A-level

The A-level, short for Advanced Level, is a General Certificate of Education qualification, usually taken by students in the final two years of secondary education (after GCSEs). It is a non-compulsory qualification taken by students in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland (the Scottish equivalent is the Advanced Higher Grade). Examinations of the same name are also taken in many former British colonies including Hong Kong, Singapore, South Africa, Malta and the former British West Indies, although due to respective changes in the systems, today they differ both in terms of content and style from the A-levels taken in the United Kingdom and only share the name. Nevertheless, the British GCE A-levels are taken all around the world, as many international schools choose to use the British system as the examinations are better recognised around the world. The A-level is available in a wide range of subjects, from Accounting to World Development1.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

A levels were first introduced in 1951, replacing the previous award, the Higher School Certificate (HSC). The most recent changes to A-levels began in 2001, when the government introduced Curriculum 2000 which split the A-level into two parts, the AS and A2 examinations. The former is generally taken in Year 12/lower sixth and the latter is generally taken in Year 13/upper sixth. AS-level (Advanced Subsidiary) is a qualification in its own right, resembling the old Advanced Supplementary examination (which shared the same initials). Satisfactorily completing both AS and A2 units results in the award of an A-level qualification.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

While A-levels are a qualification in their own right, they are often the prerequisite for university-level study as well, making them a de facto university entrance examination (though certain universities also require applicants to take separate entrance examinations). Universities in the United Kingdom frequently demand that applicants achieve a minimum set of grades in A-level examinations, or the equivalent in other examination systems, before accepting them. While the government has rejected plans to introduce an English Baccalaureate modelled on the International Baccalaureate, at the time of writing (August 2005), the government is still re-examining the existing structure and may recommend changes.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

General Certificate of Education: The General Certificate of Education or GCE was introduced in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in 1951, replacing the older School Certificate (SC) and Higher School Certificate (HSC). It was intended to cater for the increased range of subjects available to pupils since the raising of the schoo...

GCSEs: REDIRECT General Certificate of Secondary Education...

Qualification: The term qualification may refer to:...

A-level related Images and Photos (experimental)

Cartoon Network: Level Up (DVD)	The Office Threat Level Midnight Women's T-Shirt	The Office Threat Level Midnight T-Shirt	Hotel-Dieu Paris Ground-Level View of the Parvis De Notre-Dame with the Hospital on the Left
Geometrical Riddle Cards - Master Level	NHL Series 26 Mike Fisher Collector Level Action Figure	NHL Series 28 Taylor Hall Collector Level Silver Figure	NFL Series 28 Clay Matthews Collector Level Silver Figure
NFL Series 26 Terry Bradshaw Collector Level Bronze Figure	Arizona Page Lake Powell Is at its Lowest Level in 30 Years	NFL Series 26 Brandon Marshall Collector Level Bronze Figure	MLB Series 28 David Wright 2 Collector Level Action Figure