Cambridge A-Level

Is this programme internationally recognised?

The Cambridge A Levels has been recognised as the gold standard university preparatory programme which allows students entry into any top university in the world. The rigour of the curriculum prepares a student to face the challenges of any intended course and is a benchmark for entrance into universities worldwide.

What types of assessments are included in the programme?

The programme conducts both formative and summative based assessments.

Formative assessments provide important feedback on academic progress to both the teacher and student. The formative assessments will include quizzes, assignments, learning tasks, learning logs, presentations, research projects and surveys based on the requirement of specific subjects. This is carried out throughout the learning period.

Summative assessments are evaluations of learning achievement. The summative assessments include class tests and trial examinations.

Are class tests important?

A class test as part of the summative assessment mode provides evidence of your current capabilities and is a yardstick to your potential in the final examinations. Students should treat it as a preparation platform to meet the actual needs of the examination and expectation of universities. Class tests do not add into the final results and do not affect the final examination. However they help students to know where they stand as their class test performance is an indicator to their performance in the final exam.

Is a lab component required for each science subject? How many hours per week?

Yes, lab sessions are compulsory for all the 3 sciences. The sessions are scheduled into the AS timetable at 2 hours/week/subject.

How are students streamed?

At this level, students are streamed based on their subject choices and not their academic results. Our A Level students will find the diversity in their subject groupings an advantage in terms of the learning process.

When is the A Level examination?

A Level examination is conducted 2 times a year by Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) and the examination series are in May/June and Oct/Nov each year.

Students are required to register for the examinations and this exercise is done in January and July each year for the respective examination periods. Students are required to complete an online registration form with their personal and academic details at the BAC website. Further information can be obtained from the programme coordinator.

What is the structure of the examination and how are the students graded?

The A Levels examination is 100% externally assessed by University of Cambridge and is carried out in a 2 stage assessment model namely AS Level and A2 Level. Students have options of attempting AS & A2 in separate examination sittings or within the same sitting.

Each level carries 50% of the grade allocation. (AS + A2 = A Levels : 50% + 50% = 100%).

What is the number of subjects required for entry into tertiary education?

Entry into most BAC UK Transfer programmes would require a minimum of 2 A Level passes. Students would be eligible to choose progression pathways from a wide range of partner universities affiliated to BAC. Progression pathways are as below:

• 1 + 2 / 2 + 1 option via UK Transfer programmes which include Law, Business & IT
• 3 + 0 option with the University of London for Law

Entry into any other external university programme would require a minimum of 3 A Level passes.

Do I have to take Law in A Levels if I want to do a Law degree? And do I have to take Economics in A Levels if I want to do an Economics degree?

No, you do not have to. You can take any other subjects not related to the degree.

The only time you will have to have a related subject is if you want to pursue Medicine or any Bioscience related field where you have to take 2 Science subjects plus Biology; and for Engineering you must take Physics and Maths and one other science subject.