*This is a collaborative post.
The next stage in a child’s school life is studying A Levels. They can be seen as a very difficult part of a child’s journey through school, but they are seen as the most straightforward method of entering university.
This is a crucial time in a child’s life, so parents should know the ins and outs of A Levels and how your child will need support. This guide from a top A Level College in the UK offers some key advice on understanding these qualifications.
Choosing subjects
While studying for their GCSEs, children will get the chance to enter a form with the 3 or 4 subjects they’d like to study at A Level. The best advice is to go for something that your child genuinely enjoys and wants to pursue further, but also something your child can easily pick up and work with.
It’s much harder than GCSEs
There is a noticeable jump when it comes to A Levels, so you may want to consider looking through past exam papers to get a feeling for what’s needed at this level. Remind your child about this and take a look at these things together so that they can make an informed decision when it comes to picking subjects.
Advancing onto university
Your child will begin studying AS Levels before going on to A Level. AS Levels are taught in the first year which advance to A Levels in the following year. Both years count towards your child’s final grade at the end of their second year, which will affect which universities they can attend.
Each A Level counts for a number of UCAS points, which can help your child consider what they need to do to get into the course they’re looking to study. Knowing what grades your child needs to enter their dream course at university can prepare them for what they need to do and what’s required of them across the two year period.
