After their GCSEs,
your child will have a whole new set of choices to make about what they want to
pursue at college. That might be purely A Levels, vocational courses, or a mix
of both. To help you support your child with their choices, we have teamed up
with a private college in
Somerset to create a parents’ guide to A levels.
What are A-Levels?
A-level courses are
in-depth courses designed to help and prepare children for the next stage in
their careers. That includes both formal employment and further education.
Unlike GCSEs, they require more commitment. Your child will have fewer
scheduled study sessions but will be required to carry out more independent
study by reading around their subject to enrich their learning.
How Are A-Levels Graded?
A levels follow the
old grading style that GCSEs once had and are awarded grades between an E and
an A*.
Free Periods
As briefly touched on
earlier, there are fewer contact hours with A levels. Instead, your child may
have “free periods” or study sessions where they are advised to spend time in
the library revising and going over their notes. By spending their time wisely
in this way, your child will have less work to do when at home which will make
it more manageable and easier to remember. This is especially key as A-Levels
cover much more content than GCSEs.
How Are A-Levels Examined?
Most A levels have an
exam element and others are complimented by coursework.
When Do A-Level Exams Take Place?
Exams usually take
place in May which makes Easter the ideal time to revise, although it’s better
to start sooner.
How Can I Help My Child Pick the Right A-Levels?
As A-Levels are huge
commitments, it's important for your child to pick the subjects that they feel
comfortable with and are genuinely interested by. Your child’s teachers will
also be able to tell you whether they’re capable of continuing on to an A
level.
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