GCSE A - Levels or A - Levels were introduced in 1951 and are taken all over the world between the ages of 16 - 19 by students in college or the sixth form. After taking GCSEs or IGCSEs, students decide on what A - Levels to take, usually requiring an A or A* in a subject at GCSE or IGCSE to study that subject at A - Level. A - Levels are usually taken over two years. Students study AS - Level in the lower sixth or year 1 of college and A2 in the upper sixth or year 2 of college. Students usually start in the lower sixth by taking four A Levels and may choose to drop one at the end of the year, only taking three A Levels for A2. Grades are awarded from U to to A*
A Levels are required by many universities to qualify for entrance onto a degree course. On the basis of AS results and predicted grades for A2 they apply for University. Each A Level is allocated a number of UCAS points and universities may specify entrance requirements in terms of A - Level grades eg AAB or UCAS points eg 240:
A levels and AS – GCE & VCE
| Grade | UCAS points | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GCE & AVCE Double Award | A level with additional AS (9 units) | GCE A level and AVCE | GCE AS Double Award | GCE AS & AS VCE | |
| A*A* | 280 | ||||
| A*A | 260 | ||||
| AA | 240 | ||||
| AB | 220 | ||||
| BB | A*A | 200 | |||
| BC | AA | 180 | |||
| AB | 170 | ||||
| CC | 160 | ||||
| BB | 150 | ||||
| CD | BC | A* | 140 | ||
| DD | CC | A | AA | 120 | |
| CD | AB | 110 | |||
| DE | B | BB | 100 | ||
| DD | BC | 90 | |||
| EE | DE | C | CC | 80 | |
| CD | 70 | ||||
| EE | D | DD | A | 60 | |
| DE | B | 50 | |||
| E | EE | C | 40 | ||
| D | 30 | ||||
| E | 20 | ||||
Students not obtaining the desired grades in AS June exams may resit those exams in the following June. Some universities may take into account the fact of having taken resits when decided on applications
We teach all A - Level physics modules for all the exam boards. Physics is one of the hardest A - Levels. It is also the A - Level that can make one of the biggest differences to a persons future earning power, and the contribution that person can make to progress.