Open College
GCSE Grades

If you’re a student who has recently sat their GCSEs, there’s a high chance you are worrying about whether you have to have good GCSE grades to continue your studies at a higher level. It’s safe to say you aren’t the first and you won’t be the last student to have these concerns and thankfully, you can be reassured in the knowledge that bad or lower than you expected GCSE grades isn’t the be all and end all of your educational journey.

Although most traditional sixth forms and colleges require that you hold at least 6 GCSE qualifications at grade B or above to go on and study a particular A-Level subject, there are other options for carrying on and studying a particular A-Level subject if you didn’t achieve this. With online A-Levels, you will find that enrolment for the courses is open with no entry requirements.

Why do Traditional Sixth Forms and Colleges set Entry Requirements?

Usually entry requirements are used as a way to ensure that the bulk of the students studying the A-Level subject will continue on and complete the course. When you look at it from a traditional sixth form or college view, they have a limited number of spaces available on each course and so they want to try and ensure they select the best students possible to study the subject.

Another reason for entry requirements is league tables, for sixth forms and colleges a lot of their funding comes from Government Bodies and in the case of private colleges, from students who are drawn to their colleges from their reputation. So if they aren’t appearing high in the league tables, then they aren’t going to get as much funding or student interest.

Where can I study A-Levels Regardless of GCSE Grades?

Fortunately. A-Level awarding bodies don’t actually impose requirements for studying A-Levels or sitting examinations for them. It is of course advisable that you have experience in the same subjects you are wishing to study at a lower level, but there is no set minimum requirement for GCSE grades.

Options for A-Levels that have open enrolment and allow students to study them regardless of their GCSE grades are mostly found online through online training providers and colleges like Open College. Due to the lack of restrictions on student numbers, online colleges can be more flexible and offer students the chance to follow their educational pathways easily.