Do you think A-levels should be structured differently?

It’s been in the news recently that prime minister Rishi Sunak has proposed a new qualification to replace A-levels.

Apparently, the advanced British standard (ABS) would “take the best” of A-levels and T-levels and bring them together into a “Baccalaureate-style” qualification.

(You can read the full summary over on gov.uk.)

It could take 10 years to introduce these plans, so they probably won't impact your education. But what do you think about them?

Does the education system need to change? And, if so, are these the plans the answer?

I don’t believe the education system needs to change in this way…

There would be too greater impact on schools and universities.

If more subjects were taken (I.e. compulsory English and Maths) alongside chosen subjects, there would be less depth taught of other subjects. Universities would have to change their entry requirements, course structure and content, and the first year of university would simply being going into more depth than at A-level (the depth and breadth that would’ve previously been gone into at A-level).

Moreover, I believe that compulsory English and Maths until 18 is discriminating. Some people are extraordinarily good at Maths/Science and really struggle with English subjects, and vice versa. A-levels are for excelling in what you are good at, not continuing with subjects at a higher level that you struggle with.

I think it would be a major mistake for them to invest in this change, when there are so many current issues that need to be tackled; lack of teaching staff, RAAC…the list goes on. This change would require more teachers, and teachers themselves working more hours, which would also cause significant issues. I have no idea why this is top of their priorities.

However I do believe changes should be made in examinations. I believe that more non-exam assessment should be introduced, and students given the choice to complete coursework or exams instead of solely just exams. It is ridiculous that (for my History A-level) coursework only made up 20% of my grade. Exams are simply a memory test under stressful conditions. I’ve seen people on the TSR simply memorising Psychology essays and blurting them in the exam and receiving high grades, how does this demonstrate skill or understanding at any level?

How are students meant to perform to the best of their abilities in an exam environment? Obviously some people flourish under this pressure, some like me find ways of dealing with the stress, yet others simply cannot cope with it.

Comprehensively, they are looking at change in the wrong area/s!

Yeah you've made some great points there - I agree

imo its great for people to be able to choose, some will do better with the IB style some with A levels, no reason to change A levels to be like IB when IB already exists, rather if government wants to support IB takers more, they should invest into more schools implementing IB as an option.

Only thing I would change is all of the exams being at the end of the two years. Almost no unis structure exams like this so why are A-Levels? Have multiple modules in each subject with exams at set points throughout the year. Could also base uni offers on them rather than the predicted grades we have now.

I don’t believe the education system needs to change in this way…

There would be too greater impact on schools and universities.

If more subjects were taken (I.e. compulsory English and Maths) alongside chosen subjects, there would be less depth taught of other subjects. Universities would have to change their entry requirements, course structure and content, and the first year of university would simply being going into more depth than at A-level (the depth and breadth that would’ve previously been gone into at A-level).

Moreover, I believe that compulsory English and Maths until 18 is discriminating. Some people are extraordinarily good at Maths/Science and really struggle with English subjects, and vice versa. A-levels are for excelling in what you are good at, not continuing with subjects at a higher level that you struggle with.

I think it would be a major mistake for them to invest in this change, when there are so many current issues that need to be tackled; lack of teaching staff, RAAC…the list goes on. This change would require more teachers, and teachers themselves working more hours, which would also cause significant issues. I have no idea why this is top of their priorities.

However I do believe changes should be made in examinations. I believe that more non-exam assessment should be introduced, and students given the choice to complete coursework or exams instead of solely just exams. It is ridiculous that (for my History A-level) coursework only made up 20% of my grade. Exams are simply a memory test under stressful conditions. I’ve seen people on the TSR simply memorising Psychology essays and blurting them in the exam and receiving high grades, how does this demonstrate skill or understanding at any level?

How are students meant to perform to the best of their abilities in an exam environment? Obviously some people flourish under this pressure, some like me find ways of dealing with the stress, yet others simply cannot cope with it.

Comprehensively, they are looking at change in the wrong area/s!

Only thing I would change is all of the exams being at the end of the two years. Almost no unis structure exams like this so why are A-Levels? Have multiple modules in each subject with exams at set points throughout the year. Could also base uni offers on them rather than the predicted grades we have now.

It’s been in the news recently that prime minister Rishi Sunak has proposed a new qualification to replace A-levels.

Apparently, the advanced British standard (ABS) would “take the best” of A-levels and T-levels and bring them together into a “Baccalaureate-style” qualification.

(You can read the full summary over on gov.uk.)

It could take 10 years to introduce these plans, so they probably won't impact your education. But what do you think about them?

Does the education system need to change? And, if so, are these the plans the answer?