One Year A-Level
WHO IS THE COURSE DESIGNED FOR?
The intensive one year course is designed for students who have the clear ability to fast track their studies and complete A-Levels within one year rather than two years. Such students will ordinarily have completed education in their home country to the age of 17 or are UK students who need to study new A-Levels to enable them to pursue a change in career or academic direction. Students wanting to complete their qualifications in a year will need to demonstrate that they have the academic skills and prior knowledge relevant to their chosen one-year A-Level subjects to enable them to succeed on what is a highly demanding course. Evidence of success at GCSE or home country equivalent in relevant subjects is an important pre-requisite for entry to the course and international students should have an IELTS (Academic) score of at least 6.5.
COURSE STRUCTURE
The course starts each September with students taking their examinations in the following June.
Students study the same examination boards’ specifications as taught to the College’s two-year A-Level students.
A one-year A-Level course is particularly intensive covering the material for a two-year course in one year. It requires strict adherence to the precise subject specification. Topics are taught in broad outline, with a subsequent review to check and develop understanding.
HOW STUDENTS BENEFIT FROM THE COURSE
Students will be supported in their subject learning. It is intensive, but we monitor progress carefully to ensure that the students are able to take advantage of the fast-pace of the course. The college also provides advice, guidance and support for university choices and applications. It is also possible to prepare for university entrance tests (for example LNAT, UCAT, BMAT) for UK and non-UK universities. University admissions interview preparation helps to build confidence for the real interviews.
SUBJECTS AVAILABLE
Subjects available to study on the One-Year A-Level course are:
Biology
Chemistry
Computer Science
Mathematics
Physics
Psychology
5 Term A-Level
WHO IS THE COURSE DESIGNED FOR?
The five-term course suits students who:
Want to change schools after one term of A-Level elsewhere and re-start A-Levels, usually studying different subjects than those they started
Want to study A-Levels in the UK and have finished their GCSE or equivalent studies in their home country in November or December and do not want to wait for a September start A-Level programme
Are children of UK expatriates who are returning to the UK with their families in November or December and do not want to wait for a September start A-Level programme
COURSE STRUCTURE
The five-term course runs from January and through having additional tuition hours and not sitting external AS-Level examinations, students are able to complete the first half of each A-Level subject by the end of their first two terms of study. This enables five-term A-Level students to complete their final academic year of three terms at a standard pace of tuition and sit final A-Level examinations in June alongside their two-year (six-term) A-Level contemporaries.
Five-term course students study three A-Level subjects and may choose one of the subject combinations detailed below. The combinations offered by the College are carefully constructed to facilitate entry to a student’s proposed university course.
Teaching takes place in small groups of no more than eight students, enabling thorough and effective dissemination of subject topics with student feedback and discussion, whilst ensuring that individual understanding is complete, preparation work is satisfactory and writing skills are being mastered.
A-Level is taught in a clear and direct way, checking understanding by careful review and continual practice from previous examination questions in order to develop answering skills. Tutors ensure that students develop a good set of revision notes and materials and encourage systematic and well-focused revision. Time is allowed for an overall subject review as the examinations approach, to check recall and understanding and enable further practice with essential examination techniques.
The steady acquisition of sound study techniques, including reading skills, note-taking and essay writing can be carefully encouraged and monitored on a five-term course. The time frame also allows the student the opportunity to explore a subject in depth and develop a firm understanding of the material.
Where required, international students study IELTS (Academic) alongside their A-level subjects.
HOW STUDENTS BENEFIT FROM THE COURSE
The major benefit is that a student does not have to delay his or her education for nine months.
As with our two-year A-Level students, Oxford Sixth Form College provides our five-term A-Level students with advice, guidance and support for their university choices and applications alongside their tuition. It is also possible to prepare for university entrance test for UK and non-UK universities (for example UCAT, BMAT, and SAT). Interview preparation and feedback helps to build confidence for the real interviews.
SUBJECTS COMBINATIONS AVAILABLE
Mathematics, Biology and Chemistry
Mathematics, Physics and Computer Science
Mathematics, Economics and Business
Mathematics, Economics and Sociology
Economics, Business and Sociology
Economics, History and Sociology
History, Sociology, English Language
Two Year A-Level
WHO IS THE COURSE DESIGNED FOR?
Our formal entry requirements are as follows.
Students who have completed GCSEs or IGCSEs in the UK or overseas must have achieved a minimum of 5 grade 4 (including English and mathematics).
Students who have not studied in the UK must have completed their home country equivalent of GCSEs or above and achieved a minimum of the equivalent of 5 grade 4 (including mathematics) and have an IELTS (or equivalent) English language level of a minimum of 5.5.
However, we regard each student as an individual and students, UK or international, without the minimum grade 4 or equivalent above qualifications are very welcome to apply to the College. For example, in recent years we have been pleased to enable talented art students to progress to A-Levels in art subjects despite their not having the exact 5 grade 4 or above qualifications.
Students wishing to study A-level Further Mathematics must have a minimum of a grade 8 for GCSE Mathematics, IGCSE Mathematics or equivalent.
COURSE STRUCTURE
Students study three A-Level subjects over two years. The two-year course starts each September and students do not sit AS-level* examinations at the end of their first year and sit their final A-Level examinations at the end of their two years of study. Students may choose from the whole range of A-Level subjects offered at Oxford Sixth Form College. Subject combinations can be recommended to help student to meet their university and career objectives.
*Students studying A-Level Art or A-Level Photography will be entered for AS-Level at the end of their first year. Further Mathematics students will sit A-Level Mathematics at the end of their first year.
HOW STUDENTS BENEFIT FROM THE COURSE
The Two Year A-Level course is taught in a clear and direct way, checking understanding by careful review and continual practice from previous examination questions in order to develop answering skills.
Teaching is in small groups of no more than eight students, enabling thorough and effective dissemination of subject topics with student feedback and discussion, whilst ensuring that individual understanding is complete, preparation work is satisfactory and writing skills are being mastered.
