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A Level Exams

A Levels (Advanced Levels) are two-year advanced academic courses taken by students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. They are one of the most common qualifications used for university applications and let students study particular subjects in depth.

1. How do A Levels work?

  • Length: 2 years (Year 12 and Year 13)
  • How many subjects?
    • Students usually take 3 (sometimes 4) A Levels.
    • Some students also take an AS Level (usually a one-year course worth less than a full A Level) or an Extended Project Qualification (EPQ).
  • Choosing subjects:
    • A Level subjects should be chosen with the university course a student wants to study in mind.
    • For example, a student who wants to study medicine usually takes subjects such as Biology, Chemistry and Maths/Physics.

2. Choosing A Levels and why it matters

Popular A Level subjects:

  • Sciences: Biology, Chemistry, Physics
  • Maths and numerical subjects: Mathematics, Further Maths, Statistics
  • Social sciences and humanities: Economics, Psychology, Geography, History
  • Languages and literature: English Literature, modern languages (French, German, Spanish)
  • Arts and other subjects: Art and Design, Music, Drama, Business

Note: some universities and courses require particular subjects. For example, engineering usually requires Maths and Physics.

3. When are A Level exams?

  • Exams usually take place in May and June.
  • Results usually come out in mid-August.
  • Some subjects also include coursework or project-based work (for example art or research projects).

4. How A Levels are graded

A Level grades are:

GradeMeaning

A*

Excellent

A

Very good

B

Good

C

Satisfactory

D

Pass

E

Lowest pass grade

U

Ungraded (Unclassified)

Some universities may ask for A* or A grades for certain courses.

5. A Level results and university applications

  • Students apply to universities through UCAS. (Applications are based on predicted grades.) 
  • Universities usually make a “conditional offer”.
    • For example: Cambridge often asks for A*A*A plus STEP grades for Mathematics.
  • When A Level results come out, the grades achieved decide whether the offer is confirmed.

6. What if A Level grades are lower than expected?

If a student doesn't get the grades they expected, they can:

  • Take up a place at their insurance choice (if they meet its conditions).
  • Use Clearing to apply to universities with places available.
  • Take a gap year to gain experience, and consider resitting exams and reapplying.