What is Cambridge International AS & A Level?

Cambridge AS Level, Cambridge A level, Edexcel AS Level, Edexcel A level, Edexcel IAL

Announcement: Cambridge IGCSE, and AS & A Level November 2024 past papers are now available.

Announcement:
Cambridge International Education no longer be an Ofqual-recognised awarding organisation from December 20, 2024.

Thousands of learners use Cambridge International AS & A Level every year to gain places at leading universities worldwide. Students develop a deep understanding of subjects, as well as independent learning and constructive thinking skills - abilities which universities value highly.

Cambridge International A Level is typically a two-year course, and Cambridge International AS Level is typically one year.

Learners have the freedom to take Cambridge International AS Levels as qualifications in their own right, or as part of a progression to Cambridge International A Level. Learners can study for AS Level alongside A Level subjects to increase breadth in the curriculum and to build further knowledge and understanding.

Cambridge International AS & A Level Curriculum

The curricula are flexible. Learners can take almost any combination of 55 subjects. Learners can specialise or study a range of subjects, ensuring breadth.

Below are the Subject Groups for 55 subjects:

subjects-groups-1
what is cambridge international as a level

University recognition and research

Learners use Cambridge International AS & A Levels to gain places at leading universities worldwide including in the UK, Ireland, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, Singapore, Egypt, Jordan, South Africa, the Netherlands, Germany and Spain.

Cambridge International AS & A Levels are viewed as equivalent to the AS and A Levels taken by learners in the UK, and are accepted for entrance to all UK universities.

In places such as the United States and Canada, good grades in carefully chosen Cambridge International A Level subjects can result in up to one year of university course credit.

Over 500 US universities accept Cambridge International AS & A Levels, including all Ivy League and Ivy Plus universities. These universities include Brown, Harvard, MIT, Stanford and Yale.

Research carried out* looked at whether Cambridge International AS & A Levels prepared learners for continued studies in colleges and universities in the US, as well as Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate programmes. The findings suggest that Cambridge quali cations compare favourably with the other programmes.

<* Published in the Journal of College Admission (Number 213, Fall 2011)>

Cambridge International AS & A Level Gradings

Learners receive a separate grade for each subject that he/she takes.

Cambridge International A Levels are graded from A* – E. Candidates who do not obtain enough marks for an E grade at A Level may be awarded a compensatory AS Level.

Cambridge International AS Levels are graded from a to e. Candidates who do not obtain enough marks for grade e at AS Level will be ungraded.

Group awards

The Cambridge AICE Diploma is a group certificate which requires learners to study subjects drawn from three curriculum areas within AS and A Level: mathematics and science, languages, and arts and humanities.

Assessment

Learners can choose from a range of assessment options:

Option one
Take the AS Level only. The AS Level syllabus content is half a Cambridge International A Level.

Option two**
Take a ‘staged assessment route’ – take the AS Level in one examination series and complete the final A Level in a subsequent series.

(** The staged assessment route is not possible in all subjects. The outcomes awarded for Cambridge International AS Level language syllabuses cannot be carried forward to Cambridge International A Level.)

Option three
Take all papers of the Cambridge International A Level course in the same examination series, usually at the end of the course.

Resources

Our valuable A* resources had produced thousands of A* scorers around the world. Check them out below.

A* Model Answers:

Our internationally loved exam model answers had helped thousands of students in scoring A/A*. Schools and teachers worldwide have used these resources to aid in their teachings. Learn what an A* answer like, copy the style and score A* in your exam.

Online Courses:

Our word-renowned IGCSE and AS/A Level courses had produced more than 1100 A/A* scorers worldwide. They are suitable for schooled or home-schooled candidates, and as full course or revision course.

Past papers:

We have the most complete past exam papers library on earth (no kidding!). Choose your exam board and download everything with one click.

Subject syllabus:

Get the latest exam syllabus and plan your study accordingly.

Key Dates:

Find out the exam registration and results released key dates for IGCSE and AS/A Level.

Exam Timetables:

Check your administrative zone, the exam dates and time. For both IGCSE and AS/A Level.

Exam Centres:

Find and locate the nearest exam centre for your location.

Frequently Asked Questions about AS & A Level

Please kindly read the AS & A Level FAQs here.

Note: CIE (Cambridge International Examination board) has its name changed to CAIE (Cambridge Assessment International Education) since October 2017.

