The Painsley Web Site is best viewed with Internet Explorer version 4 or above

What are A' Levels?

G.C.E A ' Level

The General Certificate of Education is sat by students at the end of Year 13. The last year for the old G.C.E A Level examination is Summer 2001. The examinations are graded A - E, all of which are valued passes. Universities and Higher Education establishments offer places to students based on the total number of points they achieve in their exams. Points equate to grades as follows:

A = 10, B = 8, C = 6, D = 4, E = 2.

The G.C.E A' Level examination is now being replaced by a new examination called the G.C.E Advanced Subsidiary (AS) / Advanced (A2).

G.C.E AS/A2

The A' Level examination pattern has been greatly altered with 50% of the examination being sat by the end of Year 12 (AS Level) and the remaining 50% being sat at the end of Year 13 (A2).

Students may decide not to continue with their study of a subject into Year 13 and will collect their AS level qualification based on their performance at the end of Year 12. Below is an extract from the AQA Specifications for 2001/2:

AS can be used in one of two ways:

as a final qualification, allowing candidates to broaden their studies and to defer decisions about specialism;
as the first half (50%) of an Advanced Level qualification, which must be completed before an Advanced Level award can be made.

Advanced Subsidiary is designed to provide an appropriate assessment of knowledge, understanding and skills expected of candidates who have completed the first half of a full Advanced Level qualification. The level of demand of the AS examination is that expected of candidates half-way through a full A level course of study.

The Advanced Level examination is in two parts:

Advanced Subsidiary (AS) - 50% of the total award;
a second examination, called A2 - 50% of the total award.

Most Advanced Subsidiary and Advanced Level courses will be modular. The AS will comprise three teaching and learning modules and the A2 will comprise a further three teaching and learning modules. Each teaching and learning module will normally be assessed through an associated assessment unit.

Painsley is a partner in the Moorlands Sixth Form Centre

You are visiting the Web Site of Painsley Catholic High School, Cheadle, Staffordshire
E-mail us at [email protected]
Telephone: 01538 483944
Address: Station Road, Cheadle, S-O-T, Staffordshire, ST10 1LH

Web site developed and managed by Peter Challinor, (ICT Manager) and Peter Weatherby (School Chaplain).
Other contributors - Pat Forbes (Admin officer) and Nicky Green.