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International A Level courses online

An International A Level (often called an IAL) is the Pearson Edexcel A Level sat in international schools worldwide, graded A* to E and accepted by UK universities. It is modular: six unit exams you can sit in any order across January, June and October series, with any unit resat.

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International A Levels
4courses, from £49.99 a month
  • 7 days free, nothing charged until day 8
  • A named UK tutor from day one
  • Cancel in two clicks, 14-day refund
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Awarded by
AQA logo
Pearson Edexcel logo
WJEC Eduqas logo
Cambridge International logo
TQUK logo
CMI logo
CPD accreditedAccredited CPD Activity, CPD Standards Office, provider 51289Exams withTutors & ExamsUCAS
In short

International A Level or A Level: what is actually different

Both are graded A* to E and both are accepted by UK universities through UCAS. The differences are in structure, series and how sciences handle practical work.

4 courses · every one starts with 7 days free

Four International A Level subjects

Choose a subject to see the six units, topics and the two ways to pay. Each subject is its own subscription and units can be spread across series.

Level 3Six units, sat in January, June or OctoberPearson Edexcel

International A Level Biology

From£49.99a month
View course
Level 3Six units, sat in January, June or OctoberPearson Edexcel

International A Level Chemistry

From£49.99a month
View course
Level 3Six units, sat in January, June or OctoberPearson Edexcel

International A Level Mathematics

From£49.99a month
View course
Level 3Six units, sat in January, June or OctoberPearson Edexcel

International A Level Physics

From£49.99a month
View course

Guide

Every subject here is examined only, and you sit the papers at a Tutors & Exams centre in England.

How it works

From enrolment to results in four steps

Enrol online in a few minutes. Nothing is charged until day 8 and you can cancel from your account. Learners from 14 enrol with a parent or guardian.

Work through the course at your pace. Practice papers are marked by the same tutor throughout, with written feedback in 5 to 7 working days.

On +Exams, Lift College submits your Pearson Edexcel entry and books your place at the Tutors & Exams centre you choose, before the deadline.

Units are the same Pearson Edexcel International A Level papers sat in schools, in January, June or October. Sit them in any order; the certificate is issued once all six are complete.

A named UK tutor from enrolment to exam day

The same qualified UK subject expert supports you from enrolment through to your exam series.

Exam style tasks with individual written feedback within 5 to 7 working days.

Unit scores and topic strengths on your dashboard, which your tutor uses to tailor feedback.

A timed mock paper and a written summary of what to focus on before you are entered.

Prices

Choose how you want to study

Every subject is its own monthly subscription. Pay annually and save 15%. The 7-day free trial and 14-day money back apply to both.

Study

£59.99a month per subjector £49.99 a month paying today

Full course, named tutor and marked practice.

  • Complete International A Level course
  • Named UK tutor from day one
  • Practice papers marked in 5 to 7 working days
  • Learner dashboard and study planner

+Exams

£139.99a month per subject

Everything in Study plus your exam entry and centre fees, booked and paid for by us. The exact +Exams price for each subject is on its course page.

  • Everything in Study
  • Pearson Edexcel entry fee included
  • Tutors & Exams centre fee included
  • Seat booked and confirmed by email

+Exams covers all six unit entries and centre fees. Annual from £1,427.99.

Awarding bodies and exam centres

Nine centres across England. One partner. Every unit booked for you.

Six unit exams instead of one summer sitting. Lift College and Tutors & Exams handle the entries: you study online with us and sit the same Pearson Edexcel unit papers as any school candidate at a professional centre.

9centres across England sitting International A Level papers
3exam series a year: January, June and October
BirminghamBoltonCoventryHigh WycombeMitchamNewcastleRomfordSt NeotsTaunton

Specialist private-candidate exam centres. Lift College's official exam centre partner. · in-house team for access arrangements · every centre staff member trained and enhanced-DBS checked · Figures and approvals published by Tutors & Exams, tutorsandexams.uk, September 2026. · Entries close in autumn · Entries close in spring · Entries close in summer

Find your nearest centre →

On +Exams · On Study · Kate Strohm, Managing Director, Lift College · Ben Connors, Managing Director, Tutors & Exams

Compare

International A Level or A Level: what is actually different

Both are graded A* to E and both are accepted by UK universities through UCAS. The differences are in structure, series and how sciences handle practical work.