In October 2023, CAIE updated its name, logo, look, and messaging. Cambridge International Education is the new name of the awarding body of Cambridge University Press & Assessment. This name will be used on materials related to administering exams and awarding qualifications.

Note: All relevant info taken from CIE.

Free email courses

Join 60,657 (and counting) IGCSE & AS/A Level subscribers who've taken our insanely valuable FREE email courses. Learn exam tips & score A* in your exam!

Free email courses

Join 60,657 (and counting) IGCSE & AS/A Level subscribers who’ve taken our insanely valuable FREE email courses. Learn exam tips & score A* in your exam!

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86 responses

  1. Hi, Iam fathima ashfa from Srilanka. I am getting ready to face my AS level examination in the october november series 2019. I have selected to write biology, chemistry, and physics. we do not have any facilities here to do practice for practical test in all three subjects. Do you have any websites which gives useful practical skills that can help in my exams? our school doesn’t have any instruments to carryout the practicals.it will be very useful for all the our children in my class. please consider the above message. waiting for your reply

    1. Hi Fathima,

      Here are some tips for you:
      As with all exams it is essential that you read practical exam papers very carefully. You must follow the instructions on the paper so that you do the correct experiments and record the correct observations. If the question tells you to record results or observations in a certain place you must record them in that place.
      Do not panic if the context of the practical experiment appears unfamiliar. Where appropriate the question paper will tell you exactly what to do and how to do it.
      If you find yourself in real difficulty setting up your practical equipment you may ask your supervisor for help. You will only lose one or two marks for this.

      For Biology , make clear descriptions of colours and colour changes; refer to ‘blue’, ‘orange’ and ‘purple’ when describing reagents used in biochemical tests. You may want to refer to slight differences, so use words like ‘pale’ and ‘dark’. When drawing slides and photographs, read the question carefully, the drawing may have to be an accurate size e.g. twice the original. Observe details carefully, such as the relative number of chloroplasts in different cells and the thickness of cell walls in different cells in a vascular bundle. Show these accurately on your drawing. When presenting your data and observations, use the space provided, do not make the table too small. Write brief, but informative headings for each column and columns headed with physical quantities should have appropriate SI units. Lastly, data should be recorded in the table in the order in which it is collected – this is because the table is prepared before the data collection.

      For Chemistry , make sure you are well practised in handling all of the equations relating to titrations. Being able to convert between cm3 and dm3 is an essential part of this. Make sure you are well practised in the graphical techniques that have been necessary to answer questions on past papers. Get a set of results for each question of this sort and repeat the graphical exercises until your teacher agrees you have them right. Make sure you are well practised in the correct vocabulary for recording observations, e.g. precipitate, slight, dense, soluble, insoluble, excess, gelatinous, and effervescence. If you are asked to record observations do so in as much detail as possible. If a solution is colourless, or a precipitate is white, say so. Don’t just describe it as a “solution” or a “precipitate”. If you have to add one solution to another, looking for observations, add it slowly. You need to notice the difference between an instant or sudden change and a gradual change. If a change is instant or sudden, say so. If a change is gradual, say so. If the change goes through intermediate stages, describe each of these stages.

      For Physics , all the raw readings of a particular quantity should be recorded to the same number of decimal places which should in turn be consistent with the precision of the measuring instrument. When drawing your graph, do not forget to label each axis with the appropriate quantity and unit, using the same format for expressing column headings in a table. Choose a scale such that the plotted points occupy at least half the graph grid in both the x and y directions. The x-axis scale should increase positively to the right and the y-axis scale should increase positively upwards. Use a convenient scale such as 1, 2 or 5 units to a 2 cm square as you will then be less likely to make a mistake with the position of your plotted points and it will be easier for you to read off points from your graph if you are calculating the gradient or finding an intercept. Similarly, it is good practice to mark values on at least every other 2 cm square. Show all your working when calculating a gradient. It is helpful to draw the triangle used to calculate the gradient on the graph and to clearly label the coordinates of the vertices (accurate to half a small square). These values can then be used in the gradient calculation. The length of the hypotenuse of the triangle should be greater than half the length of the graph line.

      Hope this helps.

  2. How is English AS level carried out? What papers are written for it?

    It would be great if you make a section for subject-wise explanations

      1. my son will appear in 2020 for math biology physiscs and hemistry paper plz let me know he should follow syllabus for 2019 -2020

  3. Can I continue with IGCSE A level for my 11th Standard in India.Which are some of the best Cambridge A level colleges in INDIA?

