A-Level

The Advanced Level (A-Level) is an academic certification program that is integral to the United Kingdom's general education certificate. It is available through UK educational institutions and was created to give students a course-based pathway for their studies. 

Enrolling in courses to obtain three or more A-level credentials during the two-year period preceding the commencement of university education is possible. To obtain A-Level certifications, students are required to undergo a series of examinations. Despite being a qualification program originating from the United Kingdom, A-Level is recognized as a widely acknowledged credential globally.

GCE, GCSE and IGCSE — how the pieces fit together

The General Certificate of Education (GCE) is the family of qualifications used in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Crown dependencies. A levels sit inside it, alongside AS levels and the older O level. When a university lists "GCE A levels" as an entry requirement, this is what it means.

GCSE

After Year 11, at around age 16, students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland take GCSEs. There are over 90 subjects available, covering English, mathematics, the sciences, history, geography and languages, and they are assessed through a mixture of exams and coursework.

In England, reformed GCSEs are graded on a 9 to 1 scale, where 9 is the top grade. If you see an older guide describing GCSEs as A* to G, that is the pre-reform lettering.

IGCSE

The International GCSE is the version taught outside the UK, taken by students in more than 150 countries and recognised by universities worldwide, particularly wherever the education system follows the English model. It offers over 70 subjects and, like the GCSE, combines coursework with exams.

Grading depends on the exam board: some International GCSEs use A* to G, others use the 9 to 1 scale. Check which board your school enters you with, because the two are not interchangeable when you come to list your grades.

To move on to A levels and eventually apply to university, schools generally expect around five subjects at solid grades, including a language — usually English. Requirements vary between schools and colleges, so treat that as a guide rather than a rule.

AS Level and A2 — and what changed

This is where most older guides will mislead you, so it is worth being precise.

A levels used to work in two halves. You took the AS Level in the first year, the A2 in the second, and the two combined into your final A level grade. That is the system almost every article written before 2017 describes.

It is no longer how it works in England. Between 2015 and 2017 AS levels were decoupled from A levels.

	Before the reform	Now, in England
What AS is	The first half of an A level	A standalone qualification
Does AS count towards your A level?	Yes	No
When you sit the exams	Split across both years	All at the end — one year for AS, two for the A level

What this means in practice: your A level grade now rests entirely on exams sat at the end of the two years. There is no bank of marks carried forward from your first year, so a difficult first year does not follow you into your grade — and equally, a strong first year does not cushion you.

AS still exists as a qualification in its own right, and some schools offer it as a one-year course. But taking it will not contribute to your A level, so if a school offers you the choice, ask what they think you gain from it rather than assuming it counts.

How many A Levels to take

Three is the standard, and it is the number UK university offers are normally built around. A fourth is possible and some students take one, but offers are usually made on three subjects, so it is rarely the deciding factor in an application.

Subject choice matters more than subject count. Competitive courses often specify which A levels they require — medicine and engineering being the obvious examples — so look up the requirements for the courses you are drawn to before you choose your subjects, not after. This is the single most common regret students report, and it is entirely avoidable.

Applying to university with A Levels

UK undergraduate applications go through UCAS, the central application service. You do not write to universities individually: you complete one UCAS application, including your personal statement and a reference, and it goes to every course you have chosen.

Because you apply before you have your final results, universities respond with conditional offers — a place that depends on you achieving specified grades, written as something like AAB. You hold your offers through the exam period, and when results arrive the place is confirmed if you have met the condition.

Two consequences worth planning around. Your predicted grades matter, because they are what offers are based on, which makes your first year of A levels more important to your application than its contribution to your grade suggests. And every offer is a target you can see in advance — so from the moment you accept one, you know exactly what you are working towards.

Recognition outside the UK

A levels began as a UK qualification but are treated as a serious entry credential well beyond it, which is why international schools around the world teach them. If you are studying A levels outside the UK and applying somewhere else again, check how your destination country translates the grades — recognition is broad, but the way grades are converted varies.

Frequently asked questions

Does AS Level still count towards my A Level?

Not in England. AS levels were decoupled from A levels between 2015 and 2017, so AS is now a standalone qualification that does not contribute to your A level grade. Your A level is decided entirely by exams at the end of the two years.

How many A Levels should I take?

Three is the usual number, and it is what most UK university offers are built around. Some students take a fourth, but universities generally make offers on three, so depth in three subjects is worth more than spreading yourself across four.

How are GCSEs graded in England?

On a 9 to 1 scale, where 9 is the top grade. This replaced the older A* to G lettering when GCSEs in England were reformed.

How do I apply to a UK university with A Levels?

Through UCAS, the central application service. You do not apply to each university separately: you submit one application through UCAS, and offers usually come back conditional on the grades you go on to achieve in your final exams.

What is a conditional offer?

An offer of a place that depends on you meeting specified grades, for example AAB. You hold the offer while you sit your exams, and the place is confirmed once your results meet the condition.

Are A Levels accepted outside the UK?

Yes. A levels originated in the UK but are recognised as an entry qualification by universities in many other countries, which is part of why they are taught in international schools worldwide.

Do I need IGCSEs before starting A Levels?

You need a recognised set of qualifications at the level below, whether that is GCSE, IGCSE or an equivalent from another curriculum. Schools typically ask for around five subjects at solid grades, including English. Check the specific entry requirements of the school or college you are applying to.