A-Levels vs T-Levels After GCSE: What Parents Need to Know

Both A-levels and T-levels are Level 3 qualifications studied after GCSE, but they lead to very different destinations. A-levels are the traditional academic route — flexible, university-focused, and subject-specific. T-levels are newer technical programmes that combine classroom learning with a substantial industry placement, designed for students who have a clearer vocational direction.

What are A-levels and how do they work?

A-levels (Advanced Levels) are academic qualifications at Level 3 on the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF). Students typically study three subjects over two years (Years 12 and 13) at sixth form or college. Following reforms introduced between 2015 and 2017, A-levels are now assessed almost entirely at the end of Year 13 in a series of written exams — the older modular system, where students sat units across the two years, has been replaced by this linear approach for most subjects.

Grades run from A* at the top down through A, B, C, D, and E, with U (ungraded) for those who do not meet the minimum standard. A-levels are the primary qualification for entry to UK universities, and most university offers are expressed in A-level grades or UCAS points.

Entry requirements vary by school or college, but the typical minimum is five GCSEs at grade 4 or above, usually including English and maths. Individual subjects may also have specific GCSE grade requirements — mathematics A-level, for example, commonly requires a grade 6 or 7 at GCSE.

What are T-levels and how do they work?

T-levels (Technical Levels) are technical qualifications also at Level 3 on the RQF, introduced from 2020 with new subject areas added in subsequent years. The government's intention is that a T-level should be equivalent in size and rigour to three A-levels, making it a substantial two-year commitment.

The defining feature of T-levels is their structure: 80 per cent of the programme is classroom-based learning — covering both core theory and occupational specialism — while 20 per cent consists of a mandatory industry placement of at least 45 days (roughly nine weeks) with an employer in the relevant sector. This placement is not optional or bolt-on; it is a formal assessed component of the qualification.

T-levels are graded on a scale of Pass, Merit, Distinction, and Distinction*, with the overall grade combining the core component result and the occupational specialism result. The industry placement itself is assessed as a pass or fail rather than contributing to the letter grade.

Entry requirements mirror A-levels: typically five GCSEs at grade 4 or above, including English and maths. The T-level programme area chosen must align with the student's intended vocational direction, because unlike A-levels — where a student picks three largely independent subjects — a T-level is a single, integrated programme in one technical field.

How do A-levels and T-levels compare?

Feature | A-levels | T-levels
Level on RQF | Level 3 | Level 3
Duration | 2 years (Years 12–13) | 2 years
Structure | 3 separate subjects | 1 integrated technical programme
Assessment | Exams at end of Year 13 (linear) | Exams + industry placement (45 days minimum)
Grading | A*–E per subject | Distinction* / Distinction / Merit / Pass
Primary destination | University | Skilled employment, apprenticeships, some university
Subject flexibility | High — wide range of combinations | Lower — one vocational area per programme
Entry requirement | Typically 5 GCSEs grade 4+, English + maths | Typically 5 GCSEs grade 4+, English + maths
UCAS points (top grade) | A* = 56 pts | Distinction* = 168 pts
Introduced | Long-established | From 2020 onwards

How do UCAS points compare between A-levels and T-levels?

Both qualifications generate UCAS points, which universities use as part of their admissions process. The points scales look very different because the qualifications are structured differently — a T-level is a single large programme, while three A-levels generate points from three separate grades.

For A-levels, the UCAS tariff (per subject) is: A* = 56 points, A = 48, B = 40, C = 32, D = 24, E = 16. A student with AAA at A-level accumulates 144 UCAS points.

For T-levels, the tariff (for the whole qualification) is: Distinction* = 168 points, Distinction = 144, Merit = 120, Pass (with C or above in the core) = 96. A T-level Distinction therefore matches AAA at A-level on the UCAS tariff.

However, UCAS points are not the whole story for university admissions. Many universities specify A-levels by subject — a medical school requiring Chemistry A-level will not typically accept a Health T-level as an equivalent, even if the UCAS points match. Parents should research specific degree entry requirements before assuming equivalence.

Which T-level subject areas are currently available?

T-levels have been rolled out gradually since 2020. Subject areas now available or in development include Education and Early Years, Digital Production Design and Development, Construction Design Surveying and Planning, Health (Clinical Healthcare Science), Engineering and Manufacturing, Business and Administration, Legal Services, and Media Broadcast and Production, among others. Not all schools and colleges offer all routes — availability depends on the institution and, for the industry placement, on local employer partnerships.

Parents should check directly with their child's intended sixth form or college to confirm which T-level routes they offer and whether appropriate industry placements are in place. A T-level on paper is only as good as the employer placement behind it.

Which is better — A-levels or T-levels?

Neither is universally better. The right choice depends on the student's strengths, interests, and intended destination after Year 13.

A-levels suit students who are academically inclined, want to keep their options open across a range of university courses, or have not yet settled on a vocational direction. Three A-levels offer flexibility: a student can change their mind about which degree to pursue more easily than a student locked into one T-level vocational area.

T-levels suit students who have a clear interest in a specific technical or vocational field, learn well through applied and practical experience, and are drawn towards skilled employment, an apprenticeship, or a vocational degree. The 45-day industry placement is genuinely valuable — it is real-world experience at 16–17, not work experience in the traditional sense. But it requires both the student and the college to commit to an employer relationship, and it may be harder to secure in some sectors or regions.

Frequently asked questions

Do universities accept T-levels for degree entry?

Many universities now accept T-levels, and UCAS points from a T-level Distinction* (168 points) match AAA at A-level on the tariff. However, acceptance is not universal — particularly for competitive or professionally regulated courses such as medicine, law, or veterinary science, which often specify A-level subjects. Parents should check the specific entry requirements of the degree courses their child is considering rather than assuming T-level UCAS points will be accepted everywhere.

Can a student do a mix of A-levels and a T-level?

T-levels are designed as standalone two-year programmes and are not typically combined with A-levels at the same time — the workload and structure of a T-level, including the mandatory industry placement, make it equivalent in demand to three A-levels. Some sixth forms and colleges may allow students to supplement a T-level with an AS-level or EPQ, but this varies by institution. Parents should ask their college directly about flexibility.

What happens if the industry placement falls through?

The 45-day industry placement is a required part of the T-level and must be completed for the qualification to be awarded. If a placement falls through, the college is responsible for securing an alternative. This is one reason it is worth asking a college, before enrolment, how established their employer partnerships are in the relevant T-level route — a well-run college will have a bank of placement providers for each programme.

Is a T-level the same as a BTEC?

No. T-levels are a different qualification to BTECs (Business and Technology Education Council qualifications), although both are vocational and at Level 3. BTECs have been available for decades and come in a range of sizes from single units to Extended Diplomas; they are primarily assessed through coursework and internally assessed units. T-levels are newer, government-designed qualifications with a standardised national structure, end-point exams, and the mandatory 45-day industry placement. Some colleges have replaced or are phasing out certain BTEC routes in favour of T-levels; others continue to offer both.

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