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A-Levels at any age

We’re often asked the question ‘Can you do A-Levels at any age?’ by enquiring students and parents at the college. The simple answer to this is yes. You can study and sit the exams for A-Levels at any age and you don’t have to wait until you are in the sixth form or aged over 16.

It is understandable for people to think there may be an age limit for studying the courses. But as long as you are a Private Candidate studying, then you can sit your A Levels whenever you want to. A Levels at any age really is possible, provided you do your homework and select the right course for you.

What are A Levels?

A Levels are UK school leavers qualifications that are recognised worldwide. They are a benchmarked qualification that are accepted by universities and provide a pathway for students to study subjects at a higher level. As an end of secondary education qualification, A-Levels can be quite hard topics to study and learn. But they provide students with the right solid foundation understanding of the subjects they want to study further.

Although ideally holding GCSEs in the same subject as the A Levels you wish to study, is the best option. There isn’t actually a compulsory requirement for this. So for example, if you wanted to study A Level Mathematics, but didn’t have GCSE Maths, that isn’t an issue. It may mean though, that you might need longer to fully grasp the course and its materials.

How Long do A Levels take to Study?

One A-Level takes the average student approximately 350 hours of study time. Those 350 hours are to cover the entire course syllabus from start to finish. The time for revision and exam preparation is more likely to vary from student to student depending on their ability. Studying A Levels is usually best done with the help of a teacher or tutor, but can be done entirely independently if a student prefers.

Usually when studying A Levels in a school or college, it will take the student two years to complete the qualification. But for students who opt to study their A Levels online, they have the option to fast track their A Levels. Fast tracking your A Levels simply means completing them in a year or less. This option is very popular with students who need to retake their A Levels due to poor grades.

Are Online A Levels Different to Normal A Levels?

Studying A-Levels is the same for any student, whether you are a standard student, homeschooler or a mature student. The course syllabus students cover is exactly the same. In fact, even the exams you’ll be sitting are exactly the same, whether you do online A Levels or normal ones. There are however, some differences between the two versions of A Levels.

When it comes to online A Levels, the process of choosing your subjects and enrolling on them is much easier. You don’t need to worry about term times or spaces, you just pick your subjects and sign up. If you’re not sure about which colleges are available, a quick Google search will help you find potential colleges.

Do A Levels have Examinations?

To complete your A Level qualification, you will need to sit a set of examinations. Usually, there are three written exams a student will need to complete. But some A Levels come with additional elements such as coursework or practicals. Examples of these courses can be seen below:

The examinations are all held at an exam centre. If you’re a student at school or college, your exam centre will be the school or college. If you are studying online A Levels or independently then you will be classed as a Private Candidate and will need to find a centre. Once you have found a centre, you’ll need to register and then attend there to sit the exams with other students. Your results will be released to your examination centre from the Awarding Body at the same time as other students receive them and will be exactly the same certificates.

A Level results are always released in the Summer, usually around mid August, to give students time to complete clearing with UCAS if needed.

Ready to Start Your A Levels?