What is A-Level?

Advanced Level (A-Level) is the second part of GCE (General Certificate of Education) (the first part of GCE is O-Level (Ordinary Level)). It is being studied by students of Year 12 & 13 (or sixth form) from the age group 16-18 (in certain countries are age group 17-19).

A-Level is a 2-year course, and it is recognized as the standard assessment of a student’s suitability to enter universities’ courses. According to the British Council, A-levels are similar to the American Advanced Placements which are themselves equivalent to first year courses of America’s four year bachelor degrees.

Structure and Curriculums

At least 5 A*-C grades from GCSE or O-Level, including English and Mathematics are needed as a qualification to start A-Level.

A-Level is being offered by school’s sixth form, private colleges, and universities (normally it’s called Foundation Course in universities). Students may choose to take four to six subjects in A-Level, from the sciences categories (Advanced Maths, Maths, Physics, Biology, Chemistry, etc) or arts categories (Business Studies, Economics, Accounting, Arts, Music, Sociology etc).

Recognition

A-Level is a qualification offered by education institutions in the UK. It is widely taken by students in Commonwealth and former Commonwealth countries.

A-Level course is considered very rigorous, and its certification is highly excepted by universities worldwide. Students normally will apply a placement in preferred universities prior to A-Level exams, with their predicted A-Level results from schools.

As the predicted A-Level results are graded by students’ teachers (which normally considered unreliable), universities still insisted an actual A-Level results before the final decision of placement, though students might be granted a place in the university earlier.