A Level Reform
Updated July 2025

A Level Reform

1. Introduction

New AS and A levels were introduced in England starting September 2015. These reforms aimed to update and improve the qualifications, with changes being rolled out over several years. The first results for the new AS levels were released in 2016, and for the A levels in 2017.

2. What New AS and A Levels Will Look Like

Key changes include:

Linear Assessment: All exams take place at the end of the course (AS after 1 year, A level after 2 years). No more January exams.
Decoupling of AS and A Levels: AS results no longer count toward the full A level grade.
Content Review: A level content was reviewed and updated, with greater university involvement in development.
Limited Non-Exam Assessment: Exams are now the primary method of assessment; coursework is only used where essential.

3. Timetable of Reforms

First TeachingFirst AS ResultsFirst A Level ResultsSubjects

Sept 2015Summer 2016Summer 2017Art and Design, Biology, Business, Chemistry, Computer Science, Economics, English (Language, Lit, Lang & Lit), History, Physics, Psychology, Sociology

Sept 2016Summer 2017Summer 2018Ancient Languages (Greek, Latin), Dance, Drama & Theatre, Geography, MFL (French, German, Spanish), Music, PE, Religious Studies

Sept 2017Summer 2018Summer 2019Accounting, Ancient History, Classical Civilisation, D&T, Electronics, Environmental Science, Film Studies, Further Maths, Geology, Government & Politics, History of Art (A level only), Law, Maths, Media Studies, MFL (Chinese, Italian, Russian), Music Tech, Philosophy, Statistics

Sept 2018N/ASummer 2020MFL & Ancient Languages (Arabic, Bengali, Gujarati, Greek, Hebrew, Japanese, Panjabi, Persian, Polish, Portuguese, Turkish, Urdu)

Are A Levels Linear?

Yes. A levels are now fully linear – you take all exams at the end of the course, and AS results do not contribute to the final A level grade.

Entry Requirements for A Levels

Typically, you need:

5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A to C)*
At least grade 6 in subjects you wish to study

Requirements vary by school or college.

Who A Levels Are For

Those planning to go to university
Students wanting to keep future options open
Learners interested in academic subjects

Choosing A Level Subjects

Consider:

What you enjoy and excel at
Required subjects or grades for your intended career or course
How flexible you want your future choices to be

What You Can Do After A Levels

University (most common route)
Employment (employers value A levels)
Higher apprenticeships or vocational training
Keep your options open if unsure of career path

A Level Reform Updated July 2025