Why study 'AS' and 'A' levels?

Every year, many thousands of students with Cambridge International 'AS' and 'A' Levels win places at good universities worldwide. As some of the most recognised qualifications around the world, they are accepted as proof of academic ability for entry to universities worldwide.

Cambridge International A Levels typically take two years to complete and offer a flexible course of study that gives students the freedom to select subjects that are right for them. If you want to study a small number of subjects of your choice in detail, AS and A level qualifications may be for you. Full 'A' levels are made up of the 'AS' level (one year of study) and the 'A2' (the second year of study to complete a full 'A' level). Each part makes up 50 per cent of the overall 'A' level grade.

'A' levels

The General Certificate of Education (Advanced Level), or 'A' Level, is the ‘gold standard’ of CIE (Cambridge International Examinations) qualifications. A Level examinations are usually taken after 13 years of education and are based on approximately 360 hours of guided learning, normally over a two-year period. 'A' Levels are highly specialised and a student will normally take three subjects, although occasionally exceptional students take four. There are five passing grades (A–E).

Cambridge International 'A' Levels are taken throughout the world, sometimes as the national examinations of certain Commonwealth countries (such as Singapore and Mauritius), sometimes within international schools and sometimes in bilingual government schools alongside the national exams.

Good 'A' Level grades can be a key to admission for all the world’s major anglophone universities. University course credit and advanced standing is often available in countries such as the USA and Canada, where entrance to university takes place after 12 years of education. Good grades in carefully chosen 'A' Level subjects can result in up to one full year of college credit.

 'AS' levels

The General Certificate of Education (Advanced Subsidiary Level), or 'AS' Level, was introduced in 2000. It represents the first half of an 'A' Level course but may also be taken as a freestanding qualification.

'AS' Levels are accepted in many universities throughout the world and carry half the weighting of an 'A' Level. For example, students may be admitted into university with suitable grades in two 'A' Levels and two 'AS' Levels (in place of three A Levels).