For Brits: Could you please explain A levels and O levels to me?

Question

I'm from the US, but I've heard many Brits refer to A levels and O levels. What are they? Could you please also explain the grading system in British schools?

Answer 1

'O' levels are now defunct and were replaced some time ago with GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education). These are exams you take at seconday school (high school in the US)

'A' levels are advanced examinations and are often taken between school and university. Students will study fewer subjects than at 'O' level - but they are harder exams.

We don't have a grading system as such - there's no equivalent of the SAT. Students will have x GCSEs or x 'A' Levels, or NVQ (National Vocational Qualification) or BTEC, or a university degree.

Answer 2

A and O levels are exam qualifications. O levels and the slightly lower CSEs were sat at the end of the school year in which you were 16, being the minimum age to leave education. They have been replaced by GCSEs. A levels are higher level exams studied for over 2 years usually and taken straight after the others, either at 6th form or college so finishing at 18 or 19, after which you head for University or the world of employment. Grading wise, although anything other than a U (unclassified) counts as a pass these days, most employers would look for a grade higher than 3 or C as an acceptable mark of achievement.

Answer 3

O Levels are now GCSEs taken at roughly the age of 16, A* is the highest grade. O Level stood for ordinary level, GCSE is General Certificate of Secondary Education.

A Levels used to be one qualification taken at 18 but now are taken in 2 parts AS (half an A Level) at 17 and A2 at 18. The idea is you sit more AS's than A2s. The A2 (or the older A Level) is the qualification used to gain admission to university. A Level stands for Advanced Level, A is the highest grade.

As to grading you start off in year 1, aged 5 and follow through to the end of year 13, aged 18. Primary school is years 1-6 and Secondary years 7-13 (years 12 and 13 are often known as Sixth Form with year 12 the Lower Sixth and year 13 the Upper Sixth).

Hope this helps!

Answer 4

Students sit there SAT's at the end of Year9, age 13-14, they then do their GCSE's or GNVQ's, general certificate of secondary education, or general national vocational qualifications. After 16 they can either stay at school to do A1 and A2 exams, usually studying five or 6 the first year and then concentrating on 3 or 4 in the final year, or they can go to a college to do these, or Btec courses, or NVQ's or even GNVQ's. The latter ones are more career based, whilst the former are more academic. Finally, they use these to try for a place at a Uni, all types of qualifications can count, but the traditional A levels are the most common. Each grade equates to a given number of points.

Phew!! complicated isn't it

Answer 5

In British Schools we start in Primary at about 5
move to Junior at about 7
move to High at 11
Take 'o' Level Exams at 15/16 Grades A to G I believe
Take 'A' Levels at 17 Grades A to D I believe.
The 'O' level is on work done in the High School up to 15/16 and the 'A' level is gained by less people based on a more rigorous test of knowledge up to 17.
Left school in 1957 but Daughter, much more recently.
From there, depending on the Grades, Universities are contacted and the candidates interviewed and I presume you know the rest.

Answer 6

O Levels are now called GCSEs, you take them when you are 15/16, usually take 9-11exams A-Levels are exams you take when you are 17/18 you usually take 3 or 4. You are graded A-F (A being best and F the worst.) I think a GCSE is only relevant if you get a C or above whereas an A-Level counts A-E.

Answer 7

"O" levels are often referred to as GCSE's which are compulsory qualifications that British 15/16 year olds sit in the final year(s) of their high school education. The following grades can be achieved at GCSE: A* A B C D E G U (ungraded). A levels are optional qualifications which are completed at college/sixth form by 16-19 year olds who intend to go to university and are usually completed within two years (like the last two years of high school in US). The following grades can be achieved at A level: A* A B C D E U. A pass is considered grade E or above. Hope this helps

Answer 8

A stands for advanced O for ordinary. O levels are no longer issued, the equivalent is a GCSE. GCSEs are taken aged 15-16, A levels aged 17-18.

Answer 9

In the UK pupils take 'O' levels, (now called GCSE's) at 16 years old. Each exam is graded from A - F.

'A' levels are taken at 18 years old, after 2 years intensive study of usually 3/4 subjects. These subjects are usually linked to what you hope to study at University.

Answer 10

O levels no longer exist, students now take GCSEs in their place.

They are taken at 15/16 by all students.

A levels are taken at 17/18, only by students who have elected to continue in education, are more subject specific than GCSEs, and are the stepping stone between normal school and university.