coursework a level

Our Services

College Admissions Counseling

UK University Admissions Counseling

EU University Admissions Counseling

College Athletic Recruitment

Crimson Rise: College Prep for Middle Schoolers

Indigo Research: Online Research Opportunities for High Schoolers

Delta Institute: Work Experience Programs For High Schoolers

Graduate School Admissions Counseling

Private Boarding & Day School Admissions

Online Tutoring

Essay Review

Financial Aid & Merit Scholarships

Our Leaders and Counselors

Our Student Success

Crimson Student Alumni

Our Reviews

Our Scholarships

Careers at Crimson

University Profiles

US College Admissions Calculator

GPA Calculator

Practice Standardized Tests

SAT Practice Test

ACT Practice Tests

Personal Essay Topic Generator

eBooks and Infographics

Crimson YouTube Channel

Summer Apply - Best Summer Programs

Top of the Class Podcast

ACCEPTED! Book by Jamie Beaton

Crimson Global Academy

+1 (646) 419-3178

Go back to all articles

Everything You Need To Know About the A-Levels

International A Levels serve as a stepping stone for students aiming to secure admission to top-tier universities such as Harvard, Stanford, and Cambridge.

Most students and parents would have heard about A Levels from one place or another, but very few people actually know exactly what this pathway entails.

In this blog, we’ll provide you with everything you need to know about the International A-Levels, delve into the diverse range of subjects available, shed light on the grading system, and demonstrate how this pathway unlocks opportunities to prestigious universities across the globe.

What are A-Levels?

Advanced Levels (usually referred to as just A Levels) are qualifications in particular subjects that are usually the final academic courses taken before a student attends university.

You can study three or more A-levels over the final two years before starting university. A-Levels are assessed using a set of examinations, and although they’re a UK-based qualification, they are widely accepted worldwide.

What Subjects Can You Study?

There are a range of subjects you can take while pursuing an A-Level qualification. The most popular courses include:

• Mathematics
• Further Mathematics
• English Literature
• English Language

For a complete list of A-Level courses refer to the CIE’s official website .

You can also take your A-Levels entirely online . Crimson Global Academy (CGA) is a global online school with the mission to provide premium education without the constraints of physical schooling.

CGA offers very close support for students in selecting A Level subjects: this is vital because future courses at university and future careers will often have specific requirements for A Level subjects. We can provide expert advice in this important area.

Cambridge vs. Edexcel

There are two exam boards for A-Levels: Edexcel and Cambridge.

Pearson Edexcel A Levels  are widely recognized in the UK and follow a module-based system. Students have the flexibility to retake modules to improve their subject grades, and exams are typically held in May and November.

On the other hand,  Cambridge A Levels  offers a diverse range of subjects and flexible combinations. These qualifications cater to the needs of international learners and also provide opportunities for non-native English speakers to demonstrate their English proficiency, which is valued by many British universities.

What is Crimson Global Academy?

Structure and Format of A Level Qualification

A-Levels are broken down into two parts: the AS Level and A2 Level:

• The first year of your A Level qualification is known as the AS Level , where you’ll study courses that provide with enough understanding to progress to A-level.
• The second year of your A Level is known as the A2 Level . A2 Level courses are the second half of the A-level courses, and build on the curriculum you studied during AS level.

Typically, students take 4-5  AS Level subjects  in their second to last year of high school.

They will then go on to take 3-4 of those subjects at the A2 Level, often taking extra subjects at AS Level to fill up their timetable (without completing the full A Level) in their final year of high school.

Here’s a summary of typical timeline of an international A-levels student:

• Second to last year of high school: 4-5 AS-level subjects
• Final year of high school: 3-4 A2 level subjects +additional AS-level subjects.

While this is the typical timeline for studying A Levels, if you’re interested in competing for spots at the  top US universities , you might need more than 4 A Level subjects to stand out in the competitive applicant pool.

How are A-Levels Assessed?

The majority of Edexcel/ Cambridge AS and A Level subjects are externally assessed. These exams are offered at different times throughout the year:

• Cambridge exams: June and November
• Edexcel: June, October and January

Students typically sit one set of exams at the end of AS, and another at the end of A2.

CGA's Edexcel International A Levels offers three examination dates, which means more opportunities for re-sits. This allows students to  improve their grades  if needed.

Edexcel's mark schemes tend to be more detailed, providing clearer indications of how students can earn credit for their answers compared to Cambridge's mark schemes.

For  sciences  like Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, Cambridge International AS Level sciences require students to complete practical examinations under exam conditions. Edexcel A Levels , however, tend to be more theoretical and do not include these practical examinations.

Practical exams can sometimes drag down students' grades in Cambridge A Levels as schools may lack the resources for adequate practice in experimental skills. This is a situation that students won't encounter with Edexcel A Levels.

How are A-Levels Graded?

In terms of grading, Cambridge students receive a percentage grade at the end of their AS Level exams, and a final overall A Level percentage grade that’s the average of their AS and A2 Level grades combined.

Note that there are no A* grades awarded for AS Level. They are only awarded for completion of full A Level qualification. Also, you do not receive your separate A2 Level grade, only your combined A Level grade.

Edexcel students receive grades after their examinations at the end of every module according to the table below.

Their final average grade is the weighted average of the modules they sit through during the AS and A2 portions by a predefined weighting that you can find in each subject’s syllabus online.

A Level Grading System

While the percentage grade boundaries may look intimidating, one of the great things about International AS and A Levels is that you don’t have to get 90% or 70% of the questions correct to end up getting a 90% or 70% on your report card.

International AS and A Levels employ scaling , which converts raw marks to Percentage Uniform Marks. The exams are calibrated against other students' performance , resulting in most raw marks being scaled up. Scaling ensures a fair representation of performance and determines the A*-E grade displayed on the certificate of completion.

Edexcel and Cambridge publish grade thresholds after each exam sitting on their respective websites to maintain transparency in the scaling process.

What Is a Good A-Level Grade?

