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A levels pros and cons

What are the pros and cons of A levels?

Pros:
- Provide a strong continuation from lower education (e.g. GCSEs), and so are useful for exploring what subjects you really enjoy.
- The ability to pick several subjects is really useful to explore pathways (as mentioned) and provide a lot of future pathways: e.g., having Maths, English Lit. and Biology would mean you could continue (with most unis) any of the subjects as a degree. Hence, if you're not sure what you want to do in the future, A-levels give you a bit more time.
- A-level providers such as sixth forms often provide help for things like uni applications, CVs, etc. That can make it easier to deal with future options.

Cons:
- A-levels don't give you any work experience. Everything is purely academical. While you can do work experience, it's often not much, so compared to something like an Apprenticeship it does lack that.
- A-levels are not for all: due to the academic nature of A-levels (especially those without coursework, for those who dislike exams) many find them too stressful, and just not worth it. Sometimes something like an apprenticeship is better, because despite still having assessments it's a lot more 'hands on'.

Sidenotes: apprenticeships or such also give a salary, which many want - though nothing's to stop an A-level student getting a part time job, they can be hard to manage. Some, however, also comment on how apprenticeships can be hard to balance, though providing a good foundation for the world of work. It's also worth noting that A-level alternatives such as apprenticeships can lock you into a career path, at least at the start - it's hard to leave when you're in, as the only other option at that time would probably be A-levels still, which can be hard to adjust too. While it's definitely possible to change career paths, it might be stressful - e.g. having to do A-levels or get new certification.

Those are just my thoughts on the pros and cons, especially as opposed to apprenticeships (which are the most common alternative). That's also assuming that A-levels is in the colloquial sense, including Level 3 BTECS. Hope that helps! Hopefully others will also give their views. Best of luck :biggrin: