A levels

Traditionally you begin your A level courses after completion of your GCSEs, or equivalent, at the end of year 11. This would mean you begin your A level qualifications at approximately 16 years of age and complete them within two years.

It is important to note however that there is no age limit when considering A Levels, at Feynman Education we have supported many mature students who have decided to either revisit subjects or obtain the qualification for the first time. Conversely, there is no minimum age to begin your A levels however we would advise against starting them before the completion of year 11 (10th grade) due to the demanding workload and challenging academic requirements.

Students are generally advised to choose 3 subjects to continue to A level. Globally universities will only require the completion of 3 A Levels however under certain circumstances, students opt to take a 4th subject to help strengthen their knowledge and subsequent university application. A student should only ever consider taking 4 A levels if they are confident they have considered the additional workload and pressure that accompanies this choice.

If you decide to commit to a 4th A level subject in your first year you can stop that subject at any time and continue with your other 3 A Levels with no interruption.
If you have applied to university using your grades from all 4 of your A levels then under most circumstances, with the possible exception of certain Oxbridge colleges, your university placement will be offered with the understanding that you will only continue with 3 subjects, giving you the option to drop the 4 subjects with no repercussions.

Usually subjects such as General Studies can be taken as an additional 4th subject but are not considered when applying to university.

In short, absolutely not. Under most circumstances we would recommend focusing your full attention to three subjects. Pace yourself with these three subjects, work hard and score as highly as possible within these subjects rather than jeopardizing that by spreading yourself too thinly across 4 subjects.

There are no compulsory subjects required at A level and hence they allow students to really specialize and focus on their passions and interests. At Feynman Education we advise choosing your subjects to complement one another and allow you to demonstrate a variety of skills.

Each school or college will have its own specific set of requirements for students to go on to study A levels. These will also not necessarily be one blanket grade that applies to all subjects, for example often the requirement to student mathematics is higher than the requirement to study humanity.

Generally, there is an expectation that students will have obtained either a B grade or level 6/7 in the subjects they are looking to take for their A levels at GCSE or equivalent. There may also be further conditions you need to consider when selecting your options. For example, when considering physics there will most likely be a minimum mathematics grade you will need to have achieved, the same could be said for an English Language score when considering History etc. In these cases, please feel free to contact our consultants who can advise you further.

A levels are moderated externally requiring all students to complete a number of examinations that are scheduled by the exam boards for specific times and dates. The examination period is May to June.

There is no option for your exams to be rescheduled to another day, if they are missed for any reason the student will need to apply to sit them during another examination period, usually November or the following January.

All A level results are released later in August after they have been marked and moderated externally by the appropriate exam board.

Certain A Level subjects will have a coursework or practical requirement which will be completed, assessed and submitted in the months prior to the summer examination period. These often contribute to a small proportion of your overall grade, usually up to 20%.

A Levels provide the students with an in-depth understanding of a variety of topics within the subjects they choose. They are a perfect qualification for students to undertake if they have a clear path and excel academically in particular areas. Each subject is studied thoroughly and will allow the student to progress with extensive understanding. Furthermore, many subjects are designed to help enhance a student’s problem solving, critical thinking and analytical skills.

A levels are graded on a A* to E grading system where a D grade is considered as a Pass.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any queries or would like further details.