If you’re looking to apply to a top 30 university, aim for grades that sit in the A or A* band . For those considering US universities, the American equivalent for A Levels are the AP examinations .

What Happens on A Levels Results Day?

The A-level results day for 2024 is  Thursday 15 August 2024 . You can collect your A-level results any time after 8am on results day - when they're released by the exam boards.

There are a few different outcomes that could happen:

• You get your predicted grade and meet your firm (first) offer : Congratulations! Once your UCAS Hub status updates you’ll be sent a confirmation from your firm choice. Now you can sit back and  start preparing for university .
• You miss your predicted grades : This is disappointing but there are several outcomes if this happens:
• Unconditional Offer - Your choice of firm offer might still offer you a place
• Unconditional Changed Course (UCC) - you don't have the necessary grades for your offer, but the university has proposed a similar course requiring lower grades. They may also offer an alternative start date, such as deferred entry. You have five days to decide and can discuss the opportunity with the university in question.
• Insurance Offer - You accept your insurance offer
• Unsuccessful - you've not been accepted by your choice(s). You're now eligible to enter Clearing
• Retaking the A Levels
• Reapplying the next year

Are A Levels right for you?

A Levels are superb, academically rigorous, and inspiring courses . However, they can also be demanding courses that require a serious commitment to diligent work. To be successful in A-Level study, students will need a secure foundation at the International GCSE level of study or equivalent.

We offer a wide range of A Level and International GCSE courses which are taught fully online, by experienced and outstanding teachers from around the world. CGA can provide a full programme of A Levels, to full-time CGA students, or we can offer a part-time programme: individual A Level courses which students can take alongside their academic programme in their home school. If you are keen to study A Levels then CGA would be delighted to hear from you!

What Makes Crimson Different

Key Resources & Further Reading

• Join our free webinars on university applications
• Free eBooks and guides to help with the college application process
• A Levels, AP or IB: Which Curriculum will help you get into Top Universities?
• Can I Study A-Levels or International-GCSEs Online?

More Articles

450 ideas and everything you need to know about the epq.

Bridging Systems and Continents: Converting Your A Levels to GPA

IB vs. A-Level: Which Path Should You Choose for Your High School Education?

Start Your Journey To A Top University Today!

Crimson students are up to 7x more likely to gain admission into their dream university. book a free consultation to learn more about how we can help you.

75+ A-Level Computer Science NEA Ideas (and why they’re good)

In A-Level by Think Student Editor March 9, 2019 6 Comments

Computer Science at A-Level is sometimes misunderstood as being a subject where all you do is sit in front of a screen, coding away in Python, trying to build the next Google. While a lot of your time is spent staring at a computer screen, it’s not just about coding.

There is a theory side to Computer Science which plays a big role in determining what grade you get at the end of your two years. Your NEA will take a lot of analysis, planning and trial and error which many students do not expect. That’s why below I’ve provided a long list (in no particular order) of project ideas so at least one step is taken out of the equation. You can combine some of these ideas and create a Frankenstein-type project or maybe just take one and make it your own.

Remember, refer to the mark scheme to ensure you hit as many A-Level Computer Science skills as possible. It’s always worth taking a look at your relevant specification to see which skills you want to showcase, you can find specifications for OCR and AQA here. Without further ado, let’s get to it.

1. Maze Generation Software

There are many different algorithms that you could implement when programming a maze generator (like a lot). So, if you want a list on the different algorithms you could possibly implement, check out this article.

2. Rubik’s Cube Solver

This is probably the hardest project idea on this entire list – in terms of the actual implementation. Creating AI that can actually learn how to solve the Rubik’s cube is very, very difficult.

The good news however, is that I don’t think examiners will expect you to create AI that learns how to solve the Rubik’s cube entirely by itself. Therefore, if you do choose this idea, I highly recommend that you program your AI around one of the many pre-existing algorithms that have been created to solve Rubik’s cubes.

In my opinion, this is the best algorithm for you to base your AI around.

3. Bird Migration Pattern Predictor

If you actually pull this one off, I would eat my foot if you didn’t get top marks (an A*).

For this project, you will need to analyse how birds have migrated across the globe in the past. Then you will need to try and find correlations between migration patterns and geographic weather conditions. From this data, your program could predict future migration patterns depending on different climate changes.

I think a great start for this idea is to read into what web-scraping is and how to do it.

4. Nuclear Power Plant Meltdown Simulation

While programming this project, you would have simulate real world conditions. After you have created this Earth-like environment, you can model the effects that a nuclear power plant meltdown would have on said environment.

You could even add cities to see the affects that radiation would have on them too.

5. Supermarket Stock Management System

Supermarket’s not only need to manage stock, but also staff – both of which, they have lots of. This means that there is most definitely an opportunity for you to make a complex system that could aide a supermarket.

If you do choose this, make sure you read up on how a supermarket actually operates, so the system is suitable. There’s a great document here that should tell you all you need to know about managing a supermarket (and a lot more).

6. Restaurant Point Of Sale (POS) System

A point of sale system is very different to a stock management system (as you would find in a supermarket). The difference is that a point of sale system is used (guess what) at the “point of sale”, meaning staff will use the system at restaurant tables when taking food orders.

Therefore, you must make sure your POS system has an extremely friendly user interface, as customers don’t like waiting around!

7. Chess Playing AI

I don’t think I need to tell you that this is going to be challenging… Therefore, if done right, this could lead to a well earned A* for your NEA.

There are so many resources to help you develop this particular project idea online. So, whenever you get stuck, you will never be far away from help.

8. Image Recognition AI

I reckon this is probably equally as difficult as the Rubik’s cube one – AKA very, very hard.

This idea should be screaming at you: “machine learning and neural networks”. If it’s not, there might be something wrong with you…

Neural Networks + Machine Learning = High Marks

There are loads of free online resources that will help you a ton. However, I highly recommend that you get this book off Amazon.co.uk , it is the best book on getting started with neural networks that I have ever read – just going to have to trust me on this one.