  4. Greetings IGCSE Team,

    I wanted to know whether International Baccaulerate Diploma Programme is better for foreign universities or AS/A levels. I’ve heard that AS/A levels are good if you want to study in the UK, but IBDP is better for going to other countries. I’m in a huge confusion whether or not to do my A levels or go with IBDP.

    1. Hello,

      A-level and the International Baccalaureate are both eligible qualifications for entry in many foreign universities. Both programmes are considered very carefully on their individual merits and cannot be compared on which is better.

      The success rates for students applying with the IB and students applying with A-levels are broadly similar, and that the choice of qualification (as long as it is an eligible qualification as specified on the university?s website) plays no part whatsoever in the selection criteria for the university?s courses. So, choose the course of study which appeals to you the most, and which you feel will give the best preparation for your future studies.

      But we do suggest that you check with the university you wish to apply to, and get the confirmation on their entry requirements. Specifically which qualification they would accept: A Level or IB.

  5. i did my AS business and got a E grade but passed and now studing for my A level business but i want to retake the Business AS level ,can i retake at the same time iam taking the A level of the same subject? answer ASAP please

    1. Hi Eyad,

      There are two possible options for you:

      1. Take all the papers in the same examination session at the end of the course
      2. Sit for AS level first and take A2 exams at a subsequent series. Make sure that it is within the 13 month period.

      However, we strongly suggest that you discuss this with your school and your parents.

        1. Hi Eyad,

          Kindly address this matter to your school directly as they are responsible in submitting your entry option. Ask them if you will be entered under the staged assessment route or the full A-level course because these two routes have different option code.

  6. Hello. May I know the consequences of writing the wrong centre number? I think I may have been writting my centre number wrong for the first half of my exams and I am worried if the papers may be graded U. My candidate number and name are correct, does that help in tracking my papers back to me?

    1. Hi Julian,

      There are some cases if the name and candidate number is written on the paper then CIE can still manage to grant the grade to the candidate properly. It will just cause some minor manual handling? So next time please read the instructions and write properly.

      But you may contact CIE, https://www.cie.org.uk, directly regarding this matter.

  7. Hi there I am a mom we are in Qatar as expect teachers my son is in grade 12 now cambridfe cirriculumbut is very unhappy at school how can i vo about to homeschool his last year but Im unable to teach him though

    1. Dear Nadine,

      If you wish to embark on homeschooling your son, please follow this step-by-step guidance, to find out if home education is for you: https://www.skolatis.com/what-is-homeschooling/ . You decide the subjects, together with your son, based on what he wants to study in the future.

      These resources might also help him with his revision:
      A-Level syllabus: https://www.skolatis.com/cambridge-international-as-a-level-syllabuses/
      A-Level past papers: https://www.skolatis.com/as-a-level-past-exam-papers/

      You may also need to source private tuition help if you are unable to teach him.

  8. Hi,

    I will be entering A Level after completing IGCSE, and when i downloaded all the past paper’s I found that math’s 9707 has been divided into 3 parts: Pure Mathematics, Mechanics, Probability and Statistics. When I checked the sciences (Bio, Phy, Che) they were not.

    My teacher told me to check again but I didn’t find anything. So, I am asking you.

    Thanks,

    1. Hi Ali,

      At AS level, teachers can choose from three different routes to Cambridge International AS Level Mathematics: Pure Mathematics only, Pure Mathematics and Mechanics, or Pure Mathematics and Probability & Statistics.

      At A Level, teachers can also choose from different routes to Cambridge International A Level Mathematics depending on the choice of applied mathematics (Mechanics and/or Probability and Statistics).

      Please note: From 2020 Cambridge International A Level Mathematics has two different routes: Pure Mathematics and Probability & Statistics only; or Pure Mathematics, Mechanics and Probability & Statistics.

      You may check the subject syllabus for more details: https://www.skolatis.com/cambridge-international-as-a-level-syllabuses/

      You may also refer to CIE?s website here: https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/programmes-and-qualifications/cambridge-international-as-and-a-level-mathematics-9709/

  9. Hello,
    I just wanted to know whether after remarking if your marks decrease, they let you choose between the original one and the remarked one or the final remarked one is your final score sheet. Thank you for your time.
    -Shivani

    1. Hi Shivani,

      The remark is the final one that counts, whether it was better or worse than your original.

  10. I have completed my 10th grade from an Indian board.Can I sit for as level exams as a private candidate?

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