a private candidate. You can therefore sit an A-level even if you do not have a GCSE in the subject.
Most universities expect applicants to have at least three A-levels, with certain university disciplines requiring a certain set of subjects. For example, Medicine usually requires 3 A-levels, with Biology and Chemistry as required subjects. Studying English, on the other hand, requires an A-level in English Literature with Languages and History recommended for the remaining two subjects.
There are over 100 subjects on offer, from traditional subjects such as Maths to less orthodox subjects such as Product Design. It is important to note however, that certain subjects are not as highly regarded as others. For example, A-levels in General Studies, Critical Thinking, Thinking Skills and Global Perspectives are usually not accepted by universities as one of your A levels.
A key benefit is the possibility of taking exams even when you have technically "finished" your school education. For example, if you decide to become a Physicist a couple of years after leaving education, you can always sit further A-level exams as a private candidate to fulfill any university requirements as there is no age or time limit for taking A-level exams.
A-Levels are usually studied over the course of 2 years however this is not mandatory. Private candidates can sign up for A-levels at any time, whether they have studied the subject for two months or two years.
Prior to the A-Level reforms in 2016 and 2018, A-levels used to be modular and split between AS levels, taken in the first year and A2 levels taken in the second year. Since the reform this has now changed, and AS Levels have been turned into a separate qualification. Although you can still take AS levels, these are subordinate to the A-Level and most universities do not consider AS levels alone to fulfill their entry requirements.
The reforms also changed the modular structure to a linear one, which means that students now take all their exams at the end of the course, when they have learnt everything about the subject.
A-Level examinations are administered through five different examination boards that each offer different subjects and curriculums:
When deciding on which examination boards to choose, it is important to consider the distinct specifications of each board and whether your examination centre (the school or business where you will be sitting the exam) is registered with the examination board. You can mix and match multiple examination boards as you do not need to sit all exams with one board.
The pass grades for A Levels are, from highest to lowest, A*, A, B, C, D and E. Despite this range, only grades of C or above are generally considered an achievement. If students do not reach the minimum standard required for a grade E, students receive the non-grade U (unclassified).
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