9. Evolution Simulator

This project has the potential to be seriously complicated, however, you could also make it quite simple. It all depends on what’s evolving.

If you are going to simulate how animated stick figures get better at running over many generations, your program is going to be very complex. However, if you are going to simulate how a single-muscled slug can get better traveling between points as quickly as possible then it could be quite simple.

If you’re even considering this project, then you should definitely check out this YouTube playlist (it’s strangely satisfying watching his imaginary creatures evolve).

10. Voice Recognition AI

This project is (obviously) very similar to the image recognition project that was aforementioned. Therefore, this project too, should be screaming “machine learning and neural networks” at you.

I’ve never really programmed a voice recognition AI before, therefore, I can’t really recommend any specific books for you to get (as I can’t be certain of their quality). However, I have done a quick google search and within 5 minutes I can tell that there is shed loads of information on this topic, so on that front – don’t worry.

11. Sales Order Processing System (SOP)

An SOP system should, as the name suggests, manage sales. This means it should control the majority of communications between the warehouse, sales team and the client.

Below are things that a typical SOP system could do:

• Store Order History
• Generate Invoices
• Generate Reports
• Generate Delivery Notes
• Send Reminder Emails

You are tied down a bit with this project, as you do have to make sure a factory could actually use this software. However, there are still many different avenue’s for you take with the types of functionality you decide to implement.

12. Poker Game

For you to do this project, you would have to be fairly confident with networking. This game would allow multiple devices to join a “table” and start playing poker with each other.

Depending on how complex you want your program to be, you could add so many extra features. I think a great extra feature for this project would be to calculate the odds of someone winning per hand. Furthermore, you could also add a computer poker player (where you could definitely implement some AI).

13. DJ Software (Can Mix Music)

This one is definitely a fun project for those of you who have an affection for music. This project would clearly require you to learn a shed load about manipulating audio files, however, if you can pull it off I think you could really make a project that is A* worthy.

You could also build a control system which could implement the software. This might cost a bit of money, but once again, it’s going to make you like you really know what you’re doing.

14. Interactive Circuit Builder

If you want to know what I’m on about, get the free trial of Logicly or just go on YouTube and look at a video of someone else using Logicly.

Assuming you have done that, you will know what I mean by an “interactive circuit builder”. I would say that the most important aspect of this project would have to be the UI. Without a good user interface, the software would not be fit for purpose and you would definitely lose marks.

15. Quiz App

You could either make an offline quiz app or you make a much more complex client-server quiz style app. There is definitely much more opportunity to get an A* with the latter of those options.

If you decide to do a client-server model, I think a real time quiz app would work great – something (even remotely) similar to Kahoot would really stand out.

16. Software for Calculating The Big O of an Algorithm

Examiners will absolutely love this one, but why?

Because in doing this project, you would be making a computer science theory topic actually come to life. Therefore, if you do this project, you are showing to the examiner that you can get a concept off paper and actually make use of it in a real situation.

Besides that, this project is amazingly complex and will certainly provide you with plenty of opportunity’s for you to incorporate A* level concepts into your program.

If you have forgotten what Big O is, don’t worry (you should worry a bit actually) and just go give this a read.

17. Tracking And Monitoring Global Shipping Routes

This project is going to require you to get comfortable with web-scraping and API’s. You will need to be able to gather information about the global whereabouts of cargo ships frequently.

Once you have mastered the back-end tracking, you will need to think of a nice way to present the data. Maybe you could use certain programming libraries to make route representations on a global map?

18. Implementation of Machine Learning To Maximize Profits At An Airport

This could be my favorite project idea on here.

The lengths that airport companies go to when designing the layout of a particular airport is crazy. Everything is where it is for a reason: the route you take to board a plane, where you wait to board and the even where the security is. If you want more information about how airports maximize profits, check this out.

If you choose this project, I think you should do a simulation where people are represented by a particular sprite, shape or whatever you choose, and then they you follow them through the airport. After each day you could track the profits that the airport made.

Now this is where machine learning comes in… you could implement an algorithm that changes the layout of the airport each day and see if profits increase or decrease. Then the program would learn accordingly.

19. 3D First Person Shooter Game

Although many people choose to program a 2D game for their NEA, I think that programming a 3D game is just… better. Programming in 3D makes it so much easier for you to implement A* level programming techniques.

20. Implementation of AI To Model The Effects of Global Warming

Global warming is becoming an ever increasing issue in today’s world – so this project certainly checks the box “assists with a real world problem”.

Anyway, designing a program (using AI) that can attempt to predict what the effects of climate change are going to be on the planet is a great idea. It’s complicated enough, time-consuming enough and definitely “real worldy” enough.

A great place to start with this project is to check out the currently predicted effects of climate change, which you can find here.

21. Encrypted Instant Messaging App

An instant messaging app is one thing, but an encrypted instant messaging app is a whole different thing. This project is great because it just ticks so many boxes. You will be covering encryption and client-server networking in the same project!

Before you start this project, make sure you take out the different types of encryption methods (you can find some here).

22. E-Commerce Web App

Almost every single large company out there now has an online e-commerce website. Therefore, there is going to be plenty of helpful resources out there for you to learn from.

This project will also require some encryption as you will be dealing with payment methods such as debit and credit cards, which are VERY much confidential information.

23. Fitness Monitoring App

Programming a fitness app will allow you to actually interact with the hardware that is on the phone. For example, you could have a fitness app that tracks footsteps, in which case you would need to directly communicate with the phones pedometer.

24. Virtual Flashcard App

This can be a great project, if done right.

You’re going to have to get very good at databases if you do this project as a virtual flashcard app would require crap loads of them. A great example of a virtual flashcard app is Quizlet (I’m sure you have head of it already).

A simple virtual flashcard app should allow a user to:

• Create Folders For Different Subjects
• Create Flashcards Sets For Particular Modules
• Revise Flashcard Sets Effectively.

