A-Level abroad

A-Level is considered the best program taught in high schools in the UK. Its main task is to effectively and efficiently prepare students for admission to selected English—speaking universities. The duration of the course is 2 years, it is the final stage of school education for children aged 16-18. Many private and international schools offer students a shortened version of the program, for 1 year: it accepts students who speak English at an advanced level and with high academic performance.

Studying under the A-Level program in Europe, students independently choose disciplines: a distinctive feature of the course is early career guidance. Students need to decide on their future profession in advance, at least 2-3 years before entering the desired university.

A-level is a British educational program, designed for high school students. The aim of the program is the effective preparation of graduates for successful enrolment on Bachelor programs of the foreign universities without additional courses. On  A-level program, each student studies three subjects. All lessons are held in English.

The studying lasts for two years. There are not compulsory disciplines for studying. The foreign students choose 3 subjects, which are relevant to a future specialty to which he plans to enrol. A-level students take exams at the end of each academic year, receiving grades from U (unsatisfactory) to A (excellent) or even A* (5+). 70% of graduates of British program pass exams for, A and A*.

A-Level offers from 20-45 subjects to study, the number depends on the type of school — public, private or international. In the first year, the students choose from 3-5 disciplines necessary for specialization. In the second year, no more than 3 are left and studied in-depth, according to which the final test will take place. The current directions of studying to choose from are approximately the following:

• Mathematics
• Information technology
• Chemistry
• Physics
• History
• Statistics
• Sociology
• Biology
• Design
• Foreign languages.

Students who study at the A-Level program abroad and have not yet decided which faculty they will enter, usually choose the main academic subjects — or those in which they have the highest results.

20-25 hours per week are allocated for studying subjects: 16 hours for fundamental disciplines and 8 hours for improving the level of English. The A-Level course consists of two main stages.

• The first year of study is AS. At the end, students receive an AS-Level certificate
• The second year of study is Advanced Level. Graduates receive an A2-Level certificate.

The certificate A-level is accepted by the best universities in Europe, the USA, Canada, Asia and Australia. The foreign students have all opportunities to enrol in 1000 universities, including the prestigious universities from Russell Group and Ivy League. The international students can enter Oxford and Cambridge only after A-level — these universities do not take into account other preparatory programs.

The A-Level course in Europe is part of the compulsory curriculum in high schools in Britain and a stage of preparation for admission to universities in the country. This program is suitable for the foreign students who plan to study abroad.

The international students can enrol in a private school or study at an international educational centre. The studying consists of lessons and independent research: students learn to search and analyze information, to develop critical thinking, to read a large amount of additional literature, to develop self-organization and leadership qualities.

The foreign students can get studying not only in the UK, but also in international schools in Switzerland, Austria, Spain.

The diploma of completion of the course is accepted primarily by the universities of such countries as:

• Germany
• Irish
• Australia
• Spain
• Canada
• New Zealand
• Netherlands
• USA
• Thailand
• Vietnam.

Victoria Eastman

Director of International Admissions at Mayfield School

What do parents consider first when looking for a school in the UK?

Think about which school is perfect for your child. Different schools offer different specialties – someone is strong in art, drama, sports, certain subjects. There are selective schools, and more loyal ones, which are ready to develop any strong side of each child. If parents don't know much about the UK education system, you can focus on the league table and the results of the GCSE and A-level exams. If you are already more "savvy", consider the location and size of the school, the number of students, the availability of an EAL course, compliance with your personal academic requirements, additional activities.

A-Level program is offered in schools and colleges in many countries. The following requirements are necessary for compliance in case of enrolment:

• Age 16-18 years
• Application in English
• Motivation letter
• Interview in English
• Test in mathematics and other specialized subjects
• Language certificate
• Certificate of school education
• An extract from the report card with grades.

In the UK, documents are submitted directly to the selected school. It should also be borne in mind that each educational institution has its own criteria and requirements for admission.

The cost of studying in schools and colleges in Britain starts from £ 12,500,000 per year and can reach up to £ 90,000 /year — it depends on the ranking, prestige, location of the educational institution.

Studying in the USA will be cheaper, the cost starts from $ 7000 / year. In Switzerland — from 86 000CHF per year, in Spain — from 28 000 per year.

• Cardiff Sixth Form College
• National Mathematics and Science College
• Abbey College Cambridge
• d'Overbroeck's College
• MPW London
• North Broward Preparatory School
• The Storm King School New York
• Phillips Academy Andover.

The A-Level program is a British high school education system that gives students the opportunity to study several subjects in depth in preparation for university.

In the A-Level program, students choose 3-4 subjects for advanced study. This can be math, physics, chemistry, biology, literature, foreign languages, and others.

Students are assessed by examinations at the end of the program. Each course concludes with an exam that contributes to the final grade.

The A-Level program prepares students for university life by developing analytical and critical skills. High A-Level results can increase your chances of admission to prestigious universities.

Yes, students have the freedom to choose subjects in the A-Level program, allowing them to create a combination that suits their interests and future plans.

The A-Level program develops analytical, critical, and research skills, as well as the ability to work independently and analyze in depth.

AS Level is half of a full A-Level and involves studying for one year. It can be used as a stand-alone qualification or as part of a full A-Level.

Effective preparation includes regular study of the material, solving practice assignments and mock exams, as well as consulting with instructors and utilizing additional resources.

No, this is incorrect. A-Level prepares students not only for UK universities, but also for universities and educational institutions around the world. Its academic rigor and in-depth subject study make it attractive to many international institutions, regardless of their location.

First of all, many students choose the UK to study in the A-Level program. After all, it is in the UK that this program was developed and is widely used.