EMPLOYERS and universities around the world regard A Levels as one of the premier qualifications, and real proof of the ability to study at an advanced level. As a result, the A Level has become a stepping-stone to serious academic study or a good career.
Students planning to start A Level courses this September will have to make their choices soon and must look carefully at subject choice. They must also decide which subjects to study for A Level and which for the newer, shorter, AS Level.
Whereas IGCSE encourages breadth of study and a varied curriculum, A Level allows students to focus on what they do best. Most students will have a good idea of where their strengths lie, and performance at IGCSE will help confirm this.
Future ambition
Subject choice can be determined by future ambition. Anyone hoping to study for a degree, for example, will know that A Levels are an internationally accepted entry requirement. Although it might seem premature to think about a degree course before even starting A Levels, subject choice is very important if you know what you want to study next. Universities and colleges publish lists of accepted A Level subjects (and grades) for each course they offer, and these should be examined carefully.
For those planning to go straight into a job, A Levels can also prove a great advantage, and even help you start further up the career ladder. Some professions actively encourage the study of certain subjects, so if you already have the necessary qualifications under your belt, then you can progress faster in your chosen career. Once again, do some basic research now to help guide your subject choices.
But what if you have no idea of what to do after school? If you’re still undecided about your future career, then the best course of action is to choose subjects which you actively enjoy and – if you want to study more than one – consider courses that are complementary. Maths and physics often go together, for example, or two foreign languages, and you will often find parallels between the curricula that will actively help your study.
AS Levels
The AS Level option is designed to extend focused A Level study, provide flexibility in subject choice – and help the undecided. An AS Level course lasts one year: students can then opt to take an exam and gain an AS Level qualification, or continue studying for the second year and take the full A Level exam.
If you only want to study a subject for a short time, or find a course harder than expected, then you can take the AS Level exam, stop studying that particular subject, and still have a qualification to show for it. Students who are sure that they want the full A Level don’t have to sit a formal exam half way – the choice is theirs.
Full A Level courses are now weighted to take account of this broader format: the second year is now more intensive as it leads up to the A Level exam, and students are generally not expected to take AS Levels in the second year.
Exam boards such as CIE recommend that a student take on no more than five subjects in total – for example, three full A Levels and two AS Levels – if they are to manage the course workload effectively, and gain good grades. The end result will be a qualifications portfolio that demonstrates both in-depth and varied knowledge – an ideal preparation for the next stage in life.
Tom Eason is Director for Europe, Cambridge International Examinations (CIE), part of the world famous University of Cambridge. CIE offers a wide range of qualifications to students in more than 160 countries. Visit the CIE website at www.cie.org.uk or contact The British Council in Nicosia for details.
