Lift College
020 4652 5904Start 7-day free trialFree trial0

AS Level vs A Level: Differences, Length and University Entry

AS level vs A level explained: how long each takes, how they are graded, how they differ across the UK, and whether universities accept AS levels.

Start 7-day free trialRequest a call back
Updated 10 min read

Knowledge hub

An AS level is a one-year qualification worth roughly half an A level. An A level is a two-year qualification that goes into more depth and is the standard requirement for university entry. Both sit at Level 3, but in England an AS no longer counts towards the A level grade, so the two are separate qualifications. This guide explains how they differ, how long each takes, how the rules change between England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and what universities actually accept.

TL;DR

  • AS and A levels are both Level 3. An AS is studied over one year and an A level over two, so the A level covers the subject in more depth.
  • In England, the AS is a standalone qualification and its result does not count towards the A level. In Wales and Northern Ireland, the AS contributes 40% of the full A level.
  • Universities set their own policies. Many ask for full A levels, and some courses mention AS levels, so check each course page before you apply.
  • Adults can study A levels online and part-time without going back to school or college, then sit exams at an approved centre.

Table of Contents

What is the difference between AS and A level?

The main difference is size and depth. GOV.UK lists both AS levels and A levels at Level 3, and explains that AS levels are studied over one year and A levels over two, so you learn more about the subject at A level.

The UK qualification regulators state that the content of an AS is approximately half the content of a full A level. They also note that the relationship between the two differs between England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

In practice that means:

What “A2” means is worth clearing up, because it appears in many older guides. A2 was the name for the second year of a full A level, back when the AS was the first year. In England that structure has ended, so A2 is no longer used as a separate stage there.

How long do AS levels and A levels take?

An AS level is studied over one year and an A level over two years. GOV.UK’s reform guidance adds that in England assessment typically takes place after one year for AS and after two years for A level, with the exams at the end of the course. Pearson, an awarding organisation, confirms the same timings.

Those timings describe a full-time school or college timetable. If you are an adult studying around work or family, the calendar looks different, because the time you need depends on how many hours a week you can give the subject and when you plan to sit the exams. Exams in the reformed A levels are taken at the end of the course, so the practical question is which exam series you are aiming for and how far back from it you need to start.

A sensible way to plan:

  1. Choose the exam series you want to sit, and check the entry deadline with your exam centre.
  2. Work backwards to see how many months of study you have.
  3. Divide the specification into topics and set a weekly number of study hours you can keep up.
  4. Book your exam centre early, because private candidates need to find a centre that accepts them.

For more on this route, read our guide to self-studying A levels in the UK, which covers how to avoid being turned away from an exam.

How AS and A levels fit together in England, Wales and Northern Ireland

This is the part many guides skip, and it changes what an AS level is worth to you.

England

In England, reformed AS and A levels are linear. The regulators state that Ofqual-regulated AS qualifications are standalone qualifications and do not contribute to the final A level result, and students taking an English A level do not have to take the corresponding AS.

Ofqual’s explanation of the change says an AS result no longer counts towards the A level. The aim was to support deeper subject understanding and better preparation for degree-level study, rather than treating the AS as the first counted part of the A level.

Wales and Northern Ireland

The picture is different here. The regulators’ statement says that in Wales and Northern Ireland the AS contributes 40% of the full A level. Informed Choices says AS levels there remain available as standalone qualifications worth 40% of a full A level, and that they may be taken alone or as part of an A level.

If you live in Wales or Northern Ireland, confirm with your awarding body which structure applies to the specification you plan to study. Awarding bodies differ, and the regional rules decide whether a first-year result carries into the final grade.

Do universities accept AS levels?

Some do, but the safe assumption is that your offer will be based on full A levels. Informed Choices says that where a university accepts an AS, it is worth 40% of an A level, and that individual universities have their own admissions policies. For England it adds that universities no longer accept two AS levels in place of one A level in their offers.

Course pages show how much this varies. A UCAS listing for a Bangor University modern languages course with a foundation year includes AS levels within its stated qualification requirements. Other courses name A levels only. Kingston University’s accounting and finance listing states an A level offer and says A levels can be combined with other Level 3 qualifications to reach 112 to 128 points.

What to check before you apply:

  • Whether the course accepts AS levels at all, and if so, in what role.
  • The subject requirements, which are often specific for science, maths and health courses.
  • The grades or points requested, and whether other Level 3 qualifications can count.
  • Whether the university considers your individual circumstances. Universities UK describes how universities may consider applicants’ background and circumstances to understand their potential to succeed.

Informed Choices stresses that you must check the individual university’s requirements, particularly when you are considering additional AS subjects. The course page on the UCAS website, or a message to the admissions team, gives you the definitive answer for your chosen course.

