Revised GCE Frequently Asked Questions
Q. When does teaching for the new specification begin?
A. Schools and colleges who want to deliver the two year A Level course, should begin teaching the AS units from September 2008 and the A2 units from September 2009. Schools or colleges who want to deliver the whole A Level course in one year, should begin teaching in September 2009.
Q. What range of grades will be available for AS and A2 qualifications?
A. AS Level qualifications will be awarded on a five-grade scale: A – E. A Level
qualifications will be awarded on a six-grade scale: A* – E.
To be awarded an A*, students will need to achieve a Grade A on their full A Level qualification and an A* on the aggregate of their A2 units. Students who fail to reach the minimum standard for a Grade E are recorded as U (unclassified) and will not receive a certificate.
Q. When will the examinations be available?
A. The AS examinations will be available in the January and Summer exam series of 2009. From 2010. both the AS and A2 examinations will be available in the January and Summer series of exams.
Q. Will students have a choice of questions in the exam papers?
A. There will be a limited choice built in to each exam paper to provide accessibility and breadth of content coverage. The final question of each exam will allow students to answer one question from a choice of two.
Q. How do the A2 examinations differ from the AS exams?
A. Greater stretch and challenge is built into the A2 exams. More emphasis is placed on skills such as analysis and evaluation. Students are required to carry out comparative and textual analysis and respond in greater depth to more open-ended questions.
Q. How can this qualification help students gain Key Skills?
A. This specification can provide assessment evidence for nationally-specified Key Skills Level 3 in:
- Application of Number;
- Communication;
- Information and Communication Technology;
- Improving Own Learning and Performance;
- Working with Others; and
- Problem-Solving.