WHAT DIFFERSINTERNATIONAL A LEVEL (PEARSON EDEXCEL)A LEVEL (AQA, AT LIFT COLLEGE)
StructureModular: six units, sat in any order across different series.Linear: all papers sat at the end, in one series.
Exam seriesJanuary, June and October.May and June only.
ResitsResit any single unit; the better of your two most recent attempts counts.×Resit the whole qualification the following summer.
Science practicalsPractical skills examined in two written papers. No laboratory endorsement.CPAC practical endorsement completed at a school laboratory (+Exams & CPAC option).
Who awards itPearson Edexcel.AQA.
UCAS and universitiesAccepted by UK universities; no UCAS Tariff points (international qualification).Accepted by UK universities; carries UCAS Tariff points.
Ofqual registerNot on the register. Sat in international schools worldwide.On the register.
Monthly price at Lift CollegeStudy from £59.99. +Exams from £139.99 for all six units.Study from £59.99. +Exams from £99.99. +Exams & CPAC £129.99 for sciences.

Deciding between the two? Read the guide International A Level vs A Level: which should you choose? or see our A Level courses.

Where it leads

Where International A Levels can take you

RoleAverage salary, starter to experiencedTypical hours a weekWhere it starts at Lift College
Adult nurse£32,000 to £48,00037 to 42International A Levels
Paramedic£32,000 to £48,00037 to 42International A Levels
Software developer£30,000 to £75,00037 to 40International A Levels
Civil engineer£29,000 to £63,00040 to 42International A Levels
Solicitor£30,000 to £80,00037 to 50International A Levels
Private practice accountant£28,000 to £60,00037 to 39International A Levels

These roles usually need a degree or degree apprenticeship after International A Levels. Salaries are the National Careers Service averages, checked on 29 October 2026.

International A Levels vs A Levels

Sources

Who it suits

Who chooses International A Levels

Home educating families

  • Six units spread across three series a year
  • No laboratory endorsement to arrange for the sciences
  • One named tutor who can be the UCAS referee
See home education with Lift College

Adults and career changers

  • An A Level for a university offer or a new career
  • Sit units as you are ready rather than one summer sitting
  • Resit a single unit, not the whole qualification
See how resits work

Learners overseas or returning to the UK

  • The same units sat in international schools worldwide
  • Study from anywhere, sit units in England when you are here
  • Accepted by UK universities through UCAS
Ask an adviser about your situation

Learner reviews

What our learners say

Six of our latest reviews, as posted on Trustpilot.

See all our reviews onTrustpilot
5 out of 5 · Verified

A Level Psychology On Line Course Lift College

I have enrolled on this on line course and the support/response to queries that I have received to date have been timely and effective. The college also provides a learning plan to comlete the course and mock exams, together with helpful reminders of allocated study days (you self select them and they send you a reminder to keep you on track). The modules are clear and easy to understand and a broken down into sections including question and answer sections and model answers and where applicable worked out calculations. There is a need to take notes from the online materials as there are no PDF work books to download. The assigments are completed in a text box and marked accordingly and saved into your records. Once you get used to using the learning portal (which is not too difficult) it is a fairly straightforward learning process. It is worth paying the money for this course and the level of support provided by the college.

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Simon G.A Level Psychology · 11 Nov 2026
5 out of 5 · Verified

Lift College is very flexible

Lift College is very flexible, allowing me to study GCSE Biology while working full time. The course is straightforward and include helpful tips for passing the exams.

LalaineGCSE Biology · 2 Nov 2026
5 out of 5

I have just enrolled with Lift College

I have just enrolled with Lift College today on a free trial. So far so good, I have accessed my course (GCSE Maths) on my platform and everything looks great. Also met my tutor who is very friendly and helpful too. Will update the reviews when I am further down the line.

Read more on Trustpilot
Paul S.GCSE Maths · 2 Sep 2026
5 out of 5

Prompt Assignment Feedback

I have been studying with Lift College for the past month, and so far, my experience has been positive. The team provides excellent support, and assignments are marked with helpful feedback, usually within three working days. This quick turnaround is particularly valuable as it helps me manage my studies alongside my workplace commitments.

