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UK ...The education system in England IGCSES


The International GCSE (IGCSE) is an internationally recognised qualification at the same level as the GCSE. It is intended to take a broader approach to learning. Cambridge International – an exam board owned by the


University of Cambridge – developed the international GCSE over 30 years ago, and it is recognised as equivalent to the GCSE qualification by universities worldwide. According to Cambridge International, the Cambridge IGCSE curriculum “encourages learner-centred and enquiry-based approaches to learning, and develops learners’ skills in creative thinking, enquiry and problem-solving, giving learners excellent preparation for the next stage in their education”. Over 70 subjects are available, including more than 30 language courses, offering a variety of routes for learners of different abilities, including those whose first language is not English. Schools can offer any combination of subjects, each of which is certificated separately. Cambridge IGCSE is graded A*–G. A numerical grading system (9-1) is available to schools in some countries for some subjects in line with changes being made to GCSE grading in England. For more information visit: bit.ly/Cambridge9-1


AS AND A LEVEL


AS and A Levels are studied in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Scotland operates an independent system of Higher qualifications.


“The defining quality of A level is the unique way in which it combines choice and specialisation,” explains John Southworth, principal of MPW, a sixth form college group with schools in London, Birmingham and Cambridge. “We offer a choice of over 40 subjects – with this choice, of course, comes specialisation. A level not only provides students with skills- based grounding in facilitating subjects such as Mathematics, English, French or Chemistry (to mention just a few) but it also allows students to “get stuck into” the subjects that they might want to pursue at university or in their future careers.” There are currently around 70 AS and A Level subjects for students to choose from. Students can select from a wide range of academic subjects, as well as some ‘applied’ (work-related) subjects. Generally, students progress to AS and A Levels in the academic year following their GCSE results, but these qualifications can be taken at any age.


AS Levels generally take one year to complete, and A Levels are studied across two years. Both qualifications focus on traditional study skills and are generally studied full time at school or a higher-education college, but they are also available part time. To study AS and/or A Levels, pupils usually need to have


studied their chosen subjects at GCSE or IGCSE. Schools normally expect pupils to have achieved five GCSEs at grades A*–C, with at least a B grade in their chosen subjects. AS and A Levels are graded A*–E. The A* was introduced in 2008 to differentiate the highest-performing students from other A-grade candidates. Exams are taken in May/June, and the results are published in August.


CHANGES TO AS LEVELS


New AS and A Levels were introduced in a phased approach from September 2015, the last tranche of subjects being added in 2018. The two qualifications have been decoupled in England, so that AS Level results no longer count towards an A Level and the AS Level is a standalone qualification.


In contrast, AS Levels remain part of the A Level in Wales and Northern Ireland, and contribute 40 per cent towards the final A Level result.


Students take their AS Level qualifications at the end


of Year 12. They can then either discontinue the subject or continue it at A Level. The advantage of taking an AS exam is that pupils can judge how they are progressing and whether they want to study the subject to A Level. Most students study three or four AS Levels.


According to the Department for Education (DfE), the decoupling is designed so that schools and colleges can co-teach the AS with the A Level, which means that lessons


Merchiston Castle School


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