25. Public Transport Timetable App

Now, I don’t mean just display a PDF image of a pre-existing bus timetable and say “finished!”…

This app should be able to perform web-scraping on live bus and train timetables and display the information is a user friendly way.

Your program could even take two postal codes and calculate the quickest way to get there using a mixture of public transport and walking. It could also return the current price for that specific journey. An example of how this can be implemented is on the Stagecoaches “Plan A Journey” page.

26. Social Networking Platform

You all know what a social networking platform is. I don’t think I need to explain this one to you…

27. Physics Projectile Modelling Tool

If you are a fan of mechanics, this is your project. One of the many reasons this project is so good is because when programming it, you are forced to simulate a real world environment – in the sense that you program in gravity, terrain, air resistance etc.

Furthermore, if you were so inclined, you could very easily transform this project into a game, where you try to hit particular objects using a projectile. Angry birds is a great example of what I mean.

28. Nuclear Power Plant Management System

There’s more to managing a nuclear power plant than you think. Therefore, a nuclear power plant management system can either be super simple or extremely complex depending on what you choose to implement into the system.

I highly recommend you check out this link , it tells you all about the parts of a nuclear power station and you will get a feel for what your system will be managing very quickly.

29. Weather Forecasting Software

There are many paths you could take with this particular project, so it’s really down to what you decide. However, the fundamental core of this project is that you need to at least make an attempt at predicting what the weather will be like tomorrow, the day after or perhaps even a week from now.

You could implement some kind of machine learning algorithm that could compare what your weather prediction was and what the weather actually turned out to be like. From here, the algorithm could adjust the factors that went into making the prediction accordingly.

30. Air Traffic Controller AI

Air traffic controllers are essential to ensure that planes aren’t going to collide when coming in or going out of an airport. However, humans tend to make mistakes – fairly regularly. Maybe an AI would always get it right?

For this project, you would have to create a model of an airport and simulate planes coming in and leaving. Your, AI would ensure that no planes crash… hopefully.

31. Interpreter For Chosen Programming Language

Interpreters convert high level language code into machine code that can be directly processed by the CPU. Furthermore, interpreters normally translate code per line, not all at once.

Although this programming project is challenging, you might struggle to incorporate some of the A* level programming concepts in your code. All I’m saying is that make sure you keep an eye on the marking criteria and don’t forget why you’re doing this project – to get the grades!

32. Internet Speed Tester

There’s more that goes into getting an accurate assessment of your internet bandwidth than you think. Therefore, making an internet speed test is definitely complex enough.

For this project, you will need to add feature to bulk it up. You could maybe try different methods of testing internet speed then compare how accurate each of them are.

33. Secure FTP Server

FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol. So this project would basically be making software that allows devices to easily transfer files between each other. I know I’ve said this a lot, but, once again, this project is going to be as complex as you make it.

If you choose this project, make sure you don’t just use an FTP library that does everything for you! Try and do as much as possible by yourself.

34. Software To Find The Best Online Deals

For this project, you’re going to need to “scrape” all of the current prices for a particular product off their respective websites. That’s the hard part. Next, you will have to present all of your various comparisons to the user in an easy-to-understand way (and give a conclusion containing where they can find the cheapest price).

A great example of this type of software is the website Trivago.

35. AI Chat Bot

This project would entail you creating a program that can talk to humans as if it was a human too. If there was such thing as a perfect AI chat bot, you shouldn’t be able to distinguish it from a human.

When programming this, you are going to need to be able to program in some sort of artificial intelligence that can learn from previous conversations it had with real people.

Two examples of chat bots that I have seen before are CleverBot,   Eviee, and more recently ChatGPT.

36. Search Engine

Examples of search engines are: Google, Bing and Yahoo. There role is to receive a query from a user and index webpages in accordance with how relevant they are to the particular query. So if you googled “what is a pineapple?”, the idea is that a webpage containing information about pineapples would come up first before information about bananas.

There are many factors to consider when ranking webpages. Possible ranking factors for your SE could be:

• Keyword Frequency
• Image ALT Tags
• How Users Have Interacted With Page Previously.

37. AI Spam Filter

If you’ve ever been directly (or even indirectly) involved in front-end website development or survey development, you will know how big of a problem spam is. Spam messages can take many forms and with each passing year, it is getting more and more difficult to decypher what messages are genuine and which are spam.

This means that for your A-Level Computer Science NEA project, an idea could be to build a spam filter that could be run on an email server, implementing AI and Machine Learning. There is huge potential with this project idea and it is certainly not an easy one to develop!

38. Music Suggestion Tool

We’ve all used and heard of the famous YouTube recommendation service… Every time you go on YouTube, they have an algorithm running that recommends videos based on what they think you’ll like. Why not make your own version but just for music?

You could even tailor the recommendations to what mood the person is in by analysing music videos for particular themes e.g. sad, happy or exiting. If you did decide to go down this route with your NEA project, there is huge potential with this idea for machine learning implantation which would be designed around user feedback (user specifies whether or not the recommendation was good).

There is a great video on how the YouTube recommendation algorithm works here.

39. Graph Plotting Software

If you’re currently studying A-Level Maths or A-Level Further Maths, you will know the importance of graph plotting software is very high. So, there’s demand, why not provide the supply in the form of an NEA computer science project?

Your project could receive a polynomial expression as an input, and output (plot) a visual graphic of that graph… There are many examples of these types of software out there, one that you should check out is GeoGebra .

40. Foreign Language Teacher

This project idea could be made extremely basic, or extremely advanced. However, the fundamental building blocks of this project idea will always be the same; it will assist users in learning a foreign language. I don’t think I need to say too much about this idea, but I would recommend you checkout examples of this type of software such as Babbel or Duolingo.

41. Sat Nav

This NEA project could potentially consist of both web-scrapping and Dijkstra’s algorithm. That is a seriously nice combination!

What is not immediately obvious about this project idea is how much graphical work there is to it – there’s a lot. All I’m saying is that if you do decide to choose a project idea similar to this one, be sure that your graphical skills are very strong!

