Moving On To College

 

College websites can give you a valuable insight into what subjects and grades you need to be achieving. The prospectuses from colleges should be used as the definitive guide to their requirements.  However, as a rough guide:

• to study 3 A levels, you will need to have 6 GCSEs at grade 4 including English and Maths. Some colleges require more.
• whilst most students study 3 A levels, it is possible to study 4 A levels. Check the college websites for requirements especially if choosing double Maths.
• to study the International Baccalaureate you will need at least 7 GCSEs at Grade 6 or above including English, Maths and Science.
• to study a vocational level 3 course, you will need 5 GCSEs at grade 4 or equivalent including English or Maths depending on the college.
• to study a vocational level 2 course, you will need 5 GCSEs at grade 3 or equivalent including English depending on the college.

Some courses will require specific grades at GCSE. You need to check this information yourself. The following is just a guide based on requirements that colleges have given in the past for A levels.

Any Art A Level	Minimum requirement of a 5 or 4 at GCSE Art (Dependent on college).
Any Science A Level	Two Grade 6 GCSEs in Science, including the Science selected (e.g. Physics for Physics A level) or Combined Science plus Grade 5 in Maths and English.
Any Language A Level	At least a 6 achieved at GCSE in the chosen language and 4 in English Language.
Maths	Grade 6 GCSE in Maths (and 4 in English for BHASVIC).
Double Maths (Maths and Further Maths)	Grade 7 GCSE in Maths (and 4 in English for BHASVIC).
Computer Science	Grade 6 in Maths GCSE.
Music	Grade 6 or above in Music GCSE or Grade 5 instrumental exam.

 

For many other A Level courses, a GCSE in the same subject is NOT a requirement. E.g. Business, Drama, Psychology, Sociology. However, if you have taken the GCSE, a specific grade may be required.