AS and A levels: Everything you need to know

AS and A levels are the next big step in a child's education after their GCSE examinations.

This expert guide to AS and A-levels will take you through the basics of how they work, so you can be ready to help your teen through their choices and reap the rewards on A level results day.

They are the oldest school qualifications in Britain, having been launched in 1951, but if your child wants to attend university, A-levels are just as important as ever. And now that the new Labour government has reversed Tory plans to replace A Levels with the Advanced British Standard, it seems they are definitely here to stay.

What are AS and A-levels?

After the broad range of subjects offered by GSCEs, A-levels (short for Advanced Levels) allow your child to specialise in the subjects that interest them the most or in which they excel.

A Levels are subject-based qualifications that students in the UK may take at the end of their secondary education, usually around ages 17-18. They can be studied at secondary school (in sixth form) or at college and are often required for university entry.

Most students choose to do three A-level subjects – often geared towards the university course they are considering or the career they hope to pursue - with exams at the end of the two years of study. Some students take 4 A-levels if they plan to apply to a competitive university like Oxford or Cambridge – or wish to study a course like law or medicine. Students who are particularly strong at Maths might also take Further Maths to develop their understanding of the subject, as well as bolster their uni application.

No matter how many A-levels your teen takes, they will study all the subjects continuously and simultaneously over their two years in Years 12 and 13, and then take the examinations in the summer term of their final year.

To study A-levels, your child will probably need at least five GCSE passes over a grade 4. If they didn’t manage this in English Language or Maths, they will need to retake it in Sixth Form, according to the current rules. Over the two years, students will be assessed through a series of modules or units, as well as coursework and written exams, though the mix will depend on the subject.

Your child could also take an AS Level in the first year of 6th form, as well as their A-levels. However, these are becoming less popular now. Once they were a halfway house to getting an A-level. If pupils did well in their AS Level, they would go on to take to the full A-level. Many schools felt it took the pressure off.

However, AS Levels have now become ‘decoupled’ from A-levels. They are now separate standalone qualifications which have to be studied as separate add-ons. Nevertheless, some teachers still see AS Levels as a useful way to boost a student’s UCAS points, as they can add up to 20 if they get an A. But do bear in mind that universities are still mostly looking at A-level grades.

AS Levels can also bolster your child’s personal statement, provide them with some exam practice, and show off their hard work and curiosity. "AS Levels can still be useful as they provide a valuable stepping stone between GCSEs and A-levels," says David Seaton, Assistant Director of Student Recruitment & Admissions at the University of Bedfordshire. "They are an opportunity for students to gauge their interest and aptitude in a subject before committing to a full A-level course. They can also provide additional UCAS Tariff points for entry to university."

Tanith Carey

Tanith Carey is a parenting writer and award-winning journalist. She is the author of 11 parenting and psychology books, which analyze some of the most urgent issues for today’s parents and offer practical, research-based solutions. Tanith’s books have been translated into 35 languages, including Spanish, French, Italian, German, and Chinese, and have received widespread global media coverage. Her books include What’s My Child Thinking?, What’s my Teenager Thinking?, What’s my Tween Thinking? (DK), The Friendship Maze (Vie), Taming the Tiger Parent (Robinson), and Girls Uninterrupted: Steps for building stronger girls in a challenging world (Icon Books). Tanith’s speaking engagements have included the Child Mind Institute in Palo Alto, California, and The Cheltenham Science Festival, UK. She has two children and holds a Certificate in Therapeutic Skills and Studies from London’s Metanoia Institute, where she is training for her Masters in Gestalt psychotherapy.

A-level grades explained

A-levels are graded on a scale from A* to E. The highest grade is A* while E is the lowest passing grade. Below that is a U. AS-levels are graded the same way, but there's no A*.

When applying to university, AS-level grades (for subjects that were just taken for one year) and final A-level grades are converted into UCAS points, with the higher grades scoring higher points. University courses require a certain amount of UCAS points, depending on the popularity of the course and the standard of grades that the university is willing to accept.

Which A-levels are most popular?

