AS LEVELS – GOOD IDEA OR BAD IDEA?

Four weeks to go until I sit my AS exams and I’m beginning to wonder whether they are such a good idea after all.

For years, the next step after GCSE exams in England were A-levels. These were studied over a period of 2 years at sixth-form college with exams in the final year before going onto university. However, since the year 2000, these A-levels have been replaced by a new system being used throughout the UK. This system splits the A-level into two parts. In the first year, you take four AS levels each being 50% of a full A-level and in the second year you continue either three or four at A2 level which is the other 50% of the ones taken previously. Of course, this means exams at the end of the first year as well as at the end of the second year. You then finish your two years of sixth form with either three A-levels with an AS level or four A-levels.

So, is this a good idea or a bad idea? At the beginning of my course in September 2001, I thought it was a great idea. It meant when you drop your fourth subject at the end of the first year you are left with an AS which is half an A-level meaning extra points to apply for university, but in the position that I’m in now I’m not so sure. I still think the outcome after the two years is great but when actually doing the course it has proved to be hard work.

A year before our GCSE’s we had two sets of mock exams and plenty of practice of exam papers, therefore, feeling extremely confident for the real thing. With the AS levels there is no ‘practice year’, therefore, leaving only 8 months of schooling after the GCSE’s before taking the exams and even then you can’t revise before you know the information. So, in conclusion I think I’d prefer a two year course with exams at the end as that would a least give us a year to become familiar with the whole concept of A-levels.

Here are some opinions of two students from the sixth form:

“Even though we are only studying four subjects, there is a lot of work involved in each. This makes it very difficult to revise everything and feel confident on each aspect for the exam.” Heidi Boden-Year 12

“I can’t believe how soon the exams are. We haven’t even finished learning the courses let alone started revising.” Megan Marks-Year 12

So, what’s your opinion on the AS levels? Do you think they are a good idea? How does it compare to the system in your country? Should all European countries sit the same exams?

Let me know what you think!

Claire Watkins

Bishop Heber High Clairelouise8@hotmail.com