A-levels are one of the most popular pre-university pathways among students. However, many are still in the dark as to what this prestigious program is all about. This article will act as your guide and discuss what A-Level is and why it may be the next step in your education path.
A-Levels, which is the short form for Advanced Level, is one of the available options for pre-university that Malaysians can choose from. This course’s curriculum is modelled on the UK education system.
It’s equivalent to the STPM here. It is also known as GCE Advanced Level, and it prepares you for a university degree by allowing you to study a variety of subjects in depth.
The Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) and Edexcel are the two examination boards that deliver the A-Levels in Malaysia. The Cambridge A-Level is offered at most Malaysian colleges.
For A Level examination, you will typically select three or four subjects to study. Some students study extra topics in order to apply to prestigious institutions or courses.
AS level is essentially half of an A-level; they provide a broad grasp of a topic but not as much depth as an A-level. The AS level was used to count towards a full A-level until recently. The A2, on the other hand, is the full A-level.
So, at the end of the first year, you’d earn the AS level, and at the end of the second year, you’d get the A2 (full A-level). AS levels have been taken alongside – rather than as part of – A-levels from 2015.
This implies they won’t count towards your total A-level grade. As a result, you’ll only take your AS examinations at the conclusion of your first year and all of your A-level exams at the end of the two-year program.
The O-Level examinations are the first GCE exams that students must take, and they are usually taken when they are around sixteen years old. One of the goals of the O-level test is to evaluate a student’s preparedness for more advanced courses, such as A-levels.
On the other hand, A-level is generally taken as an advanced course after they have completed the O-levels or high school studies. During the first year, students may take 3 to 5 subjects and three during the second year.
A-Levels was created in 1951 with the goal of encouraging pupils to focus on a smaller number of subject areas that they might choose to pursue at university.
This program, like other pre-university courses, usually requires a minimum of 5 Cs in SPM, O-Level, or the equivalent.
Subject prerequisites are required for several A-Level courses, such as Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Further Mathematics. This implies that in order to study these topics, you must have studied and received the minimum needed grades for the relevant subjects at the SPM or high school level.
With A-Levels, there are no compulsory subjects. You are free to pick the topics that interest you or that you believe would be most useful to your future studies or careers.
English Language & Literature, Mathematics, Biology, Physics, and Chemistry are among the topics studied by students. It’s usually a good idea to double-check if the courses are offered at the institution you’re considering ahead of time, as this varies from school to school.
You should always pay extra attention to what subjects you want to take on for the semester as they can make or break you.
Here are some things you can keep in mind while choosing:
There are a total of 55 subjects you can choose from for A and AS Level. The subjects are constantly updated or extended. However, popular A Level subjects include:
Since this course is 100% exam based, it might not be suitable for everyone. Nevertheless, you should continue your studies by pursuing A-levels if:
A-Levels is an excellent choice for those who know which topics they excel in. If you excel in Mathematics but struggle in English Literature, you might benefit from being allowed to concentrate on math and forgo English. With the International Baccalaureate (IB), this would be impossible.
Because foundation programs prepare you for higher study in the subject you’ve selected, you may be limited to specific degrees at certain colleges. A-Levels, on the other hand, allows you to continue on to a variety of degrees once you’ve completed it. This is especially useful if you aren’t sure what degree you want to pursue.
A-Levels subjects are often regarded as challenging since they demand for you to analyse and apply logical reasoning while answering test questions. In comparison to other courses, such as Australian Matriculation, you’ll also notice that the study content is more in-depth.
The degree of difficulty, however, is determined by the subjects you pick and your time management abilities.
Remember how we mentioned that it is important to choose things that you enjoy and excel at? This is essential for your success as you will have to put in the necessary effort and time to comprehend your study materials.
Yes, you can do so. A-Levels is widely recognised as the gold standard of pre-university education and is accepted by many of the world’s best universities.
While it is often used to study in the United Kingdom, it is also approved in many other countries, including Australia, the United States, Canada, and Singapore.
There are many universities that offer A-levels. However, here at UOW Malaysia KDU, our A-levels program prepares students to be self-assured, responsible, inventive and involved, coaching them for success in today’s fast-paced world.
A-Levels students at our establishment have been accepted into prestigious institutions such as the University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, University of Manchester, University of London, and others since the program began.
To learn more about this program, drop your enquiries today!
There are several paths you can take if you failed A Levels:
In Malaysia, A Levels courses are usually 15 to 24 months. This duration depends on when you start the course.
Students need to take a minimum of 3 subjects, which is the standard requirement for UK university admission. The maximum number of subjects is five.
Students taking the Cambridge A Levels are assessed 100% with exams for most subjects. Some subjects such as Biology, Chemistry and Physics include a practical assesment, but these assessments only make up 20% of the final grade. You’ll still need a deep understanding of the syllabus to do well in these subjects.
STPM is the Malaysia equivalent of A Levels. The STPM certificate is also recognised worldwide due to its high standards. In fact, the STPM examination is equally challenging as A Levels, and student have to put in hard work to to well. One main difference between STPM and A Levels is that school based assessments account for 20 to 40 percent of the final grade while final exams make up the other 60 to 80 percent. A Levels, as mentioned above, are 100% exam based.
Cambridge A Levels exams are held in May/June and October/November each year. Students can expect to receive their results in August if they sit for the May/June exams or in January for the October/November A Level examinations.
Key highlights
At the end of the day, the choice lies with you on whether this pathway is the right one for you. If you’re an analytic, studious and organised person, this program will be the best option for you.
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