The A Level (Advanced Level)
is a subject-based qualification conferred as part of the General Certificate of Education, as well as a school leaving qualification offered by the educational bodies in the United Kingdom and the educational authorities of British Crown dependencies to students completing secondary or
pre-university education. A number of countries, including Singapore, Kenya, Mauritius and Zimbabwe have developed qualifications with the same
name as and a similar format to the British A Levels. Obtaining A Level or
equivalent qualifications is generally required for university entrance.
A Levels are generally worked towards over two
years and split into two parts, with one part studied in each year. The first
part is known as the Advanced Subsidiary
Level, A1 Level or AS Level (the AS Level acronym was previously
used for the separate Advanced Supplementary
Level qualification). The
second part is known as the A2 Level and is more in depth and academically rigorous
than the A1 Level. The AS Level is a qualification in its own right and the AS
Level combined with the A2 Level forms the complete A Level qualification, with
the exception of linear qualifications in which all of the A Level marks are
obtained from exams taken in the second year. Up to June 2009 a third Special/Advanced Extension Award level was available for the brightest
candidates.
Current usage
A number of countries use A Levels as a
school-leaving qualification. The A Levels taken by students in some countries
often differ significantly from the A Levels taken in the United Kingdom.
United Kingdom
A Levels are the secondary school leaving qualification offered in England, Wales,
and Northern Ireland.
These are not compulsory, unlike GCSEs. In Scotland, A Levels
are also offered by selected schools as an alternative school-leaving
qualification in place of the Scottish Advanced
Higher. The five main examination boards which administer British A
Levels in the UK are:
Edexcel and Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) also offer international versions of the
British A Levels in the United Kingdom and worldwide.
The British variant of A/AS levels are also
taken in many Commonwealth and former Commonwealth countries, as well as in examination
centres worldwide. British international
schools in foreign countries
generally offer the British A Levels as offered through Edexcel or Cambridge
International Examinations. At select examination centres, the British A Level
exams may also be available to private candidates.
Nepal
In Nepal, Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) GCE Advanced Level qualifications are
offered by some of the private, public and international schools as an
alternative to the Higher Secondary Education Board (HSEB) +2. A-level has become a popular choice
for a number of students in Nepal.
Pakistan
A-levels offered in Pakistan by non-governmental, private institutions,
along with International Baccalaureate and other international examinations.
Examinations are handled by international British boards and the program is
equivalent to Higher Secondary School Certificate. Academies
are established all around the country which prepare the students to take the examinations
as a private candidate.
Brunei
In Brunei, the A Level
qualification is offered, with examinations conducted by Cambridge International Examinations (CIE). Some subjects are unique to Brunei or
have a format, curriculum, or syllabus that is unique to Brunei.
Malaysia
In Malaysia, the A
Level qualification is offered, with examinations conducted by Cambridge International Examinations (CIE). Some subjects are unique to Malaysia or
have a format, curriculum, or syllabus that is unique to Malaysia. For
instance, there are two types of A Level in Malaysia, Cambridge A Level
(administered by Cambridge International Examinations) and Edexcel
International Advanced Level (administered by Pearson International).
Universities that provide such programme include Sunway
College, Taylor's College, Brickfields Asia College and more.
Mauritius
In Mauritius,
A/AS Level qualifications are taken as part of the Higher School Certificate, awarded upon
successful completion of secondary school after passing of examinations jointly administered by the Mauritius Examinations Syndicate and the University of Cambridge Local
Examinations Syndicate (UCLES). A number of exam papers for offered, such as French, are
customised to support the national educational standards. Additionally,
International A Level qualifications from Edexcel are available, for which exams may be
registered through the Mauritius Examinations Syndicate.
Seychelles
In Seychelles,
the A Level qualification is offered, with examinations conducted by Cambridge International Examinations (CIE). Some subjects are unique to Seychelles
or have a format, curriculum, or syllabus that is unique to Seychelles.
Singapore
In Singapore, H1/H2/H3 level qualifications are awarded upon successful completion of
examinations jointly administered by Singapore Ministry of Education (MOE), Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB) and the University of Cambridge Local
Examinations Syndicate (UCLES).
Sri Lanka
In Sri
Lanka, A Level is offered by governmental and non governmental
schools. The qualifications are awarded upon successful completion of
examinations called Local A Levels while most of the private schools award them
upon London A Levels. Local GCE Advanced Level qualification is offered by the Department of Examinations. Passing A Levels is the
major requirement for applying local universities.
India
In India, Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) GCE Advanced Level qualifications are
offered at private and international schools as an alternative to the
conventional Indian School Certificate (ISC) or Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC).[1][2]
Zimbabwe
The GCE Advanced Level qualification is
offered by the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC).[3] Before, this qualification was jointly offered by Cambridge
International Examinations and the Council in Zimbabwe. The ZIMSEC variant is
perceived to be more challenging than the UK version.
Caribbean
Recently within the Caribbean
there has been a move away from the GCE Advanced Level to the CXC CAPE examinations,[4] making them a de facto university entrance examination. Some
universities also require applicants to take separate entrance examination. The International Baccalaureate and European Baccalaureate are also accepted.
Hong Kong
In Hong Kong, the British A Level was once
accused of grade inflation many years ago, and thus over time both the
GCE A Level (GCEAL) and HKAL have become more strictly graded, as shown by NARIC research. Compared to the usual 25–30% rate of achieving an A-grade in the
UK AS/A2, there could be statistically fewer than 0.05% candidates scoring an
"A" in a single examination in the Hong Kong Advanced Supplementary Level Examination and less than 1% rate of achieving an A-grade
every year in an A Level subject. However, this comparison is seen by manyas
being meaningless and misleading because in the first place, grade A is not the
top distinction level and so comparing the second best grade in the GCE A Level
to the top grade in HKAL is not very useful and objective. Moreover, it is
important to note that because of the significantly different measurement
methodologies, these examinations are not directly comparable in terms of the
skills and knowledge demonstrated at each grade and that distinction rates
alone cannot serve as a fair indicator of one's absolute academic performance.
In that NARIC research, only the cumulative percentages were taken into account
to reach the huge generalisations, on the very unsafe assumption that two
scales are exactly identical and standardised. The wide recognition for both
qualifications in many local universities and companies all attests to this.
For example, many prestigious overseas universities regard the
HK qualifications (HKCEE and HKALE) as being equivalent to the UK ones (IGCSE
and GCEAL) on a grade-by-grade basis.
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