84 Replies to “What is Cambridge International AS & A Level?”

  1. Hi, Iam fathima ashfa from Srilanka. I am getting ready to face my AS level examination in the october november series 2019. I have selected to write biology, chemistry, and physics. we do not have any facilities here to do practice for practical test in all three subjects. Do you have any websites which gives useful practical skills that can help in my exams? our school doesn’t have any instruments to carryout the practicals.it will be very useful for all the our children in my class. please consider the above message. waiting for your reply

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    • Hi Fathima,

      Here are some tips for you:
      As with all exams it is essential that you read practical exam papers very carefully. You must follow the instructions on the paper so that you do the correct experiments and record the correct observations. If the question tells you to record results or observations in a certain place you must record them in that place.
      Do not panic if the context of the practical experiment appears unfamiliar. Where appropriate the question paper will tell you exactly what to do and how to do it.
      If you find yourself in real difficulty setting up your practical equipment you may ask your supervisor for help. You will only lose one or two marks for this.

      For Biology , make clear descriptions of colours and colour changes; refer to ‘blue’, ‘orange’ and ‘purple’ when describing reagents used in biochemical tests. You may want to refer to slight differences, so use words like ‘pale’ and ‘dark’. When drawing slides and photographs, read the question carefully, the drawing may have to be an accurate size e.g. twice the original. Observe details carefully, such as the relative number of chloroplasts in different cells and the thickness of cell walls in different cells in a vascular bundle. Show these accurately on your drawing. When presenting your data and observations, use the space provided, do not make the table too small. Write brief, but informative headings for each column and columns headed with physical quantities should have appropriate SI units. Lastly, data should be recorded in the table in the order in which it is collected – this is because the table is prepared before the data collection.

      For Chemistry , make sure you are well practised in handling all of the equations relating to titrations. Being able to convert between cm3 and dm3 is an essential part of this. Make sure you are well practised in the graphical techniques that have been necessary to answer questions on past papers. Get a set of results for each question of this sort and repeat the graphical exercises until your teacher agrees you have them right. Make sure you are well practised in the correct vocabulary for recording observations, e.g. precipitate, slight, dense, soluble, insoluble, excess, gelatinous, and effervescence. If you are asked to record observations do so in as much detail as possible. If a solution is colourless, or a precipitate is white, say so. Don’t just describe it as a “solution” or a “precipitate”. If you have to add one solution to another, looking for observations, add it slowly. You need to notice the difference between an instant or sudden change and a gradual change. If a change is instant or sudden, say so. If a change is gradual, say so. If the change goes through intermediate stages, describe each of these stages.

      For Physics , all the raw readings of a particular quantity should be recorded to the same number of decimal places which should in turn be consistent with the precision of the measuring instrument. When drawing your graph, do not forget to label each axis with the appropriate quantity and unit, using the same format for expressing column headings in a table. Choose a scale such that the plotted points occupy at least half the graph grid in both the x and y directions. The x-axis scale should increase positively to the right and the y-axis scale should increase positively upwards. Use a convenient scale such as 1, 2 or 5 units to a 2 cm square as you will then be less likely to make a mistake with the position of your plotted points and it will be easier for you to read off points from your graph if you are calculating the gradient or finding an intercept. Similarly, it is good practice to mark values on at least every other 2 cm square. Show all your working when calculating a gradient. It is helpful to draw the triangle used to calculate the gradient on the graph and to clearly label the coordinates of the vertices (accurate to half a small square). These values can then be used in the gradient calculation. The length of the hypotenuse of the triangle should be greater than half the length of the graph line.

      Hope this helps.

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  2. How is English AS level carried out? What papers are written for it?

    It would be great if you make a section for subject-wise explanations

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  3. Can I continue with IGCSE A level for my 11th Standard in India.Which are some of the best Cambridge A level colleges in INDIA?

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  4. Greetings IGCSE Team,

    I wanted to know whether International Baccaulerate Diploma Programme is better for foreign universities or AS/A levels. I’ve heard that AS/A levels are good if you want to study in the UK, but IBDP is better for going to other countries. I’m in a huge confusion whether or not to do my A levels or go with IBDP.

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    • Hello,

      A-level and the International Baccalaureate are both eligible qualifications for entry in many foreign universities. Both programmes are considered very carefully on their individual merits and cannot be compared on which is better.

      The success rates for students applying with the IB and students applying with A-levels are broadly similar, and that the choice of qualification (as long as it is an eligible qualification as specified on the university?s website) plays no part whatsoever in the selection criteria for the university?s courses. So, choose the course of study which appeals to you the most, and which you feel will give the best preparation for your future studies.

      But we do suggest that you check with the university you wish to apply to, and get the confirmation on their entry requirements. Specifically which qualification they would accept: A Level or IB.

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  5. i did my AS business and got a E grade but passed and now studing for my A level business but i want to retake the Business AS level ,can i retake at the same time iam taking the A level of the same subject? answer ASAP please

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    • Hi Eyad,

      There are two possible options for you:

      1. Take all the papers in the same examination session at the end of the course
      2. Sit for AS level first and take A2 exams at a subsequent series. Make sure that it is within the 13 month period.

      However, we strongly suggest that you discuss this with your school and your parents.

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        • Hi Eyad,

          Kindly address this matter to your school directly as they are responsible in submitting your entry option. Ask them if you will be entered under the staged assessment route or the full A-level course because these two routes have different option code.

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