What Is Sixth Form and What Are A-Levels? A Parent's Guide

Sixth form is the two-year period of study — Years 12 and 13, typically ages 16 to 18 — that follows GCSEs. Most pupils study three or four A-Levels, which are Level 3 qualifications recognised by every UK university as the primary route into undergraduate degree courses.

What exactly is sixth form?

"Sixth form" is the traditional name for post-16 education at secondary level. It can be delivered in three different settings:

School sixth form: attached to an existing secondary school, often on the same site. Pupils stay in a familiar environment.

Sixth form college: a standalone institution dedicated entirely to 16–18 education, typically offering a wider subject range than a single-school sixth form.

Further education (FE) college: provides A-Levels alongside vocational courses such as T-Levels and BTECs, often with greater flexibility for pupils who want to mix qualifications.

In England, education or training is compulsory until age 18. Sixth form is the most academic route, but it is one of several options — apprenticeships and T-Levels are equally valid alternatives.

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland note: Scotland uses Highers and Advanced Highers instead of A-Levels. Wales and Northern Ireland follow broadly similar A-Level systems to England but with their own nuances.

What are A-Levels?

A-Levels (Advanced Level qualifications) are two-year subject-specific qualifications graded A*–E. They sit at Level 3 on the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF), the same level as T-Levels and BTEC Nationals. A-Levels are assessed mainly by final examinations at the end of Year 13, with some subjects including coursework or practical assessments.

Most pupils study three or four subjects. Three is the norm for university entry; a fourth is optional and can strengthen applications to competitive courses. There is no fixed national list of A-Level subjects, but common offerings include:

Subject area | Typical A-Level examples
Sciences | Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Psychology, Computer Science
Maths | Mathematics, Further Mathematics
Humanities | History, Geography, Philosophy, Sociology
Languages | English Literature, French, Spanish, German
Creative & vocational | Art & Design, Drama, Music, Film Studies
Social sciences | Economics, Business Studies, Law

Universities specify required subjects for competitive courses — Medicine typically requires Chemistry plus Biology or Maths; Engineering favours Maths and Physics. It is worth checking entry requirements at UCAS before finalising subject choices.

How is sixth form different from GCSEs?

GCSEs cover a broad range of eight to ten subjects assessed in Year 11. A-Levels are far more focused and go into much greater depth. The jump in difficulty is significant: pupils move from receiving a broad base of knowledge to reading academic-style texts, constructing extended arguments and working independently.

Feature | GCSE | A-Level
Number of subjects | 8–10 | Usually 3–4
Years of study | 2 (Years 10–11) | 2 (Years 12–13)
Grading | 9–1 | A*–E
Assessment | Mix of exams and coursework | Mainly final exams (some coursework)
Level (RQF) | Level 2 | Level 3
Main purpose | Compulsory education completion | University or higher apprenticeship entry

What are the entry requirements for sixth form?

Sixth forms set their own entry requirements, but most expect a minimum of five GCSEs at grade 4 or above, including English Language and Mathematics. Specific A-Level subjects often require a grade 6 or 7 in the related GCSE — for example, a pupil wanting to study A-Level Chemistry typically needs at least a grade 6 in GCSE Chemistry or Combined Science.

Entry requirements vary between providers:

Oversubscribed sixth forms (common in popular school sixth forms) may ask for higher overall GCSE profiles, sometimes grade 6 or above across the board.

FE colleges tend to have slightly lower entry thresholds and more flexibility for pupils who did not achieve their target grades.

Your child's current school will usually guide them through sixth form applications in autumn of Year 11, alongside the GCSE year itself.

How do A-Level grades translate to university entry?

UCAS converts A-Level grades into UCAS Tariff Points, which universities use to set conditional offers. The tariff for individual grades is:

A-Level grade | UCAS Tariff Points
A* | 56
A | 48
B | 40
C | 32
D | 24
E | 16

A typical conditional offer for a competitive university course might ask for AAB (136 points across three subjects). Russell Group universities and medicine/law/dentistry programmes routinely require AAA or above. Less selective universities and many excellent courses accept BBB or below — UCAS search tools allow families to explore entry requirements by course and institution.

How long does sixth form take and what happens at the end?

Sixth form is two full academic years. In Year 12, pupils study four subjects to AS-Level standard (AS-Levels are rarely taken as standalone qualifications now but the Year 12 programme still broadly follows their content). Most then drop to three subjects for the full A-Level in Year 13.

Final A-Level examinations are sat in May and June of Year 13. Results are published in mid-August. Pupils simultaneously receive their university offer decisions through UCAS on the same day (A-Level Results Day), confirming their chosen university place — or entering Clearing if they wish to change.

Can pupils resit A-Levels?

Yes. A-Level exams can be resit in the following January (limited to some exam boards and subjects) or the following summer. Many pupils who narrowly miss an offer choose to resit one paper or take a gap year to improve their grades. Universities generally accept resit results, though some competitive courses prefer first-sitting grades — it is worth checking individual university policies via UCAS.

Frequently asked questions

How many A-Levels do you need for university?

Most universities require three A-Levels for entry. A fourth is optional. Oxbridge and a handful of competitive courses may look favourably on four subjects, but for the majority of degrees, three strong A-Levels at the right grades matter more than the number of subjects studied.

Can my child change A-Level subjects after starting Year 12?

Yes, usually within the first few weeks of Year 12. Most sixth forms allow pupils to swap subjects during an initial settling-in period — typically two to four weeks. After that point, catching up becomes increasingly difficult. Encourage your child to attend taster lessons in September and speak to subject teachers early if something feels wrong.

What if my child does not get the grades required for sixth form entry?

A grade just below the threshold is often negotiable, particularly at the pupil's own school where teachers know them well. FE colleges also provide A-Level programmes with lower entry thresholds. Alternatively, a vocational route — T-Levels, BTECs, or an apprenticeship — can lead to degree-level study via different pathways.

Do all sixth forms offer the same subjects?

No. School sixth forms at smaller secondary schools may offer only 15–25 A-Level subjects. Sixth form colleges and FE colleges typically offer 30 to 50 or more. If your child has a specific subject combination in mind — for example, Further Maths alongside Music Technology — it is worth checking the prospectus of multiple providers before applying.

AI Tutors provides Socratic tutoring support throughout Years 10–13 to help pupils build the independent thinking skills A-Levels reward — find out more at aitutors.me.