Read more on Trustpilot
ChinthakaLift College learner · 11 Nov 2026
5 out of 5 · Verified

Clearly structured and designed for learning

I recently started the CMI Level 5 course through Lift College. I was attracted to this provider due to the clean and modern design of their website. I asked the support staff a few questions before enrolling, and their responses were fast and informative. When I started the course, I was impressed by how well organised the material was and how the lessons were structured. I have taken many online courses before, including postgraduate courses from UK universities. What I expected was a few videos made using a webcam, plus several dozen PDF files that had to be read. However, the materials provided by Lift College are of excellent quality, well designed, and purpose-made. As a teacher myself with 20 years' experience, I recognised clear and deliberate efforts to help students learn more effectively. Lift College isn't just giving you a load of reading material and letting you get on with it. They have designed prompts, revision boxes, spot quizzes, and other features to ensure that learning is actively facilitated.

Read more on Trustpilot
Derek H.CMI Level 5 · 6 Nov 2026
5 out of 5

Excellent customer service

Excellent customer service and the enrolment process was very smooth. Started my course three weeks ago and I’m loving it.

George B.Lift College learner · 6 Nov 2026
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FAQ

International A Levels questions, answered

Straight answers to the 10 questions learners ask us most.

Still deciding?Compare all 4 International A Levels coursesChoose a course
Can I do International A Levels online?
Yes. Every Lift College International A Level is studied 100% online with a named UK tutor. The unit exams are sat in person at a Tutors & Exams centre in England; they cannot be taken at home.
Do UK universities accept International A Levels?
Yes. Pearson Edexcel International A Levels are accepted by UK universities. International A Levels are not included in the UCAS Tariff. Universities set their own entry requirements and usually treat International A Level grades in the same way as A Level grades. Check the entry requirements of the specific course you want.
How is an International A Level different from an A Level?
It is modular. You sit six unit exams in any order across January, June and October series, and can resit any single unit. An A Level is linear, with all papers sat together in one summer series.
Do I need a practical endorsement for the sciences?
No. International A Level Biology, Chemistry and Physics examine practical skills in two written papers. There is no laboratory endorsement to arrange, which is why many home educated and adult learners choose this route.
Are International A Levels on the Ofqual register?
No. They are set, examined and awarded by Pearson Edexcel and sat in international schools worldwide. If a particular university course or employer asks for a qualification on the Ofqual register, choose the A Level version, which Lift College also offers.
How much does an International A Level cost?
Study is from £59.99 a month per subject. +Exams, which includes all six unit entries and the Tutors & Exams centre fees, is from £139.99 a month. Pay annually and save 15%. The first 7 days are free.
When are the exams?
Pearson Edexcel runs International A Level unit exams in January, June and October. You can sit all six units in one series or spread them across several.
From what age can I enrol?
From 14. Under 18s enrol with a parent or guardian's permission and support. Most learners start International A Levels at 16 after GCSEs or International GCSEs.
How long does it take?
Most learners plan for two years, sitting three units in the first year and three in the second, but the modular structure lets you go faster or slower.
Where do I sit the exams?
At one of nine Tutors & Exams centres in England: Birmingham, Bolton, Coventry, High Wycombe, Mitcham, Newcastle, Romford, St Neots and Taunton. On +Exams we book each unit for you.

Explore International A Levels further

Everything about International A Levels, page by page

Every question about International A Levels has its own page: entry, costs, careers, awarding bodies, learner stories and more.

About

What the qualification is, who sets it and how it is recognised

Choose your pathway

Which course or level to start with, by goal

Entry requirements

Age, prior learning and what you need before you enrol

Funding and costs

Monthly and pay-in-full prices, funding routes and refunds

Awarding bodies

Who awards the qualification and how to check it

Comparison

How this qualification compares with the alternatives

Career pathways

Roles, progression and UK salary ranges

FAQ

Every question learners ask before they enrol

Guides for International A Level learners and parents

Who awards it, the six-unit structure, and how it compares to an A Level.

Modular versus linear, series, resits and practicals in one place.

Pearson Edexcel Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics, with prices and exam arrangements.

How the Tariff works and what admissions teams look for.

Which units to sit in which series, and when entries close.

Entry deadlines, centres, access arrangements and resits.

Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

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