CIFE site page about final year A-level courses

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Final-year A levels at CIFE colleges

Each year a considerable number of students join CIFE colleges for the final year of a sixth-form course that they have started elsewhere. Although change half-way through the sixth form may seem risky, it usually has a very positive effect on a student's morale and achievement.

The AS / A2 exam structure makes moving easy. In most cases you go straight into upper-sixth A2 courses at your new college, carrying forward AS marks from your previous school. This is usually possible even if moving involves a change of exam boards. Colleges can give you expert advice on this.

What if you have just finished lower sixth and ended up with disappointing AS results? Unless you have had a complete disaster you should be able to carry on into upper sixth, and you can resit AS units in January or June. This is not an easy option because you will be busy with A2 work. However CIFE colleges have considerable expertise and flexibility in supporting this sort of programme.

If you've have come down badly across the board you might be better off considering changing into one-year A-level courses (see link to right). That way you will get taught for both parts of the syllabus. You even have the option of continuing A2 courses in the subjects you like and taking up one or two completely new subjects either as AS levels or as full one-year A levels.

You’ll certainly need advice on the best pattern to choose, so do contact us if need be.