A or As levels?

[peps]

Anyone know the difference between an A level and As level please. ( been a while since I left school) = )

[IndieSinger]

Before 2002, everyone started Sixth Form taking 3 and sometimes 4 'A'-Levels to study for the 2 year duration.

After 2002, the system changed and students chose 4 or 5 'AS'-Levels to study for Lower Sixth (Year 12) then dropped one or two to continue with 2 or 3 in the Upper Sixth (Year 13).

[j2buttonsw]

So, is an AS half an A level then Indie, me old fruit?

[OBonio]

We had the option of doing AS levels in 1992. They are half an A level, yes.

[peps]

is the course only a year then?

[OBonio]

Yup, lasts a year and counts as half points towards UCAS.

[jaffacakes]

The 'A' in A Level stands for 'advanced'. The 'AS' stands for Advanced Supplementary. It is half an A Level, worth half the UCAS points of a full A Level and the course lasts for 1 year. At college now, students choose 4 or 5 of these AS levels, and drop 1 or 2 at the end of the first year, to carry on with the others to full A Level standard.

[dafyd]

The S in AS level actually stands for Subsidiary. About 5 years ago there were also AS levels, standing for Advanced Supplementary, which extended the course - the equivalent of what are now the AEAs (Advanced Extension Awards). For a full A Level (or A2) now you have to take 6 'units', of which units 1-3 make up the AS level. The system is quite (!) hard to explain, but makes some sense when you're actually in it (I just completed my A2s)

[Gef]

Sounds like the system we have had in Scotland for over 30 years - Highers (usually 5) taken over one year and then Advanced Highers (usually 3) taken in the last year.