Following on the completion of IGCSE, A-Level will complete the British international education system.
It is important to note that an AS or A-Level completion without the prior successful completion of IGCSE will most likely lower students' chances to apply to top level universities in the UK.
What is AS Level?
A-Level as upper advanced program is subdivided into an 'advanced subsidiery' year and an A-Level year. AS levels are meant to prepare students for the study of A2 levels or full A-Levels. Often, some AS courses that are offered will close certain A-Level study options. An example is AS English Language and Literature which is an AS course that will close the option to either attend A2 courses in A-Level English Language and A-Level English Literature.
Other AS subjects are meant to purely expand the students' horizon but are not meant to be full A-Levels for students. AS Thinking Skills would be such a subject, more or less covering some basics of Philosophy.
How can students structure their A-Level studies?
Students have alot of freedom to choose and combine their AS and A-Level subjects freely over the two years. A general guideline for international students is that Mathematics and English Language or English Literature should always be the first option but language skills can also be shown through IELTS, TOEFL, or Duolingo, making English a recommended option. Subjects to be taken can vary a lot depending on the study choice of the individual student.
In order to graduate with an A-Level, students need to finish three subjects with respective exams.
That puts a lot of pressure on schools to come up with a concise curriculum that allows many students to have the greatest study options upon graduation. Some core courses like English, Mathematics, Science, and Humanities need to be offered at least, no matter how many students are enrolled in the A-Level program.
How are A-Level exams structured?
Most A-Level subjects have 5 exam components that can be written, practical, or even project or coursework based. (I.e. Global Perspectives)
Here, it depends again on students and schools what regulations they choose or come up with. Exams can be taken twice a year in June and November series. In order to not postpone application procedure, it is advisable to take AS exams (often more than 1/2 of A-Level exams) after one year and apply with the results in grade 12 or 13 for universities.
Some students, however, decide to apply with IGCSE results and take full A-Levels after two years.
Some students even decide to take some AS courses and additional AS exams in their last high school year, and if this is not interrupting their regular studies for the three subjects they have chosen as their AS courses the year before, there is nothing wrong about it.
In general, students should take 3 to 5 AS courses after completion of their IGCSEs and then choose 3 of them as A-Levels.
Special options
There is an option to attend two different AS courses to obtain one A-Level. This option is very suitable for applicants to U.S. universities but the school might make provisions for students not to choose this pathway.
If you want to know more about A-Level studies or have specific questions as a student or parent, you can contact me for an invidual counselling session.
If you are a school principal, educational administrator, or college counsellor, and need some advice on how to inteoduce an A-Level program at your school, you are also welcome to reach out to me.
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