Which should you choose?

For most adults aiming at university, the decision is simple: the A level is the qualification that universities most commonly ask for. An AS is a smaller commitment, and it can suit a different purpose.

Choose an A level if

  • Your chosen degree lists A level grades in its entry requirements.
  • You need a subject such as biology or mathematics for a science, health or engineering route.
  • You want the full two-year depth of a subject, and an exam at the end of it.

Consider an AS level if

  • You want a recognised Level 3 qualification in a subject, without committing to the full A level.
  • You are in Wales or Northern Ireland and the AS forms part of the full A level structure you are studying.
  • The university course you are applying to says it accepts AS levels, and you have confirmed how they count.

Consider a different Level 3 route if

  • You left school without A levels and want to reach university in one qualification. An Access to Higher Education Diploma is a Level 3 qualification designed for adults returning to study. Our comparison of Access to HE and A levels for university entry sets the two routes side by side.
  • You are not sure which qualification fits, in which case the qualification comparison tool helps you line up the options.

The qualification you choose is one half of the decision. The other is how you will study it, and whether you can keep going for the time it takes.

Studying A levels as an adult

You do not need to be in a sixth form to take an A level. Adults commonly study at their own pace, for example to retake a grade, to add a subject needed for a degree, or to open a route into university they missed the first time. The usual requirements for sixth forms differ between schools, and one guide to subject choices notes that most schools ask for at least a grade 6 at GCSE in the subject before you take it at A level, though an adult distance learner is not bound by a school’s entry policy. Many universities also look for GCSE English and maths, which our guide to GCSEs for university covers.

When you study independently, three things decide whether you finish:

  1. The specification. Know which awarding body and which subject code you are working to, because exams are set by the board.
  2. Support. Having a named tutor to ask questions of keeps you moving when a topic is difficult.
  3. The exam. You must book a centre that accepts external candidates. Our page on exam boards and recognition explains how this works, and UK exam boards explained covers AQA, Edexcel, OCR and WJEC.

If you want to see where an A level can lead, the A level university progression page sets out the routes. Our UK qualifications glossary defines the terms used in this article.

Studying A levels online with Lift College

Lift College offers fully accredited online qualifications for adult learners, including online A levels for adults. Each course comes with named UK tutor support, and the subscription model has no contracts or credit checks. You can pause or cancel at any time, and a 7-day free trial is available.

Published prices on the qualifications page start at £39.99 per month for A Level Biology and for A Level Mathematics. GCSE Mathematics and GCSE English Language start at £29.99 per month. Monthly and annual plan details are on the pricing page. Awarding-body certification fees are included in the subscription.

Start your 7-day free trial to see the course materials and meet your tutor before you commit to anything.

How to decide in five steps

  1. Find the course. Open the UCAS page for the degree you want and read the entry requirements in full.
  2. Note the subjects and grades. Write down every required subject and the grades or points requested.
  3. Check AS acceptance. If the page does not mention AS levels, email admissions before you rely on one.
  4. Check your gaps. Look at whether you also need GCSE English and maths at a particular grade.
  5. Pick the route and the timeline. Choose between A levels, an Access to HE Diploma or another Level 3 qualification, and work back from the exam date.

A short worked example: you want to study nursing and the course asks for biology at Level 3. You would check whether the course accepts an Access to HE Diploma in nursing, or whether it specifies A level biology. If it names A level biology, an AS alone is unlikely to be what it is looking for, so you would plan the full two-year content, studied at whatever weekly pace suits you.

FAQ

Is an AS level the same as the first year of an A level?

Not in England. Reformed AS levels are standalone, and the result does not count towards the A level. In Wales and Northern Ireland, the AS contributes 40% of the full A level, according to the qualification regulators.

How long does an A level take?

An A level is normally studied over two years, with an AS taking one. Adult learners often set their own timeline, working back from the exam series they want to sit.

Can I get into university with only an AS level?

It depends on the course. Universities set their own policies, and where an AS is accepted it is worth 40% of an A level. Check the course entry requirements on UCAS or ask the admissions team.

Is an AS level harder than a GCSE?

An AS is a Level 3 qualification, and GOV.UK places it at the same level as an A level, which is above GCSE. It builds on GCSE knowledge in greater depth, so most learners find a solid GCSE grounding in the subject helpful first.

Do I need AS levels to take an A level?

No. In England, students taking an A level do not have to take the corresponding AS. You can go straight to the full A level.

Sources

This article was produced with AI assistance and reviewed by the Lift College team. It is provided for general information and does not replace personalised advice. For guidance on your specific situation, contact our learner support team on info@liftcollege.co.uk.

Back to the knowledge hub