Several countries use A-levels as a school-leaving qualification. However, A levels are mainly taken in the UK. The A-levels taken by students in other countries may differ from the A-levels taken in the United Kingdom.
International usage Many schools in countries world-wide offer A-Levels through international cross-border exam boards, which include
Cambridge International Education (CIE),
Pearson Edexcel, Learning Resource Network (LRN) and OxfordAQA.
United Kingdom A-levels are a college or sixth form leaving qualification offered in
England,
Wales, and
Northern Ireland. These are not compulsory, unlike GCSEs. In
Scotland, A-levels are also offered by some schools as an alternative school-leaving qualification in place of the Scottish
Advanced Higher. The main examination boards which administer British A-levels in the UK are: •
Assessment and Qualifications Alliance (AQA) • Oxford, Cambridge, and RSA Examinations (OCR) •
Edexcel (Edexcel Pearson – London Examinations) •
Welsh Joint Education Committee (WJEC) •
Council for the Curriculum, Examinations & Assessment (CCEA/NICCEA) •
Cambridge International Education (CIE) • Learning Resource Network (LRN) Oxford AQA, Edexcel,
Cambridge International Education (CIE), and Learning Resource Network (LRN) also offer international versions of the British A-levels in the United Kingdom and worldwide. The British variant of A/AS-levels is also taken in many
Commonwealth and former Commonwealth countries, as well as in examination centers worldwide. British international schools in foreign countries generally offer the British A-levels as offered through Edexcel or Cambridge International Examinations. At select examination centers, the British A-level exams may also be available to private candidates.
Bangladesh In Bangladesh, the
GCE AS and A-level are offered by
Cambridge International Education (CIE) and
Pearson Edexcel after completion of
IGCSE (CIE or Pearson Edexcel) or
Cambridge O-Level, and is conducted by the
British Council. GCE Advanced Level qualifications are offered by some of the private, public, and international schools as an alternative to HSC (
Higher Secondary School Certificate) offered by the Government Board of Education. It has become a popular choice among students, but due to financial implications, its reach is limited to the middle and upper classes in major cities such as
Dhaka and
Chittagong.
Brunei In
Brunei, the A-level qualification is offered, with examinations conducted by
Cambridge International Education (CIE). Some subjects are unique to Brunei or have a format, curriculum, or syllabus that is unique to Brunei.
Cameroon The Advanced Level of Cameroon is based on the
Cambridge International Education and similarly, conducted by the government of Cameroon in collaboration with Cambridge University. All the courses taken are related to what the candidate is willing to pursue a career in university and these courses are on a recognizable international standard for university entrance; as they are major relevant courses.
Hong Kong The British A-level qualifications such as GCE A-level and International A-level are widely accepted in Hong Kong as an alternative to the
Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education for both admission and employment purposes. It is one of the most popular qualifications used for university admission via the non-
JUPAS channel. For example, average non-JUPAS offers from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology require one to three A*s (the mid-50% range). Since the introduction of the high distinction grade (A*) in 2010, the British A-level examination has regained its power to differentiate the very top levels of ability. According to the British Department for Education, in the academic year 2014/15, approximately 7.3%, 2.7%, 1.0%, and 0.3% of all the candidates from the GCSE cohort (548,480) achieved one to four A*s or a better result in the GCE A-level examination. This percentile rank is one important input for equating the levels in both examinations. On the sole basis of percentile ranks and the grade statistics from HKEAA in 2017, a score of 29/35 from the best five subjects in
Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education is comparable to 1A*2A in the best three British A-levels, 32/35 to 2A*1A, 33/35 to 3A* and 34/35 to 4A*. In deriving inferences from these statistics, slightly more than a third of the GCSE candidates can go on to study in the sixth form before applying to universities via
the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) while almost all Hong Kong students can study Form 6 before sitting the HKDSE examination. Relevant authorities such as the
Hong Kong Examination and Assessment Authority (HKEAA) and UCAS also sought to connect the results from both exam systems to open doors for the holders of these qualifications who wish to study locally or overseas. Officially, the top distinction levels, A* in A-level and 5** in HKDSE, are currently recognized as broadly equivalent. In particular, in the light of statistical evidence, the 1% cut-off line is often set by admission offices at 2A*1A as compared to a score of 43/45 in the
International Baccalaureate Diploma but the Uniform Mark Scale (UMS) instead of the letter grades would be used in many cases to offer a much more subtle view of the candidate's academic potential. Typical offers from Cambridge Medical School require 2A*1A and
Oxford University Medical School require 1A*2A whereas those from the medical and dentistry schools of the University of Hong Kong and the
Chinese University of Hong Kong require 4A* and 3A* respectively in A-level due to fierce competition.
India In
India,
Cambridge International Education (CIE), and Learning Resource Network (LRN) GCE Advanced Level qualifications are offered at private and international schools as an alternative to the conventional Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC).
