| • Science | • People | • Locations | • Timeline |
A-Levels are graded from A to E, along with a fail grade, U (unclassified). Originally, they only distinguished between a pass and a fail, though a fail was divided into two, one meaning that the student failed at A-level but passed at the O-level equivalent of that subject, and the other meaning that the student had not passed at either A-level or O-level. In 1953, another grade was introduced, the distinction, for high passes. Due to complaints from universities regarding the problem with distinguishing between pass grades, in 1963, a grading scale close to the current one was created, but retaining an O-level pass between the grades E and F (Fail). When GCSEs were introduced, the O-level pass was dropped, replaced by a grade N, standing for 'Near miss'. The grade F was also replaced by a grade U. The grade N was dropped when the AS and A2 system was adopted.
Because British students often apply to universities before they have taken their A-levels, the universities consider predicted A-level results when considering whether or not to offer places to applicants. The predictions are made by students' teachers and are notoriously unreliable. An offer of a place will usually require students to achieve a minimum set of grades (e.g. obtain three grades in your upcoming exams: B, B and C or UCAS points) in the A-levels before they are officially admitted. A-level results are published in mid-August, allowing students and universities to organise university places to commence study in September or October of the same calendar year.
For many years, the average grades achieved by A-level candidates have been steadily rising. The government and teaching bodies maintain that the improved grades represent achieving higher levels of understanding due to improved teaching methods, but many educationalists and elements of the popular press argue that the change is due to grade inflation and the examinations are getting easier. A third view is that, as schools come under increasing pressure to improve their examination results, pupils are being coached to pass specific examinations, at the expense of a general understanding of their subjects. Universities have complained that the increasing number of A grades awarded makes it hard to distinguish between different students at the upper end of the ability spectrum. The C grade was originally intended to represent the average ability, and students typically require to score 60% or higher across all assessments to attain it, however, the average result is now at the lower end of the B grade, rendering this measure almost meaningless.
Following the introduction of 'Curriculum 2000' in 2001, an A-level now consists of six modules studied over two years. Three modules are assessed at the end of the first year, and make up a qualification called the "AS-level" (or Advanced Subsidiary level). Another three modules are assessed at the end of the second year (which make up a qualification called the "A2": an AS and an A2 in the same subject constitute a complete A-level). There is an opportunity in the second year of study to resit any AS modules that have gone badly, and many students take advantage of this. An AS level is a qualification in its own right, and need not be continued to A2 level to be considered by universities or potential employers.
Modules are assessed by exam papers marked by national organisations and internally-assessed coursework. Four organisations set and mark exam papers in England and Wales ( AQA, EdexcelEdexcel is an examination board based in London, England. Its name is a portmanteau word derived from the words "educational" and "excellence". The board was formed in 1996 following the merger of two other awarding bodies: the BTEC and the University of, OCRThe OCR Oxford, Cambridge and RSA exam board is a British organisation that sets examinations and awards qualifications (including GCSEs and A-levels). It is one of England and Wales's four main examination boards: the others are Edexcel, AQA and the WJEC and the WJECThe Welsh Joint Education Committee or WJEC is an examination board traditionally serving Wales, but now also serving England. Established in 1948, it is based in Cardiff. One course taught outside Wales that is WJEC based is Geology (also offered by OCR)). The CCEA sets them in Northern Ireland. International exams managed by Cambridge International ExaminationsThe Cambridge International Examinations are a set of examinations run by an examination board that offers A-level, O-level, IGCSE and International Diploma qualifications. The board is part of the University of Cambridge's Local Examinations Syndicate. (CIE) also have A-levels in a variety of subjects.