All these qualifications consist of a number of units. The most common qualification sizes are three and six units.

General and vocational A levels are graded A–E. They can be assessed in stages, using opportunities in January and June, or at the end of the course. Candidates may resit the external assessment for each unit once.

The Advanced Subsidiary (AS) is the three-unit General Certificate of Education (GCE). It provides progression between GCSE at level 2 and the full A level. It is both the first half of an A level and a qualification in its own right. All A level specifications include an AS. There are currently five free-standing AS qualifications that do not lead to a full A level: Critical Thinking; European Studies; Science for Public Understanding; Social Science: Citizenship and World Development.

The A level is the six-unit GCE. It consists of the AS and a further three units called the A2, usually studied in the second year. Nearly 70 titles are available.

GCE AS and A levels normally contain a proportion of coursework up to 30 per cent, (though some practical or creative subjects have more). All GCE A levels contain an assessment at the end of the course that tests students' understanding of the whole specification (synoptic assessment).

The Advanced Extension Award (AEA) is intended to challenge the most able advanced level students. It was first available in summer 2002 in 17 subjects and is awarded at merit and distinction grades.

The vocational A level, or Advanced Vocational Certificate of Education (VCE), is the new name of the advanced General National Vocational Qualification (GNVQ). The qualification has been revised to make its assessment more rigorous and more manageable for teachers and students. The qualification is available in three, six and 12 units. The three-unit is available in business, engineering, health and social care and information and communication technology (ICT) and is equivalent to the AS. The six-unit vocational A level is available in 14 titles and is equivalent to the A level. The 12-unit vocational A level (double award) is equivalent to two A levels and is available in 13 titles. (Retail and Distributive Services is only available as a six-unit award.)

Vocational A levels provide experiences and education relevant to working life but do not provide training for a specific job. Students develop the knowledge, skills and understanding relevant to a broad vocational area and often have experience of work within that area. Assessment is by coursework (a portfolio of work), which is internally assessed, and by external assessment. The internal component normally contributes two-thirds of the final marks and the external component one-third. The specification indicates the type of assessment for each unit.

There are Key Skills qualifications in: communication, application of number and information technology at levels 1-4. The Key Skills qualifications are assessed internally (students produce a portfolio of evidence demonstrating the application of the key skills) and externally by tests. Links between other qualifications and key skills are used to provide exemptions for some or all of the assessment for the key skill unit.

For example:

• AS/A level grades A–E in English language and/or literature exempt students from level 3 external assessment in communication;
• AS/A level grades A–E in mathematics exempt students from level 3 external assessment in application of number;
• AS level grades A–E in computing or ICT exempt students from level 3 external assessment in information technology;
• Vocational A level in information and communication technology provides full exemption for the information technology key skill at level 3.
  

Other qualifications

NVQs are awarded to students who provide evidence of competence in one of 11 occupational areas. NVQs are based on national occupational standards and do not have to be taken within a specific length of time. They can be taken by school and college students who have a work placement or part-time job enabling them to develop the appropriate skills, or by people in employment. The qualification is unit based, the number and size of units varying between vocational areas. A unit is achieved when a candidate is assessed as competent in applying the skills and knowledge specified in that unit. Assessment takes place in the workplace.

Other vocationally-related qualifications, for example, BTEC, are often studied by 16- to 19-year-old students. The BTEC National Diploma is a level 3 qualification usually studied full-time over two years. Like the vocational A level, it is related to broad occupational areas. BTEC qualifications have been redesigned as part of their accreditation to the national framework. For further details see Edexcel's website.

Advanced modern apprenticeships use the work-based route. They are mainly for 16- and 17-year-old school and college leavers. They incorporate NVQ level 3, a technical certificate and key skills. More information on these can be found in the work-based qualifications leaflet in this series.