What is the difference between O levels and N Levels?

What is the difference between GCSE’s and A Levels?

• What way does the UK education system work? What is the difference between GCSE’s and A Levels? What age are each done at? What Level? How does the UK Secondary system work? How ...show more

• Answer:

  Children usually enter primary school aged 4/5 and stay there until the age of 11 when they sit their SAT's Key Stage 2 in English, Maths and Science. At 11 they go to comprehensive school where they study a range of subjects and sit their SAT's Key Stage 3 (a level up from their 11-year old ones) at the age of 14. At the age of 14 they also decide on some subjects to study for their GCSE's which they will sit at age 16. Compulsory subjects are : English Lan and Lit, Maths, Science, a language (in Wales they have to study Welsh even if they don't sit the exam and so do not have to take another language) and they also choose some more subjects (usually a total of 9-11 incl. compulsory subjects) from whatever the school offers. This usually includes things like History, Religious Studies, I.T , more complicated science courses etc... but can also include vocational qualifications (GNVQ's) in things like Cookery, Hairdressing etc... It all depends on what the school offers and what facilities it has. After sitting their GCSE's at age 16 the child can choose to leave school or continue studying for A-levels. A-levels are studied up until the age of 18. Typically a child will choose four subjects (none are compulsory and again the subjects offered depend on the schools resources). At the age of 17 the child will sit exams in each of the subjects and attain an A/s level qualification. This amounts to half an A-level but is a recognised qualification. Usually the child is encouraged to drop one subject for their final year so will only carry three onto A-level which they sit at age 18. During these two years they can also study Key Skills in thngs like Communication, I.T. etc... These help the student as if they don't have an I.T. qualification but do have good computer knowledge they can apply to sit one of these and then this proves to a later employer that they have the ability to use different systems (Key Skills are awarded on different levels depending on how well you can apply the subject). During the last year of school pupils will apply to university if they wish, and if they get accepted they can then take a gap year or start university immediately after the summer they have sat their A-levels. Obviously each stage gets harder and harder. At GCSE level the exam papers will be a mixture of essays and shorter questions whereas in A-level there would need to be a lot more prior research and generally the exams are solely essay based. During both stages however there is also coursework set which contributes, along with the exam results, to the total grade.