Qualifications

There are so many kinds of qualifications out there, and they do change. Here’s a short description of some of the most popular ones.    

A-levels, AS-levels, A2 and Applied A-levels. 

  • Usually you need at least 4 or 5 GCSE passes at grades A*-C to start these.
  • A-levels are two year courses.  In year one you takeAS-levels. You can expect to take up to 5 subjects.  If you only want to study for one year, you can leave at the end of it with ASsome qualifications.  You can expect to take up to 5 subjects.  Each subject is worth three units.  Usually you need at least 4 or 5 GCSE passes at grades A-C to start this course.
  • If you want to continue with the subjects in the second year, known as A2, this will lead to a fullA-level. A full A-level is worth 6 units (3 units from the AS in year 1 and 3 units from A2). You can expect to take three subjects in year 2. 
  • You can take individual subjects like history, physics, and psychology. You can also take vocational subjects like engineering, travel and tourism. These used to be calledvocational A-levels. They are now sometimes called Applied A-levels orsimply A-levels. You can take some vocational subjects as a double award. This is worth two A-levels or 12 units.
  • A small number of students may have the chance to take Advanced Extension Awards.

BTEC

These are general vocational qualifications but are more closely linked to work than A-levels in vocational subjects. You study for a BTEC in a work area like business studies or art and design, not an individual subject like history or maths. They are available at different levelssizes.  For example, certificate courses cover less than diploma courses.: They are also available at different levels:

BTEC Introductory Certificate and Diploma are one year courses aimed at those with few or no qualifications.  

BTEC First is also a one year course for those with GCSE grades C-D. 

BTEC National is a two year course for those with 4–5 GCSE passes at grades A*-C. The BTEC National Diploma is worth 18 units and is equivalent to 3 A-levels.

Entry level qualifications

These are often taken by young people who have literacy or learning difficulties. They cover basic knowledge and skills.  They are available at 3 levels: entry level 1, 2 and 3.

GCSEs

Usually you study for these in school in years 10 and 11. It may be possible to re-sit or take additional ones in the sixth form or at college to improve your grades.

Vocational GCSEs are now available in 8 subjects.  They cover a particular area of work, like health and social care, rather than individual subjects.  They are available as single or double awards. A double award is worth two GCSEs.

GNVQs

These qualifications are disappearing.  You may still be able to do a GNVQ Foundation or a GNVQ Intermediate.  Both are one year vocational courses.  You do not need any qualifications to take the Foundation course.  Usually you need mid-grade GCSEs to start the Intermediate course. 

Key Skills

These courses are designed to give you the important skills you need for the future. These are communication, application of number, information technology, problem solving, working with others and improving own learning and performance.  You usually take these along with other qualifications. 

National Vocational Qualifications or NVQs

These are nationally recognised qualifications and are available at different levels: NVQ 1, NVQ 2, NVQ 3 and so on. They measure your ability to do a job by assessing the skills, knowledge and understanding you need for a particular job.  Usually you would do them through work or an Apprenticeship but it is possible to take some NVQs on a full-time basis.

OCR Nationals

These are vocational courses available at three levelsand in different sizes.:

LOCR level 1 – no exam passes needed to start at this level.
OCR lLevel 2 – usually need mid-grade GCSEs or a level 1 qualification for entry.
OCR lLevel 3 – usually you need high GCSE passes or a level 2 qualification for entry.

Specialised Diploma

This is a new qualification that will startin 2008. It will give the chance to practise real skills and get knowledge and understanding of a particular area of work. 

Exam boards

Qualifications are set by a number of organisations, known as awarding bodies or exam boards.  So you might see the name of the awarding body in the title of the qualification.  Forexample,For exampleSuch as,Edexcel, OCR,and , AQA, ABC, WJEC, City & Guilds.

Higher Education

Honours degree

  • An honours degree course usually takes 3 years. Some, like medicine, foreign languages and courses with a work placement take longer.
  • Most are full-time but many can be taken on a part-time basis. 
  • A degree is often subject based (history, politics) but some (like dentistry) are vocational -they relate to particular areas of work. (dentistry).You can study one subject or combine subjects.

Higher National Diploma or Certificate (HND/HNC)

  • A HND or HNC usually take 2 years, but may take three if you do a work placement.
  • You can decide to go onto a degree course afterwards; this can take another one or two years.
  • HNDs/HNCs are work related courses. You study a work area such as business studies not an individual subject like maths.

Foundation degree

  • This is an employment-related qualifications designed together with employers to give students the skills, experience and specialist technical knowledge employers need.
  • It takes two years if you do it full-time. 
  • You can turn it into an honours degree with a further year of full-time study.
  • There are over 70 foundation degree courses in subjects like design and technology and e-systems.

Diploma in Higher Education

  • This two-year course is similar to a degree but covers less. Some people do an extra year to get a degree.
  • Sometimes it is combined with professional/vocational courses.  For example, nursing.