Exams & Coursework

What do A-levels involve?

Student in Science Class AS/A2 Levels are assessed mainly by examination although many have an element of coursework. A timetable of major hand-in dates for coursework for relevant courses is published in the calendar at the beginning of every academic year. It is essential that students meet these deadlines in order that coursework can be marked and submitted to the Exam Boards on time.

Currently all A Level specifications are made up of four or six modules. The first two or three modules give students an AS level qualification and are examined in January and between May and July at the end of the first year of study. The remaining two or three modules are examined in the second year of the course and lead to the A2 qualification.

A2 and AS Levels are awarded grades A, B, C, D, E & U. ‘E’ is the lowest pass grade and A is the highest grade. From 2010 there will be an A* grade at A2. Two AS Level passes are equivalent to one A2 level pass, in terms of progression to university, although exact requirements vary from one university to another.

What is an Applied AS/A2?

The Applied AS/A2 (Double) is made up of 12 modules and is equivalent to 2 AS/A2 Levels.
The Applied AS/A2 (Single) has 6 modules and is equivalent to 1 AS/A2 Level.

These courses involve the continuous assessment of coursework and students have to meet regular assignment deadline dates.

The pass grades awarded on Applied (Single) AS/A2 Levels are A, B, C, D and E, where A is the highest level pass. On Applied (Double) AS/A2 Level courses the pass grades are AA, AB, BB, BC, CC, CD, DD, DE, and EE.

What is a National Certificate/Award?
The Diploma comprises 12 units and is equivalent to 2 A2 levels.
The Award comprises 6 units and is equivalent to 1 A2 levels.

The pass grades awarded for National qualifications are pass, merit and distinction, where distinction is the highest level.

What grades will my son/daughter need to get for University?
Entrance requirements for University courses vary but are usually 3 A2 Level passes or equivalent. Universities make offers based on students’ predicted grades in certain subjects. The exact nature of these offers will depend on both the individual course and the University. Students will be given more information about this during their Tutorials. They can also find useful material in the Careers Library or on the Careers Intranet. VLE (Moodle) pages. Students can make an appointment to see a Connexions Personal Advisor at the Careers Help Desk.

If a student is on a GCSE, VGCSE, or Btec First Diploma programme, what do they need to achieve to carry on to the advanced courses next year?

Btec First Diploma students’ target for progression to Advanced Level is to achieve at least a Merit.
Students on the GCSE/VGCSE programme will need to pass at least three of the four subjects taken this year at grade C or above.

However, students who do not quite achieve this target may be allowed to progress if their Course Tutor feels they have the potential to be successful at Advanced Level.

How can we help?
When exams or coursework deadlines approach it is not unusual for some students to feel anxious and under pressure. It is important to be aware of this and plan how you can help. There are people in College your son or daughter can speak to for support. There are also Junior University Mentors, who provide one-to-one support for students to aid them in their studies. If there is a problem, encourage your son or daughter to see their Personal Tutor, a Subject Tutor or the Vice Principal or Assistant Principal for Student Support , Michael Walsh or Malcolm Stott, for advice. You are, of course, welcome to contact us if you wish to discuss the problem.

All exams will be conducted according to the rules laid down by exam boards and within the start and finish times determined by the board. Exam dates are non-negotiable.

It is necessary for students to comply with the exam board regulations which are issued via tutorial and are available on the VLE (Moodle).

What can go wrong?
Every year students fail to gain qualifications because they have:

Failed to read their exam timetable and not turned up on the appropriate day.
Arrived late for their exam and had their paper discounted.
Caused a disruption because their mobile phone has gone off during the exam.
Introduced unauthorised material into the exam room.

All of these incidents must be reported to the awarding bodies who decide on the sanctions to apply.

What can we do?
The College issues exam timetables in December for January exams and Late April/Early May for the summer exam session:

Make sure your son/daughter has a copy of their timetable and is aware of all exam dates and times.
Timetables are individual to the student so please encourage your son/daughter to inform the exams department immediately of any perceived difficulty, discrepancies or missing examinations.

Special Exam Arrangements
There are many things that can impact on exam performance and in some circumstances the exams department can make arrangements which will support your son/daughter through the examination period.

Inform the exams office, immediately, of any last minute circumstance which will impact on your son/daughter’s ability to sit an exam, for example, illness or injury.

Absence on the Exam Day
Contact the exams office immediately if your son/daughter is going to be absent due to illness or unforeseen circumstances to discuss their options.

More information about Examinations can be found in the Student Diary, the College Charter and the on the College internet site.

What is the Enrichment Programme?
The Enrichment programme offers a wide range of courses that can benefit students in a number of ways. The courses enable them to gain an additional qualification, develop an interest, have fun and prepare for employment or University.

For example:

Courses such as First Aid, Pre-teaching, Sports Leaders Award and Gym Fitness Instructor enable students with particular vocational aims to acquire specific skills and recognised qualifications which will help them in their future career.
Taking part in Work Shadowing, which can enhance applications for University courses, or perhaps act as a ‘taster’ for their future career.
Foreign Language courses:
- FLAW (Foreign Languages at Work) includes courses for students who have passed GCSE in a language and courses for beginners.
- FLAW courses are offered in French, German, Spanish and Italian.
Interest-based courses in areas like Sport, Music, Drama and the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme. These enable students from across the College, who otherwise might not meet, to participate together.
Citizenship, Critical Thinking, Science In Societies and General Studies provide an opportunity to achieve an additional AS or A2 qualification. These are valued by HE and employers.
Aim Higher and Oxbridge Groups: for students with the ambition and potential to apply for a place at Oxford, Cambridge or other prestigious Universities. These groups provide the opportunity to get together with other students and prepare for their application and interview.

What are Key Skills?
The Government insists that all young people over the age of 16 should prepare for employment by studying essential Key Skills. These include Communication and Numeracy skills, along with Information Technology. Most students have already achieved or are re-taking GCSE English and Maths, and Advanced Level courses cover Communication and Numeracy skills. We take the view that the most important Key Skill for students is Information Technology. All Year 12 Advanced Level students will follow a course in IT Key Skills, one lesson a week, leading to either a Level 2 or a Level 3 qualification, with the exception of those studying IT as an AS Level.