The most obvious example of software similar to what’s mentioned above is Google Maps, go check it out , if you’re interested.

42. Make Your Own IDE

Now this might seem intimidating at first but hear me out. There’s lots of resources out there to help you out on this project and it allows you to be as creative as you want since you’re the designer. You should be able to run, debug and compile the code.

You can use this video and this article to get you off to a good starting point.

43. 2D Platformer Game

This A-Level NEA project allows you to be as creative and go into as much detail as you want. You could include enemies, randomly generated levels, level editors where the player could make their own levels, multiplayer capabilities etc. One of the more challenging things you could do is include the ability to save your position and access it later.

This project will really get your creative juices flowing as, even if someone has the same idea as you, your games could come out wildly different. You can find many game making tutorials, particularly in Python. You may have heard of the popular library pygame which most games in Python are based on. You can click here to find a tutorial on the basics of pygame.

44. 3D Platformer Game

This will certainly push you into the top marks as it requires a deeper understanding of how to render vector graphics and some maths. Remember, the examiners aren’t worried about how good the game looks, they want to know about the complexity of your code and the skills you showcase within it. Some of the most popular libraries include OpenGL (in C/C++) and Panda 3D (Python).

One of the advantages of doing a 3D game is that the game itself doesn’t actually need to be very complicated. If all goes well, the complexity should come from the 3D rendering, meaning your game could be relatively simple.

45. Revision Aid

This idea is very popular amongst students as they likely already use one, or are taking this opportunity to build their own. This can be anywhere from a flashcards application to a quiz or a game where you have to dodge the wrong answers. See Quizlet or Anki for inspiration.

As with the platformer, the scalability of this project is up to you and how complex you want to make it. Maybe you want to have a competition element where users get a score for how many questions they get right. This project will require a knowledge of databases (e.g. SQL) so if that’s something you’re not good with then there’s still a few more to go.

46. Circuit Simulator

This project is heavily centred around a good-looking GUI, so you will need to have an immense amount of self-control to ensure you don’t throw away hours and hours into a part of the code that barely gets you any marks.

The idea is based around an interactive, online version of a circuit builder, allowing users to connect resistors, lamps and other electrical things I don’t know the names of using wires. You may want to make use of TKinter , a python library, to help with your GUI.

47. Live Chat Forum/Room

This one is pretty self-explanatory but requires a deep knowledge of networking and client-server communications. There are many tutorials you can find online on how to create chat software which is where your creativity will need to come in.

You could think about allowing users to send pictures, create their own group chats, send videos etc. You could even create an AI moderator which censors inappropriate language or detects inappropriate pictures and takes them down.

48. Robotics

This seems quite vague but what I mean is using code to control and communicate with a robot that serves a certain purpose. For example, you could code a robot vacuum to detect walls or the size of the room, where dirt is etc. You can do this through image recognition which by itself is very complex and high level, securing you those marks.

The biggest thing with this is that it requires you to have access to the required hardware so you can check if it works correctly. With the robot vacuum idea, you’re going to need to have a robot vacuum on hand.

49. Business Rota Application

Some of you might have part-time jobs, in which case you will have a better idea of what this is. In order to make sure too many people aren’t working the same shift at once, businesses often have a rota which keeps track of who goes where and at what time.

You could create a database with a simple GUI which considers new employees and their shifts and orders them accordingly. This ensures shifts aren’t clashing or overlapping. You could make this as customisable as you want to where it could apply to any business who have any number of employees working at one time or several related times.

You may need to get into contact with a real business and analyse their current system. That way, you can find anything wrong with it and improve upon it. It also means you have a bit less work to do because you aren’t starting from scratch.

50. Recreate a Classic / Retro Game

This takes away the element of coming up with brand new game logic. Instead, you have the rules laid out for you and you just have to follow them. However, there is a definite danger of copying and pasting premade code as the game already exists. Try to add your own twist to the game.

For example, you could remake Pacman but instead of having the ghosts controlled by AI, you could have them be controlled by other users. Not only is this complex, but it also ensures your code isn’t identical to the original game. There’s a whole library dedicated to retro game making in Python which you can find here .

51. Weather Forecaster

As boring as it sounds, it has the potential to get you into that high grade band. It may require some web-scraping and you might want to build your own site to display this info. You could show the predictions for the weather on this site and you could allow the user to enter their email to be sent alerts or notifications if extreme weather is to occur.

52. GPS App

Here’s your chance to implement all those path-finding algorithms your teacher might have been telling you about (I’m looking at you Dijkstra ). You can implement this in different ways, whether it’s the “Google Maps” approach where the user defines a destination or the “Find My iPhone” approach where the destination is unknown by the user until the app is activated. Maybe they want to put a GPS on their kid’s device or their own device.

53. Meteor Trajectory Simulator

If you like space or physics, this one is for you. You can really go wild with this in terms of the GUI and the back-end code. It will need a lot of complex mathematical formulae in order to function correctly, but it will be worth it when you get that top A-Level grade. That’s why having at least some interest in mathematics will benefit you in this project. You’ll be working with a lot of numbers whether that’s calculating velocity or determining the angle of a meteor.

54. 2D Shooter

This is similar to the platformer except the focus will be on the shooting aspect. You could use AI to control the enemies and maybe include different levels of guns that do different damage. You could even do a boss battle. Refer to NEA idea two to find a pygame tutorial which should give you a good base on making the game.

55. Street Fighter Remake

If you’ve ever played or heard of street fighter, you know what you need to know. However, for the three people at the back who have never heard of it, it’s a 2D fighter game. You can customise this however you want and include power ups, boss fights etc. You may need to look at the code of several other similar games to combine them and make your own.

56. Finding the Shortest Route on the London Underground

This project will allow you to use the path finding algorithms and maybe a website. You can calculate the shortest distance between two stations and calculate the time taken to get there. You will probably need to do some research on JavaScript in order to get the backend of your website working. I’ll link a website tutorial here to get you started.

