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Hours of Study

If you’re thinking of starting an A-Level, you may be wondering exactly how many hours of study are required for you to complete one. Awarding bodies suggest an average of 350 hours of study are required to competently cover an A-level syllabus. Now 350 hours does sound like a lot doesn’t it? But then when you remember that A-Level courses are actually meant to be studied over 2 years and that an average A-Level student studies three A-Levels, then it starts not to seem like that much of an ask.

Obviously, everyone is different and learns at different speeds, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t use the suggested number of hours of study as a guide to help you. Firstly, you can use it to work out if you have the spare time to study an A-Level (or more) and secondly, to work out how to pace your learning through the course.

Do I have to Study 350 Hours to Achieve an A-Level?

The answer to this question depends on a few other things, there is no set law or requirement for a student to study a recorded 350 hours before sitting an A-Level examination, but if you only spent 50 hours studying the course, chances are your results won’t be great!

If you have previous experience of the subject you are studying the A-Level for, you will probably find a lot of the course syllabus is just a recap and revision of your knowledge, so the need for the full 350 hours of study isn’t necessary. The same applies to if you are a student who is re-taking their A-Levels, a lot of the information you will already have learned and so you’re just going over it again to understand it better.

How many Hours of Study should I Expect a week?

Believe it or not, the hours of study you should expect to be doing each week is far less than you might think. For example, if you were studying one A Level over a year, you wouldn’t need to put in more than a couple of hours a week to get through all the course syllabus comfortably and have time to revise for exams.

Obviously, if you are doing more than one subject, the number of hours needed each week does increase, but again, not as much as you might expect. And certainly not as much as full time education at school or college. So why such a difference (I hear you ask)? Simple, term times and school hours, both those factors make studying A Levels at school or college a much more lengthy process.

The key to making sure you can manage the level of study is to start with when you plan to sit your exams. Once you have that date in mind and the number of hours of study you are going to need, then you just need to make a schedule for you to stick to while studying. Remember, when you do plan your studies, ensure you keep it balanced and with plenty of breaks and down time, so your brain gets chance to absorb what you’re learning.

Are all A Levels the same Length?

As mentioned earlier on, the average number of hours it takes to study an A level is 350. But it’s important to remember that with some courses, there may be some additional hours of study. For example, courses with additional elements like practicals or fieldwork are obviously going to take longer than those without.

So which courses may need more study time than 350 hours?

Does the 350 Hours of Study Time Include the Exams?

No. The 350 hours of study time is just the length of time it takes the average student to cover the full course syllabus. When it comes to your examinations, they are going to be additional hours. If you get in touch with an exam centre, they will be able to confirm for you how many exams you need to take and how long they will take to do. Most A Levels have three written examinations, with time allowances of between one hour forty five minutes and three hours.

Again, keep in mind, if you’re doing one of the A Level subjects with additional elements, in particular practicals, then you will need to attend your exam centre to carry these out as well. The good news though, you don’t have to complete your practicals in the same exam period as your written exams.

Ready to Start your A Levels?