GCS A-Level Exams: What They Are, How They Work, and How They Differ from AS Level and IGCSE
If your child is following the British curriculum, or if you are considering an international school, you have probably heard terms like A-Level, AS Level and Cambridge IGCSE. These exams form the backbone of the UK education system and are one of the most widely recognised academic passports in the world. But what does each one mean? Are the AS Level and the A-Level the same thing? And how does the IGCSE differ from all of the above?
What Are A-Levels?
A-Levels, or Advanced Levels, are the pre-university exams of the British education system. They are studied during the last two years of secondary schooling: Year 12 and Year 13 (equivalent to the first and second year of Bachillerato in Spain, for students aged between 16 and 18).
Unlike the Spanish Bachillerato, where students study a wide variety of subjects, the A-Level system focuses on specialisation: each student chooses between 3 and 4 subjects in depth. This choice is strategic, as universities, both in the UK and worldwide, assess the strength and excellence in those specific subjects to determine admission to their degree programmes.
A-Levels are offered by different international examining bodies, most notably Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) and Pearson Edexcel, both fully valid and with equivalent recognition. At ISCB we are a certified Pearson Edexcel centre for the delivery and assessment of A-Levels.
Grading System
International Recognition and University Access
A-Levels are recognised by more than 175,000 students in 160 countries, and are accepted as an entry qualification by the world’s most prestigious universities, including those in the American Ivy League, the British Russell Group and the leading European universities. In Spain, through the UNED, A-Levels can be recognised as equivalent to the EvAU (university entrance exam), allowing students to access Spanish public and private universities without going through the traditional Bachillerato.
Are AS Level and A-Level the Same? Key Differences
AS Level: The First Level
The AS Level corresponds to the first year of the pre-university stage (Year 12).
It is an official qualification in its own right, but contains only half the curricular content of a full A-Level.
In practical terms: if an A-Level requires approximately 360 teaching hours per subject over two years, the AS Level involves around 180 hours completed in a single academic year.
The AS Level has several practical functions: It serves as a measure of the student’s progress at the end of Year 12.
It allows the school to set predicted grades with greater accuracy.
It can be presented to universities during the admissions process.
In some cases, a student may choose to study only the AS Level in a specific subject, obtaining that qualification at the end of Year 13.
Important: the AS Level is graded from A to E — without the A* grade — unlike the full A-Level.
A-Level: The Full Qualification
The full A-Level is developed over two years (Year 12 and Year 13) and is the qualification that universities use as the main reference for admission.
At the end of Year 13, the student is examined on the entire content, including the papers corresponding to the AS level and the A2 level, and receives a final grade ranging from A* to E.
It is not essential to have formally passed the AS Level in order to sit the A-Level, although the second year’s content is designed to build on the first.
In Cambridge International, moreover, if the student takes the AS in Year 12, they can carry those marks forward to the final A-Level provided they do so within a 13-month window, a system that acts as a safety net for the student.
Comparative Summary: AS Level vs A-Level
| Aspect | AS Level | A-Level |
| Duration | 1 year (Year 12) | 2 years (Year 12 + Year 13) |
| Content | Half of the full programme | Full programme |
| Grading | A to E | A* to E |
| Spanish equivalent | 1st year of Bachillerato | 1st + 2nd year of Bachillerato |
| University recognition | Complementary qualification | Main university entry requirement |
| Independent qualification | Yes | Yes (full qualification) |
IGCSE vs A-Level: What Stage Is Each One For?
To understand the British education system as a whole, it is important to place the IGCSE and A-Levels at the right point of the school journey, because each one serves a different purpose.
The IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) is the most widely recognised international qualification for students aged 14 to 16, studied during Year 10 and Year 11, equivalent to the 3rd and 4th years of ESO in Spain. It covers a broad range of subjects (from mathematics and English to sciences, languages and humanities), and is assessed at the end of Year 11 through a combination of written exams, practical work and, in some cases, oral tests.
A-Levels, on the other hand, belong to the pre-university stage that follows the IGCSE: the Sixth Form or Key Stage 5 (Year 12 and Year 13, equivalent to Bachillerato). While the IGCSE provides a broad and balanced academic foundation in up to 9 subjects, A-Levels invite the student to specialise deeply in only 3 or 4 subjects. In this sense, the IGCSE acts as the launchpad that prepares and gives access to the A-Level programme: the stronger the IGCSE foundation, the better prepared the student will be to face the greater level of rigour and autonomy that A-Levels demand.
Another relevant difference is the grading system: the IGCSE uses an eight-grade scale (from A* to G), while the A-Level grades from A* to E. Both are issued by bodies such as Cambridge or Edexcel, have international recognition and can be used to access universities in Spain, the UK and the rest of the world.
Why Do These Exams Matter for Your Child's Future?
A-Levels have been, for more than 50 years, one of the most valued pre-university qualifications in the world. Gaining entry to universities such as Oxford, Cambridge, those in the American Ivy League or the great European universities with strong A-Level grades is a reality for many of our students. But beyond access to higher education, this system develops real and transferable skills in students: critical thinking, time management, the capacity for independent research and academic resilience.
At ISCB, the only British school in the province of Girona, we offer the A-Level programme with small groups, internationally experienced teachers and personalised support that accompanies each student from the IGCSE through to university application. Our graduates study today at universities all over the world: in the UK, the United States, Spain and beyond.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
At International School Costa Brava we support each student on this journey: from the early years of the IGCSE through to the choice of A-Level subjects and applications to universities around the world. If you have questions about the programme or about how it fits into your child’s academic future, our team is here to guide you.