57. Workshop / Club Booking Timetable

Similar to the rota system, this project will ensure that two people are not booked at the same time on the same day. This will require a knowledge on relational databases, namely SQL which, at this point in your A Level, you should know a bit about. If not, there’s a quick project you can do to get yourself familiar with queries, primary keys, foreign keys etc.

58. Visualising the Spread of a Disease

You could web-scrape here and show on a map of the world and the associated deaths from a certain disease. In other words, you could for example show hot spots for the disease in reds or oranges and leave the others as white. Web scraping is a relatively easy thing to learn and can be extremely powerful, even outside of your A-Level. Here’s a quick tutorial to get you started. The complexity will come from how you present the data you’ve scraped.

59. Plane Seat Booking System

This will be like the workshop booking system in that you need databases to store the customer’s information. You would ensure that one seat is not offered to two people at once. You could even keep track of the details of loyal customers and offer them first class tickets or other deals.

60. Stock Management System

This would be a database which stores the amount of stock a business has. You could produce sales reports for the most popular items or see which items are low in stock. There are many combinations of ways you could output this information (e.g. a report, website, email). Just ensure it is more complex than placing the output in the terminal.

61. Traffic Light Controller

This project entails coding an AI to ensure that cars don’t collide. You could possibly set it up where, if there’s an ambulance, you give it all green lights. You might even want to use image recognition based on a satellite image of a city and gather the locations of the traffic lights on that image. That would really push your grade up as, instead of using a built in library, you can “teach” your AI what traffic lights look like. Find a video tutorial on machine learning in Python here .

62. Coupon Collector

If you’ve ever heard of “Honey”, you’ll know the gist of this project. You will have to scrape the internet for coupons for a certain website specified by the user. The code could automatically test these coupons and output the cheapest one. See number 17 for a website scraping tutorial.

63. Facial Recognition Software

This project seems complex but that’s a good thing if you want the highest grade. This has a variety of purposes as many of you are likely familiar with the face recognition on many phones. Read this article o n how the basics of how to do it in Python and find out more.

Make sure you aren’t just relying on built in libraries to handle the complex algorithms because all those marks will disappear. You have to write the code yourself and typing “import facialRecognition” doesn’t count, as sad as that is.

64. Chess Over Two Computers

Here you can include networking and client-server communication (both of which are references in the A-Level Computer Science specification). There is a possibility to include AI which detects automatically if there is a check or checkmate. This would require you to keep track of the ending positions of each piece and know what constitutes as a check for example. Most turn-based games rely on a sort of algorithm which you can find out more about here .

65. Sudoku Solver

This requires intense programming and AI but will totally be worth it by the end. You could give the user the opportunity to try and solve it themselves at first then, afterwards, give them the answer. You could also set a time limit, you could have a scoreboard, there’s lots of things you could do with it. Also, you may want to have the unsolved puzzle be randomly generated which adds a whole new layer of complexity. Computerphile has a great video on this exact subject in Python.

66. Social Media Specifically for Students in the Same College or University

A social media idea has already been suggested but you may want to make one specifically for your college. The students could input their timetables and the code could suggest other students with the same timetable. That way, they can meet during their mutual break time. You could also include group chats for specific subjects at your college.

67. Fantasy Football Team

Web scraping is going to be a major concept in this project unless you want to hard code in every footballer on every team. You could set up a network where fantasy teams can “play” against each other and winners get more points. The user can customise their own team and earn points. You can then display it in a website or another GUI like TKinter.

68. Planet Orbit Simulator

This one goes out to the physics and maths students again. Allow the user to change the size, direction and colour (why not?) of planets and calculate the trajectory of their new orbit. This would entail many mathematical calculations so, if you like this sort of thing, this is for you. It also gives you the chance to use and render 3D graphics in order to visualise the planets for the user.

Take a look at the game Kerbal Space Program for an advanced implementation of this idea!

69. Pathfinding Comparer

Here, you would test and visualise the efficiency of certain pathfinders in different situations. For example, the user could place certain obstacles between two points and then employ the Dijkstra and A star path finders. You can find what I mean in a tutorial here . There are many, many, many pathfinders you can compare so you can really pick whichever ones you would like. I won’t list them all here, but you can find a some of them through this link .

70. Finding Shortest Path on a College / University Campus

With this project, you would need to create a graph with each node corresponding to the buildings or departments on the map. This would make more sense if you choose a college or university that has a big campus that spans over a large geographical area. It may end up being very useful for those students who have 5 minutes to speed walk all the way across their campus. The heuristic or weight of each edge could be determined by many things (e.g. whether you have to cross a road, if you have to go through a certain building with stairs etc).

71. Solitaire

This popular card game might be simple to code but to add that layer of complexity, you can include the option for an AI to complete the game for the user. It needs to be able to recognise if the game is completable though.

72. Password Manager

Think “LastPass” or “DashLane”. You securely store and encrypt your user’s passwords and, if you wanted to, you could include a password suggestion element where the application offers a potential strong password to the user. This takes away the need for the user to memorise their passwords and think of a way to make it stronger. You can find an example here and extra info here .

73. Simple Board Game

You might want to come up with your own board game or copy another anywhere from Scrabble to Monopoly. This will take a lot of time and consideration into how you would like it to work. You may want to set up a tutorial or make it multiplayer against other humans (this might be your chance to include AI)

74. Cash register

A cash register would be great as you can base it off pre-existing cash registers in terms of the functionality. It offers a web version of a cash register that would be used by small businesses. This means you could contact small businesses in your area and cater to their needs. It may track sales, inventory and checkout credit cards. The options for what you want the cash register to do are completely up to you and your client’s needs.

This kind of goes under the retro games column however, there is the potential for AI to be implemented. You could program the AI to play the most efficient move and get the most points. The best way to go about this is to code the game by itself first the add the AI afterwards. You can even apply a competitive element by having a score system via relational database or multiplayer functionality.

