Connexions Tameside

Here are some examples of qualifications that you could work towards:

Entry Level and Level 1, 2 and 3 courses

Usually taken by young people 16 – 1, who may not be ready to GCSEs..

GCSEs - General Certificate of Secondary Education Level 1 - 2

These are the main qualifications that you could expect to take at school.  Most students take their GCSE exams at the end of Year 11. Some subjects can lead to ‘double award’ GCSEs; whilst others may be a ½ GCSE award. GCSEs are graded A* - G. You usually need 8 A – C grades to progress to ‘A’ Levels.

'A' Levels Level 3

Once you’ve completed GCSEs you can go on to take ‘AS’ and ‘A2’ which lead to an ‘A’ level (Advanced Level) qualification. You can study ‘A’ levels in subjects like modern languages, the sciences, English, maths, geography, history, business studies, law, economics, leisure and tourism etc. In Year 12 you'll study ‘AS’ (Advanced Subsidiary) in a number of subjects. The ‘AS’ is worth ½ a full ‘A’ level and you’ll be assessed in your ‘AS’ at the end of Year 12. If your progress is satisfactory you can go on to study ‘A2’ in Year 13. Success in the ‘A2’ will give you a full ‘A’ level qualification. ‘A’ Levels are graded A – E.

If you’re expected to get an A in your ‘A’ Level you could study for Advanced Extension Awards (AEAs), these are more demanding than ‘A’ levels. They help universities differentiate between the most able candidates, particularly in subjects with a high proportion of A grades at advanced level.

Diplomas levels Level 1, 2 and 3

From September 2008 you might be able to take a Diploma in Years 10 - 11 too. Nationally there are five Diplomas available from September 2008:

• Construction and the Built Environment

• Creative and Media

• Engineering

• Information Technology

• Society, Health and Development
  
  

By 2013 there will be 17 Diplomas available in England. Diplomas will be available at three levels:
 

• Foundation – Level 1 - taken alongside GCSEs, and worth 5 D-G grades

• Higher –Level 2 - taken alongside GCSEs , and worth 7 A8 – C grades

• Advanced – Level 3 - taken alongside AS and A2s, and worth 3.4 A levels.
  
  

There is also a Progression Diploma Level 3 - for people who don’t want to do the full Advanced Diploma.

NVQs Level 1 - 3

National Vocational Qualifications are offered at similar levels to GCSEs and AS A2s, but are most commonly offered as work-based qualifications. So if you enter an Apprenticeship you’ll take a NVQ in a relevant work subject at Level 2 or 3.

Degrees, Foundation Degrees and HNDs Level 4 - 6

These are qualifications that you could expect to study at a university or college of higher education if you do well in your A2s or NVQs. You could study for a Honours degree (BA, BSc etc) (Level 6). People who get a very good Honours degree then might progress to further study or research leading to Level 7 or 8 qualifications.