About A-Level program

A-Level is a program that British schoolchildren study in the senior classes (Sixth Form). It is also popular with representatives of other countries, since it opens the shortest path to higher education in the UK. Parents of Russian schoolchildren value it because the quality of knowledge in specialized subjects of its graduates is significantly higher than that of those who completed the 11th grade in a Russian school.

Characteristics of A-Level program in the UK

A-Level is studied for two years after receiving the General Certificate of Secondary Education GCSE. The age of students in the program is from 16 to 18 years. One of the differences between A-Level and the senior school program in Russia is that students themselves choose 4 subjects to study. Sometimes the number of subjects can be reduced to 3 or increased to 6 – depending on the success that students demonstrate in their studies. At A-Level you can choose creative subjects: design, theatre, music, fashion.

Usually there are about 20 subjects to choose from, the exact list depends on the capabilities of a particular school in the UK, as well as the number of people wishing to study a particular course.

An approximate list of subjects to choose from on A-Level program in England:

• mathematics;
• higher mathematics;
• statistics;
• accounting;
• English language;
• English literature;
• biology;
• physics;
• chemistry;
• history;
• geography;
• politics;
• business;
• sociology;
• Economics;
• Art;
• Design;
• Music;
• Fashion and Textiles;
• French;
• German;
• Spanish;
• Latin;
• Ancient Greek;
• Classical Civilizations;
• Information Technology.

Advantages and Disadvantages of A-Level Program

Students of A-Level program are not limited in their choice of subject combinations. If, for example, students of the IB (International Baccalaureate) program in any case study mathematics, native and foreign languages, then here they can choose exactly what they like. This makes it possible to get a higher result. By focusing all their efforts on four subjects, students can study them comprehensively, preparing for university.

However, this advantage has a downside - British schoolchildren need to choose a profession very early. Success in entering a university in the UK is determined by a set of A-Levels. If you choose history, sociology and literature, and then decide to become an engineer, the path to the coveted diploma will be much more difficult. You may have to spend another year on accelerated study of the necessary subjects.

Thus, A-Level in England gives advantages to teenagers who decide on their area of ​​interest early, and causes difficulties for those who at 16 do not know at all what they want to study. In this case, it is recommended to choose the so-called general subjects, which will be useful when entering many specialties. These are foreign languages, exact and natural sciences, mathematics and English.

The structure of A-Level program

The two-year A-Level program consists of two courses:

1. Basic AS-level, where the fundamentals of the disciplines are studied. The schedule includes 4 educational modules for each subject. Exams are not taken in the first year of study.
2. A2 is the next level after AS and also lasts one year. Students attend two educational modules for each subject. At the end of the A2 level, exams are taken, the results of which are taken into account when entering British universities.

In UK schools, it is common for students to begin studying more than 4 subjects (up to 6) in the first year of A-Level, that is, at the AS level. By the second year, they have made their final choice and continue studying the subjects they will take the exam in.

A-Level is a two-year course, but in some UK schools it can also be found in an accelerated version. In this case, the entire period of study will be one year. High speed is achieved due to a more intensive schedule of classes, as well as the reduction of some introductory moments in the first year. This version of A-Level in English schools is often chosen by foreigners who already have an educational document from their country, who need additional qualifications to enter a British university.

Where to study A-Level program in the UK?

Schools where you can study A-Level program

How is A-Level program taught?

Education in England differs from the Russian model. The older you get, the moreI am a British schoolchild, the more responsibility he takes for his studies. In addition to the fact that he needs to choose subjects to study at A-Level, he will be required to have a high level of self-organization during his studies.

Students of A-Level program regularly attend classes, but their schedule includes periods of independent work every day, the volume of which is very large. The children learn to search for and analyze information, read a lot of additional literature. In addition to a high level of knowledge in the subject being studied, this develops skills that will be very useful for studying at a university in the UK.

How to enter A-Level program

To enter private schools in the UK for A-Level program, you will need to provide information about your academic performance at your previous school, as well as confirm your level of English proficiency. Many schools organise their own entrance exams for those applying for A-Level.

Contact us¸ to get more information about admission.