A Level is the traditional route into higher education in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. A Levels are not compulsory, as students have the option of leaving school when they are 16. A levels are studied over two years and are taken by students aged between 16 and 18. A Level English is usually a prerequisite for universities in the United Kingdom. Most students study for three or four A-Level subjects, as universities require applicants to have at least three A Levels. A Levels are graded from A to G. A Level English involves a combination of coursework and written exams.
A Level in English Language and Literature is studied in two stages. Students first take what is known as AS level exams, which prepare them for the A Level exams. Students who do AS Level English do not have to do A Level English, as AS English is recognized as a qualification in its own right.
A Level English is designed to help students enjoy English literature through reading to encourage them to think critically, independently and to form their own impressions and conclusions about a text. According to the UK government's Education and Curriculum Authority, it enables students to explore the relationships between texts and the significance of cultural influences on readers and writers.
Students must understand a combination of traditional and contemporary texts. Shakespeare is compulsory but books by contemporary writers such as Zadie Smith are increasingly being introduced into the syllabus.
A good grade in A Level English is valued by universities and prospective employers because it demonstrates that a student can communicate effectively, think critically, and understand and evaluate text. A Level English is sometimes taken by mature students who want to enter higher education, particularly for a humanities subject and, along with other A Level subjects, can be taken at further-education colleges in the UK.