What Are A Level Qualifications?

A Levels are academic courses offered by schools and colleges to students from aged 16 onwards. They come after GCSEs, and are highly valued by universities and employers, meaning they can open up a lot of doors for young people. Read on for more information from one of the best A Level schools in London.

Choosing A Level Subjects

Students typically choose which A Level subjects they’d like to study while they are doing their GCSEs. Admission onto these courses will usually depend on the grades acquired at GCSE level, which is why it’s important for children to try their best. Entry requirements will vary from school to school. 

Usually, students will choose four A Level subjects to begin with, which they will study for one year, and then they will drop one of those subjects and study three in the second year. As a result, they end up with one AS level qualification and three full A Levels. 

It’s important that students think carefully about which subjects they’d like to take at A Levels depending on what they want to do after. For instance, if they’d like to study Medicine at university, they will need to have studied science based A Levels, like Biology and Chemistry. If your child is unsure what they’d like to do after their A Levels, they should choose subjects that they feel confident in and enjoy the most. 

Other Options

It’s worth noting that A Levels are not compulsory, and not the best option for all students. If your child is better suited to on the job learning and hands-on experiences, rather than academia, an apprenticeship might be a better option for them.

Be sure to do plenty of research as this is an important time for your child. Speak to them about their hopes and dreams and try to align their education in a way that will open up suitable doors for them in the future. Be sure to speak to their teachers for more information.