A and AS Levels

Thursday, 25 February 2010 13:23

GCE advanced levels (A levels) are made up of advanced subsidiary (AS) units and A2 units. A levels are available in over 45 subjects and around 780,000 are awarded each year. They are the qualifications that the majority of young people use to gain entry to university.

The AS is a stand-alone qualification — usually made up of two units — and is worth half a full A level. The material studied in an AS is less demanding than in the A2. The A2 is the second half of the full A level qualification. It also typically contains two units. Most units are assessed by examination, but some are assessed internally. Prior to the 2008 revision of the AS/A2 structure, the majority of A levels contained six units. Our fact sheet explains the changes that were made at that time and their impact on teachers, examinations officers and students. You can find information about the consultation process that preceded the change and AS and A level criteria by subject here.

A levels are usually sat by 16 to 18 year olds in schools or colleges, but are open to anyone who wants to gain a qualification. If an awarding organisation and the regulator’s lead reviewer believe there is a particular reason why an A level should not be available to a certain age group — the awarding organisation must complete and submit our GCE proposal form to tell us why.

A levels: the official student guide to the system explains how the A level process works.

Advanced extension awards

Advanced extension awards (AEAs) were introduced in 2002 to challenge the top 10% of students in each subject. They are assessed externally. A list of awarding organisations offering AEAs and downloadable PDF files of the subjects available can be viewed on this page.

Last Updated on Wednesday, 08 June 2011 16:57 Tags: A Levels, advanced extension awards, AEAs, AS Levels, qualifications