A Levels

Full list of AS and A Level subjects.

AS and A level qualifications give you the opportunity to study four or five subjects in detail. They are highly valued by universities, colleges and employers.  The 'A Level route' is sometimes known as the Academic Route and many students who follow this route progress to university.  There is no work experience included in an A Level programme.

A Levels are at Level 3 on the National Qualification Framework.

 

Best at maximising potential

Strode is one of the top institutions in the country for improving students’ performance after their GCSEs, being placed in the top 7% of 1200 schools and colleges nationally (ALPS data).

Eleven of our AS and A Levels are the best courses in the country for improving students’ performance (ALPS data).

  • Archaeology
  • Biology AS and A2
  • Communications and Culture AS and A2
  • Geology AS
  • History of Art AS and A2
  • Human Biology AS and A2
  • Textiles

Advanced Level Performance Systems (ALPS) measure student progress from GCSE to A Level or BTEC National Diploma and benchmark performance using the data for all schools and colleges provided by the Department for Education.

 

Entry Requirements

The college entry requirements for a 4 subject AS programme are 5 GCSEs Grade A* - C.  However, many AS subjects also have specific subject entry requirements which are listed in the School Leaver prospectus which can be viewed by clicking on the How to Apply link.  The full-time course application form can also be downloaded and completed.

 

Structure

A levels: AS plus A2
A levels are made up of the AS level and the A2. Each part makes up 50 per cent of the overall A level grade.

AS level
The AS level can be either a free standing qualification, or be valued as the first half of the full A level.

At the end of the AS year, you have two options (depending on the preference of your school or college):

  • take the AS level qualification only, or:
  • continue to the second year and go for the full A level

Year two: the A2
In year two of a full A level, you take the A2 - this is not a separate qualification, but the second half of the A level. The A2 is designed to deepen the knowledge you gained during the AS level.

 

Grades, marks and 'cashing in'

Grades
AS and A levels are graded A-E. An A* grade will be first awarded at A level in 2010. The results are announced in August and March.

Marks
Your results slip will also show a score on something called the 'uniform mark scale' (UMS). The AS is scored out of 300 UMS marks, and the A level out of 600 marks.

UCAS points
If you're applying to university or college, A and AS levels earn the following points in the 'UCAS Tariff'.

Grade A level AS level
A* 140 n/a
A 120 60
B 100 50
C 80 40
D 60 30
E 40 20

Normally, to take a higher education course you'll need at least two full A levels or equivalent.

 

Useful Links

Strode Aspire - offering A-level students opportunities to develop the skills and knowledge that will help them to achieve their ambitions.

Guide to UCAS points 

Routes into University and Higher Education 

Choices at 16 

Qualifications: What the different levels mean