76. Pacman Recreation

You can use AI to control the ghosts and, to really push yourself, you can add difficulty levels to these ghosts. Maybe the longer/more a user plays, the harder the ghosts get. You can increase their difficulty by making them faster or making them “smarter”. This would require path-finders to find the shortest path from the ghost to the player.

The Importance of Mark Schemes and Specifications

The mark schemes and specifications for A-Level Computer Science will be your best friends throughout your whole coursework experience. Though they can sometimes be vague, you should be working closely with them to ensure your project hits all the points you need so you can collect those marks. Good luck!

• AQA Computer Science Mark Scheme
• OCR Computer Science Mark Scheme

nice project

the exemplar is motion control and thats bares hard

bruh what do i put as stakeholders for the rubiks ai

Your idea is brilliant and many puzzle solvers are going to really benefit from your programme, and for that reason, I’m out.

Hi i was just wondering how i could make the (“visualizing the spread of a disease”) program to show a large amount of skill as I worry that there wont be enough coding involved to showcase a lot of skill.

Admission for January 2023 Cohort Closing Soon

• Subject Choices
• Online Education
• University Admissions
• Student Stories
• How It Works?
• Enquire Now

Home » Blog » Understanding A-Levels: What They Are and How They Work

Understanding A-Levels: What They Are and How They Work

• 12 min read

Brief History of A-Levels

Importance of a-levels in the uk education system, definition and purpose, a-levels vs. other qualifications (gcse, ib, etc.), curriculum and structure, grading system, duration and coursework, compulsory and optional subjects, tips for choosing a-level subjects, exam preparation, exam format, retakes and resits, ucas points system, conditional and unconditional offers, clearing and adjustment, the role of a-levels in shaping future opportunities, tips for success in a-level studies.

Advanced Levels, or  A-Levels , are a set of qualifications that have been a cornerstone of the British education system since their inception in 1951. They were introduced as a more rigorous and specialized alternative to the Ordinary Level (O-Level) qualifications, which have since been replaced by the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE). A-Levels have evolved over the years, with the most recent changes occurring in 2015, which saw a shift from modular to linear qualifications. This adaptation ensures that A-Levels continue to be a comprehensive and challenging pathway for students to pursue higher education.

The significance of A-Levels in the UK education system is indisputable. They serve as a crucial stepping stone for students, bridging the gap between secondary education and university. A-Levels provide students with the opportunity to delve deeper into subjects they are passionate about, helping them develop advanced critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills.

Moreover, A-Level qualifications are the primary determining factor in university admissions, with institutions often setting minimum grade requirements for their courses. It is not only the grades that matter; the subjects chosen by students can also impact their eligibility for specific degree programs, making informed decision-making crucial during the A-Level selection process.

As A-Levels remain an integral part of the UK’s education system, it’s essential for students to understand what A-Levels are, how they work, and the various aspects surrounding them, such as the  A-Levels grading system  and  A-Level Results Day .

What are A-Levels?

A-Levels , or  Advanced Level qualifications , are subject-based qualifications that students in the United Kingdom typically study between the ages of 16 and 18. The primary purpose of A-Levels is to prepare students for university, providing them with in-depth knowledge in specific subjects and developing their critical thinking and analytical skills. A-Levels also serve as an essential criterion for university admissions, with institutions often requiring specific A-Level grades for entry into their courses.

A-Levels are just one of several qualifications available to students in the UK, and it’s essential to understand the differences between them. Here, we’ll briefly compare A-Levels to other qualifications such as  General Certificate of Secondary Education  (GCSE) and the  International Baccalaureate  (IB).

GCSEs  are typically taken by students aged 14 to 16, before they begin their A-Levels. While A-Levels focus on a smaller number of subjects in greater depth, GCSEs cover a broader range of subjects, providing students with a foundational knowledge base. The GCSE curriculum is compulsory and includes subjects such as English, Mathematics, and Science, with students usually taking between 8 and 10 subjects in total.

The  International Baccalaureate  (IB) is another option for students aged 16 to 18, offering a comprehensive and internationally-focused curriculum. Unlike A-Levels, which allow students to focus on three or four subjects, the IB requires students to study six subjects, including at least one from each of the six subject groups: Studies in Language and Literature, Language Acquisition, Individuals and Societies, Sciences, Mathematics, and the Arts. Additionally, IB students must complete an Extended Essay, participate in the Theory of Knowledge course, and engage in Creativity, Activity, and Service (CAS) experiences. For a more detailed comparison, consider reading our article on  A-Levels vs IB .

In conclusion, while A-Levels allow students to focus on a few subjects in depth and are tailored to the UK’s education system, other qualifications like GCSE and IB offer different approaches to learning and cater to different educational goals. Students should carefully weigh their options and consider their future academic and career plans when choosing the most suitable qualification for them.

How do A-Levels Work?

The  Advanced Level (A-Level)  qualifications provide a strong foundation for students seeking higher education in the United Kingdom. The curriculum is designed to offer in-depth knowledge in specific subjects, allowing students to specialize in their chosen fields. A-Levels are offered in a wide range of subjects, from traditional academic disciplines like mathematics, sciences, and humanities to more vocational subjects such as art and design, business studies, and information technology.

Typically, students study three or four A-Level subjects over a two-year period, with the courses being divided into two parts: AS (Advanced Subsidiary) Level and A2 Level. The AS Level is completed in the first year, covering half of the A-Level content, while the A2 Level is completed in the second year, covering the remaining content. Some schools and colleges may offer a more flexible structure, allowing students to take additional subjects or complete their A-Levels in a shorter timeframe.

A-Levels utilize a grading system that ranges from A* (the highest grade) to E (the lowest passing grade). The final grade is determined by the combined results of both the AS and A2 Levels. It is important for students to understand the A-Levels grading system as it plays a crucial role in university admissions and future opportunities.

In addition to the letter grades, students also receive a numerical score called the Uniform Mark Scale (UMS), which standardizes results across different examination boards and subjects. This score is used to calculate the UCAS Tariff points, which are required for university applications in the UK.

