A-Levels
General Certificate of Education Advanced Level
The gold-standard UK pre-university qualification. Most universities require three A-Levels; competitive programs require A*A*A or higher. Subject combinations matter — for medicine, Chemistry plus Biology is standard. Cambridge International A-Levels are widely accepted globally.
Last updated
Frequency
May–June each year (resits in Oct–Nov)
Duration
Varies per subject
Format
Offline
Score range
A*–E per subject
Eligibility
Typically Year 12–13 students (UK) or equivalent international Year 12–13
Conducting body
AQA, Edexcel, OCR, CIE (various exam boards)
Source: AQA, Edexcel, OCR, CIE (various exam boards). Details here are for guidance only — fees, dates and eligibility change each cycle, so confirm on the official site before applying.
Verified against: GOV.UK — Qualification levels.
Last verified: 14 June 2026.
Universities that accept A-Levels
University of Oxford
University of Cambridge
Imperial College London
University College London
London School of Economics and Political Science
University of Edinburgh
University of Manchester
King's College London
University of Warwick
University of St Andrews
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