You might be considering your A Level choices and wondering what the difference is between an AS and A Level. Or, you might be wondering why in the UK, Advanced levels are different to how you remember them. We will explain more below.
What are AS Levels within the UK?
In order to understand the AS Level, it helps to know what the A Level is. The A Level also known as a GCE Advanced Level is offered by schools within the UK over two years. Students take these academic qualifications after finishing their GCSEs and they form a natural progression onto University. The AS Level (Advanced Subsidiary) is equivalent to the first year of an A Level course. Within the UK, there are various awarding bodies offering the Advanced Subsidiary qualification. The most popular being AQA and Pearson Edexcel. AQA and Pearson produce the specifications for these qualifications in respect of each subject and they are the examination body. They award the certificates on successful completion of exams through an approved private candidate exam centre.
Advanced Levels Prior to 2015
Advanced Levels within the UK were modular prior to 2015. An Advanced Subsidiary was known as the first half of an Advanced Level (completed during the first year):
First Year – AS
Second Year – A2
AS + A2 = Full A Level (2 years)
Therefore, after year one and obtaining your Advanced Subsidiary (AS), you would have the option to then spend the second year topping it up to a Full A Level (A2). Learners could resit individual units and the AS qualification if gained initially, could then count towards the Full A Level at a later date.
Advanced Levels after 2015
The government decided reforms were needed with these qualifications and first teaching for the new system came into force in 2015. First exams started in 2016. Reforms changed the format of Advanced Levels from modular to linear. Linear meant that AS and A Levels were separate and standalone qualifications. Therefore, learners could no longer use the AS to count towards the A Level. The Advanced Subsidiary has become a separate qualification altogether.
Another change is that learners would sit ALL exams for the Full A Level at the end of the course. Initially, learners would sit their AS exams first, then top up to the Full A Level with exams 12 months later. This is no longer the case.
Unfortunately this new system has seen a small decline in the uptake of Advanced Subsidiary Levels and there is less choice of subjects available in respect of the AS Level. The Advanced Subsidiary Level however still carries UCAS points for University and is a qualification in its own right.
Overall, the old system prior to 2015 is something people wish was still available for the following reasons:
- Some learners now steer away from harder subjects as the pressure of taking all exams at the end of the two years could be too much. This has resulted in a lower uptake.
- Course choices after GCSE must be right as learners become locked in for two years. Students can no longer take the first part of the A Level and have the choice of dropping the subject after one year or topping it up to the Full A Level. Learners must decide from the beginning the exact qualification route they are taking.
- Colleges and Sixth Forms also face challenges as they must have classes available for AS Levels and A Levels rather than combining both. They also had to implement brand new specifications and further teacher training would have been required.
- Before the reforms, learners would sit their first set of exams in the first year. Now, all exams are taken at the end of the two years. Previously, when learners would sit some exams in the first year, it would give them more opportunities to resit if the results weren’t what they were expecting. Also, it would give Universities an idea of the grade the learner is actually working at. Now it is all based on predictions.
What are International AS Levels?
Here, we are referring to International A Levels (IAL) with either Pearson Edexcel or Cambridge International.
The International A Levels (IAL) follow a similar format to the AS and A Levels that were in place prior to 2015 and the reforms. These qualifications can be taken worldwide and are internationally recognised by universities.
Most IALs are modular and therefore they are split into:
- Year 1 (IAS)
- Year 2 (IA2)
IAS and IA2 make up a Full Advanced Level and you can obtain the International Advanced Subsidiary first and top it up to a Full Advanced Level the following year.
Example – A Level Marine Science Cambridge
For Marine Science, there are four exams as follows:
- IAS – Papers 1 and 2
- IA2 – Papers 3 and 4
Learners can choose to do one of the following:
Take Papers 1 and 2 and gain an International Advanced Subsidiary Qualification.
or
Take Papers 1 and 2 in one exam sitting followed by Papers 3 and 4 in a later exam sitting to relieve exam pressure. The student would obtain a Full A Level qualification once all papers have been successfully taken. However, they would also have the choice to just obtain the Advanced Subsidiary Qualification and not take it any further.
Or
Take Papers 1, 2, 3 and 4 in one exam sitting obtaining a Full A Level qualification (also known as fast track)
Is an Advanced Subsidiary Level qualification worth it?
Whether you take the qualification with AQA or the International version with Cambridge/Edexcel, yes it is worth it. Advanced Subsidiary Levels still provide UCAS points. For example, an A Level grade A is worth 48 UCAS points and an AS Level grade A is worth 20 points. Also, if you require a reference and predicted grade for University, the qualification will help with this too.
It is a good idea to choose this option if you want to learn a subject in less depth to others. It requires much less work but you still get a good overview of the subject. Here are the subjects where you are able to take the Advanced Subsidiary:
AQA
- Biology
- Business
- Chemistry
- Economics
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Psychology
- Sociology
For Cambridge and Pearson Edexcel, most subjects are available as both qualifications.
What are linear exams?
New A-Level qualifications are now linear. This means that students will sit exams for their particular qualification at the end of the completed course in the June series. Re-sits also can only be sat in the June series. You will still receive UCAS points as part of your A-Level qualification and these can be used to help you gain entry to University. Online A Levels can make this achievable.
For more information on reforms, please visit the government website.
Learn Now is a leading online learning college offering flexible study options in Advanced Levels and Advanced Subsidiary. Our high-quality courses can be completed by college learners, working individuals and schools. We have the largest choice of subjects and exam centres worldwide. We have been offering qualifications for over 10 years and we are truly experts in this field.