In theory, your child has a large variety of subjects to choose from. There are more than 75 A-level subjects on offer, ranging from Biblical Hebrew to Marine Biology. The choices are similar to those at GCSE and usually allow students to carry on the subjects that they like from GCSE. Many schools/colleges require a GCSE in a subject to carry it on at A level. However, much will depend on what is offered at the schools and colleges local to you.

Some schools or colleges offer extra subjects at AS that might not have been an option at GCSE. Psychology, Photography and Economics have all become popular choices for A-levels so it's worth checking out several schools and colleges in your area to see what's on offer for your teen.

For the last ten years, Maths has been the most popular subject at A Level, partly because it’s seen as so useful in the job market. According to the latest figures by the exam priovider OCR, in 2023 Maths was followed in terms of popularity by:

• Psychology
• Biology  
• Chemistry  
• History
• Sociology  
• Business Studies  
• Art and Design
• Economics
• Physics  

Are A Levels getting 'easier'?

There has been speculation over recent years that A Levels are getting 'easier'. One study compared A-level mathematics exams from 1960, 1990 and 2010s to evaluate whether standards have changed and A-levels are easier.

“The fact there has been no decline in standards since the 1990s is a big surprise,” says Ian Jones, one of the scholars behind Fifty years of A‐level mathematics: have standards changed?. “Perhaps people can now worry less that standards continue to decline – there is no evidence they have changed since the 1990s – and focus more confidently on making sure A-levels are fit for the purposes they need to serve nowadays.”

Concerns about A-levels getting easier have stemmed from research that reveals an increase in students today achieving A grades. According to data from The Spectator shared by School Guide, only 18% achieved an A in 1994, whilst 26% of students received an A or A* in 2014 and 2019. Whilst grade inflation has led to higher grades for UK students, it doesn't necessarily mean that A-levels are getting easier. This is because as the grades go up, so do expectations.

What options are there other than A levels?

All young people have to be educated or trained until the age of 18. But that doesn’t mean they have to take A-levels if they are not the right fit for them. Indeed, worry about student debt and the cost-of-living crisis means more young people are opting to start training for their careers after GCSEs rather than aiming for university.

If your teen has a strong pull towards certain jobs or set of skills, other choices for 16-year-olds include:

• Apprenticeships: These are work-based training programs that allow young people to earn a wage while gaining practical skills and qualifications in a specific industry. Apprenticeships combine on-the-job training with class-based learning and can take anywhere between one and four years to complete. They are available in a variety of industries from construction, nursing and fashion, to film and TV and at various levels, from intermediate, which is equivalent to GCSEs, to higher and degree apprenticeships, which are equivalent to university degrees. Apprenticeships are popular for those who prefer hands-on experience and want to enter the workforce directly while continuing their education. Visit www.findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk to find out more
• T Levels: This stands for Technical Levels. They are an alternative to A-levels and were introduced in 2020 for students aged 16-19 who want to focus on technical and vocational education. Like A-levels, your teen will study for two years at school or college, spending 80 per cent of their time in the classroom and 20 per cent with an employer. There are more than 20 subjects on offer, including Catering and Hospitality, and Education and Early years. Like A-levels, they will also earn UCAS points, should they wish to go on to university. A T-level is equivalent to three A-levels. Visit www.tlevels.gov.uk and pop in your postcode to find out what’s on offer near you.
• BTECs: This stands for Business and Technology Education Council qualifications. They are vocational qualifications that focus on practical, hands-on learning in specific industries like business, engineering and health, and can be taken at various levels, from introductory (equivalent to GCSEs) to higher national diplomas (equivalent to the first two years of a university degree). They are designed for students who prefer coursework and practical assessments over exams and are often used as a route to further education, apprenticeships, or employment since many UK universities accept BTEC qualifications as an alternative to A Levels. Higher-level BTECs, such as BTEC Nationals or BTEC Extended Diplomas, are well-recognised by universities and can provide a strong foundation for degree-level study

What to know more? Read When is GCSE results day? or When are GCSE certificates issued?