Macau The International A-Level qualifications are offered in some private schools and international schools which teaching medium is English and adopt IAL curriculum. Students in
Macau can take the
Cambridge International Education (CIE) or Edexcel International A-Level offered at their school. It is one of the most popular qualifications for the students who want to pursue their university study in UK, Hong Kong, Australia, and New Zealand. International Advanced Level qualification is also accepted by Macau local universities for applying for direct admission, the applicants with IAL qualification are not required to take the
Joint Admission Examination for Macao Four Higher Education Institutions.
Malaysia In
Malaysia, the A-level qualification is offered, with examinations conducted by
Cambridge International Education (CIE) and Learning Resource Network. Some subjects are unique to Malaysia or have a format, curriculum, or syllabus that is unique to Malaysia. For instance, there are two types of A-level in Malaysia, Cambridge A-level (administered by Cambridge International Examinations) and Edexcel International Advanced Level (administered by
Pearson Edexcel).
Mauritius In
Mauritius, A/AS-level qualifications are taken as part of the
Higher School Certificate, awarded upon successful completion of
secondary school after passing of examinations jointly administered by the
Mauritius Examinations Syndicate and the
University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES). Some exam papers offered, such as
French, are customized to support the national educational standards. Additionally, International A-level qualifications from
Edexcel are available, for which exams may be registered through the Mauritius Examinations Syndicate.
Nepal In
Nepal, A-level offered from
Cambridge International Education (CIE) is the most popular and is presented by several public, private, and international institutions as an alternative to the
National Examination Board's 10+2 curriculum. A-level has become a popular choice for many students in Nepal. Besides A-level,
International Baccalaureate and
Advanced Placement are also offered at this level. Nepali students generally appear for 4 subjects at A-level and 5 at AS-level.
Pakistan A-levels are offered in
Pakistan by governmental and private institutions, along with
International Baccalaureate and other international examinations like the
Advanced Placement though A levels is by far the most popular. Examinations are handled by international British boards and the program is equivalent to
Higher Secondary School Certificate.
Cram Schools are established all around the country which prepares the students to take the examinations as private candidates.
Seychelles In
Seychelles, the A-level qualification is offered, with examinations conducted by
Cambridge International Education (CIE). Some subjects are unique to Seychelles or have a format, curriculum, or syllabus that is unique to Seychelles.
Singapore In
Singapore,
H1/H2/H3 level qualifications are awarded upon successful completion of examinations jointly administered by
Singapore Ministry of Education (MOE),
Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB) and the
University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES).
Sri Lanka In
Sri Lanka, A-level qualifications are offered by governmental and non-governmental schools (Private Schools). The qualifications are awarded upon successful completion of examinations called Local A-levels while most of the private schools award them upon London A-levels. Local GCE Advanced Level qualifications are offered by the
Department of Examinations. Private Schools (
International Schools) in
Sri Lanka provide A-level qualifications which are offered by: •
Cambridge International Education (CIE) •
Edexcel Passing A-levels is a major requirement for applying to local universities and for private universities in
Sri Lanka. In the recent past, Universities in Sri Lanka have given the opportunity to apply for their foundation courses which only require
O-level (Ordinary Level) results.
Tanzania A-level is an education structure after the completion of 11 years of Universal Primary Education (UPE). Universal Primary Education consists of two levels, the primary school level of seven years and ordinarily secondary level, of four years. Students are then required to sit for the National Examination which is done on a specific month in a certain year. The exams are done throughout the country on the same date provided by the examination board. Examinations will depend on the cluster and core subjects in which a student shall take. There are three major clusters, namely science, business, and liberal arts plus core subjects of which are seven in total or more. Students who will then pass according to the National Examination Standards shall be selected to join Advanced Secondary Education and are selected according to the subjects they passed the most and by their will to pursue certain subjects. There are only three core subjects to study in Advanced Level and one or more optional subjects to sit for the Advanced Certificate of Secondary Education Examination (ACSEE). Then students are awarded Advanced Certificate of Secondary Education only if they have passed. The pass marks are arranged according to grades and the grades will determine whether a student will qualify to join tertiary education. A-level education is a two years education which is offered by the government and non-government schools. It is regulated by the Ministry of Education which assures both qualitative and quantitative subject matters and there is a special independent council that is responsible in composing the Advanced Certificate of Secondary Education Examination (ACSEE) namely The National Examination Council of Tanzania (NECTA).
Uganda In Uganda, a Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education is awarded to students who have passed their national examinations that are set and marked by the
Uganda National Examination Board (UNEB). It is among the requirements for one to join a university in Uganda. The advanced level takes two years for one to complete. Some international schools in Uganda also offer A-level courses from Cambridge and Edexcel.
Zimbabwe The GCE Advanced Level qualification is offered by the
Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC). Before, this qualification was jointly offered by Cambridge International Education and the Council in Zimbabwe. == Subjects offered at A level ==