A-level

The A-level (Advanced Level) is a subject-based qualification that is part of the General Certificate of Education. It is also a school leaving qualification offered by the educational bodies in the United Kingdom and the educational authorities of British Crown dependencies for students finishing secondary or pre-university education. A-levels began in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland in 1951, replacing the Higher School Certificate.

Having an A-level can help students get into a university they apply to, depending on the UCAS points they earn. Many Commonwealth countries have created similar qualifications, and usually, students need A-levels or similar certificates to enter university. Universities often base their offers on the grades students achieve.

A-levels are usually studied over two years. Students often begin with three or four subjects in their first year of sixth form and may reduce to three in the second year, since most university offers are based on three grades. Unlike some other qualifications, like the International Baccalaureate, A-levels let students choose any subjects they like, though they often pick subjects related to the degree they plan to study.

In Wales, Northern Ireland, and for older modular courses in England, A-levels are split into two parts. The first part is called an Advanced Subsidiary qualification or AS-level, which can be a qualification on its own or count toward a full A-level. The second part is called A2-level, which is more advanced and combines with the AS marks for the full A-level.

A-level exams are a type of matriculation examination and are similar to qualifications like the matura, the Abitur, the Baccalauréat, or the Bagrut certificate.

Current usage

A-levels are a type of qualification that many students take after secondary school. They are most common in the United Kingdom, especially in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Some other countries also offer A-levels through international exam boards like Cambridge International Education and Pearson Edexcel.

In the UK, A-levels are not required for all students, unlike some other exams. They are offered in many schools and colleges. Different exam boards, such as AQA, OCR, and Edexcel, provide these qualifications. Students in other parts of the world can also take A-levels through international schools or exam centers.

Subjects offered at A level

Main article: List of Advanced Level Subjects (A-Level)

Students can choose from many different subjects to study at A-level. These subjects cover a wide range of interests and career paths. The list includes languages like French, Spanish, and German, sciences such as Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, arts like Art and Design and Music, and many more practical and academic areas.

A-level reforms in England

From 2015 to 2018, A-levels in England changed from a modular to a linear structure. This means students now take all their exams in one go, with three exams for most subjects, and there is less coursework. For example, in the new English Literature A-level, coursework now makes up only 20% of the grade, down from 40% before.

These changes were meant to stop grades from getting easier each year and to end the practice of repeatedly taking exams. Some subjects were also removed from the A-level list, which upset many universities. However, Wales and Northern Ireland kept their old system. In 2023, there was a plan to replace A-levels in England, but this plan was stopped after a new government was elected in 2024.

Former usage

Caribbean

In 2002, schools in the Caribbean started using different tests instead of the old Advanced Level exams. These new tests, called CXC CAPE, help students get into university. Some universities also have their own special tests for students to take. Other programs like the International Baccalaureate and the European Baccalaureate are also accepted for university entry.