Choose your path

Are you an academic person with ambitions to go to university? If so, A levels may be a good choice for you. While there are plenty of ways to get there, A Levels are the surefire standard to get yourself into a good uni.

A levels are a subject based qualification that can lead to further study, work or university. You will normally study 3 or more A Levels over 2 years and they are examination based.

What grades do I need to take A Levels?

• A Levels generally require at least five GCSEs graded 9 to 4.
• At least grade 5/6 on the specific subject(s) you would like to study.

The specific boundaries will vary depending on your school/ college and subjects, so it is best to check directly with the college you are looking to study at.

Who are they for?

• If you’re thinking of going to university, most higher education courses require specific A Levels or equivalents.
• A Levels can also be a great choice if you’re not quite sure where you want to go yet. Taking a variety of A Levels means your pathway doesn’t become career specific. But make sure you don’t have to have certain A Levels if you have a rough idea of a career in mind- for example, you’d definitely need maths to do an engineering degree.

Choosing your subjects.

Choosing your subjects is fun but there are a couple of important things to remember.

1. What are you going to enjoy? Don’t allow outside pressures to force you into subjects you don’t enjoy. If you find a subject genuinely interesting or already have abilities in it, chances are you will be happy to put in the hours and succeed!
2. Are there particular subjects you may need? As we mentioned, if you have a particular career, job, or field of study in mind, you may need certain subjects in order to reach entry requirements.
3. How open do you want to keep future study and career choices? Taking an array of A Levels (particularly facilitating subjects) can keep your pathway open to most careers. A Levels are a widely recognised and respected qualification.

What next?

You may want to know where A Levels can take you before you decide they’re right for you, so here’s a few of our ideas:

• Continue on to uni- A Levels are the most common qualification used to get into universities.
• Keep your options open if you’re unsure where you want your future to take you
• Look for employment- A Levels are valued by employers, a good set of grades shows your abilities and high level of education.
• Go onto vocational or work based qualifications- you’ve done the academic, now get experience! Look into higher apprenticeships.