A’ levels have changed - New Courses after year 11

There are new qualifications for you to do after your GCSEs either at college or in the 6th form. These changes could give you the chance to:

> Both study more subjects AND specialise
> Get and develop key skills

A, AS levels and Vocational A levels:

1. What ‘AS’ level means for you:

> If you are going to study for ‘A’ or ‘AS’ level qualifications…
> ‘AS’ level qualifications have been renamed GCE Advanced Subsidiary level (but they are still known as ‘AS’ levels).
> ‘AS’ courses contain three equal sized modules or ‘units’
> ‘AS’ courses can also be studied as the first half of a full ‘A’ level (so you can take an ‘AS’ level qualification without going on to do full ‘A’ level)
> ‘AS’ courses take one year

2. What ’A’ level means for you:

> ‘A’ level qualifications are renamed GCE Advanced level (but probably still known as ‘A’ levels).
> ‘A levels’ contain 6 equal sized modules or ‘units’ (3 GCE ‘AS’ level, 3 GCE ‘A2’‘
> A levels’ take two years. Year One will be the same as ‘AS’ level, the second year is known as ‘A2’.

Assessments are at different stages or at the end of the course.
You can resit each module just once.

3. What ‘Vocational A levels’ means for you:

There are three types of qualification:
> ‘3 unit’– Takes one year and is roughly equal to an ‘AS’ level
> ‘6 unit’ – Takes two years and is roughly equal to one full ‘A’ level - all graded A-E
> ‘12 unit’ – Takes two years and is roughly equal to two full ‘A’ levels

Key Skills:

> Are studied as part of all courses.
> You may be able to take a separate qualification
> As Key Skills is now a separate qualification, universities might look for it in applications.

Click on:
www.dfes.gov.uk/qualifications or email qualifications.ENQUIRIES@dfes.gsi.gov.uk