The standard duration for completing A-Levels is two years, with each academic year consisting of three terms. However, some institutions may offer intensive courses that can be completed in a shorter period. The coursework for A-Level subjects is designed to challenge students and promote independent thinking, research, and problem-solving skills.

Throughout the two-year period, students are expected to engage in classroom instruction, practical work, and independent study. Some subjects may require additional coursework, including essays, projects, or presentations, which contribute to the final grade. Students should be prepared to dedicate a significant amount of time and effort to their A-Level studies, as these qualifications play a pivotal role in shaping their future opportunities and success in higher education.

In conclusion, understanding how A-Levels work is essential for students and their families as they navigate the UK education system. By familiarizing themselves with the curriculum, structure, grading system, and coursework requirements, students can make informed decisions about their A-Level subject choices and better prepare for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

A-Level Subject Choices

An essential aspect of the A-Level journey is choosing the appropriate subjects to study. The ability to select the right combination of courses can significantly impact a student’s future academic and professional opportunities.

There are no specific compulsory subjects for A-Levels, as the system’s flexibility allows students to tailor their studies to their interests and career aspirations. However, some universities and degree programs may require specific A-Level subjects or subject combinations for admission.

A-Level students typically study three to four subjects, chosen from a wide range of available courses. These subjects can span across various disciplines, including but not limited to:

• Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics)
• Mathematics
• English Literature and Language
• Humanities (History, Geography, Religious Studies)
• Social Sciences (Psychology, Sociology, Business Studies)
• Modern and Classical Languages
• Creative Arts (Art, Design, Music, Drama)

Selecting the right A-Level subjects is crucial, as it can pave the way for university admission and future career opportunities. Here are some tips to help students make informed decisions:

• Consider your interests and strengths : Choose subjects that genuinely interest you and align with your strengths. Studying subjects you enjoy will make the learning process more engaging and increase the likelihood of success.
• Research university requirements : If you have a specific degree program or university in mind, research their entry requirements and ensure your chosen A-Level subjects meet those criteria. Many universities list their preferred A-Level subjects on their websites or in their prospectuses.
• Consult with teachers and career advisors : Teachers and career advisors can provide valuable insights into the subject matter, workload, and potential career paths related to your chosen subjects. Don’t hesitate to seek their guidance when making your decision.
• Think long-term : Consider how your A-Level subject choices align with your long-term academic and professional goals. While it’s essential to enjoy your studies, it’s also crucial to choose subjects that will open doors to future opportunities.
• Maintain a balanced workload : Select a combination of subjects that provide a balanced workload, considering the demands, coursework, and examination formats of each course. This balance will help you manage your studies effectively and reduce the risk of burnout.

By carefully considering these factors, students can make informed decisions about their A-Level subject choices. In doing so, they will create a strong foundation for their academic and professional future, leading to success in their A-Level studies and beyond.

A-Level Examinations

A-Level examinations are a crucial aspect of the A-Level journey, as they ultimately determine a student’s final grade and potential university placement. In this section, we will delve into the details of exam preparation, format, and the options available for retakes and resits.

Adequate preparation is essential for success in A-Level examinations. Students should develop a comprehensive study plan that covers all relevant topics within their chosen subjects. This can be achieved through a combination of independent study, attending classes or lectures, and collaborating with peers to discuss and review critical concepts.

Utilizing  A-Levels past papers  is an excellent way to familiarize oneself with the exam format and identify areas that may require additional focus. It is also advisable to consult with teachers or tutors for guidance and support throughout the preparation process.

In addition to academic preparation, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and managing stress levels can significantly impact a student’s performance during exams. Incorporating regular exercise, a balanced diet, and adequate sleep into one’s routine can enhance mental clarity and improve overall well-being.

The format of A-Level examinations varies depending on the subject and exam board. However, most exams typically consist of a combination of multiple-choice, short answer, and essay questions. The exams are designed to assess a student’s knowledge, understanding, and application of the subject matter, as well as their ability to analyze, evaluate, and communicate effectively.

In some cases, A-Level subjects may include practical assessments or coursework in addition to the written examinations. This allows students to showcase their skills and understanding in a more hands-on manner, which could contribute to their final grade.

It is crucial for students to familiarize themselves with the specific exam format and requirements for their chosen subjects, as this will help them tailor their revision and preparation strategies accordingly.

A-Level students have the option to retake or resit their exams if they are unsatisfied with their initial results. This offers them the opportunity to improve their grades and potentially secure a place at their desired university or course.

Retaking an exam typically involves sitting the examination again during the next available exam session, usually the following academic year. Students should consult with their teachers or tutors to determine the best approach to revising for a retake and identify any areas that may need additional focus.

Resits, on the other hand, are specific to coursework-based subjects. Students can resubmit their coursework for re-assessment, with the aim of achieving a higher grade.

It is essential to carefully consider the implications of retakes and resits, as they may impact a student’s university application timeline and overall workload. However, they can also provide a valuable opportunity to demonstrate one’s determination, resilience, and commitment to academic success.

In conclusion, A-Level examinations are the culmination of a student’s hard work and dedication to their chosen subjects. By adequately preparing for the exams, understanding the format, and considering the options of retakes and resits, students can optimize their chances of success and open doors to future opportunities.

A-Level Results and University Applications

Upon completion of A-Level studies, students receive their results, which play a significant role in determining their university prospects. In this section, we will discuss the  UCAS Points System , the differences between  conditional and unconditional offers , and the processes of  clearing and adjustment .

The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) is the central organization responsible for managing applications to higher education courses in the UK. A crucial aspect of the UCAS process is the  UCAS Tariff points system . This system assigns a specific number of points to each A-Level grade, allowing universities to set entry requirements and make offers in a standardized manner.

The table below illustrates the points allocated for each A-Level grade:

Students should be familiar with the UCAS points system and understand the requirements for their desired university courses. For more information on A-Level grading, refer to our guide on the a-levels grading system.

After submitting their university applications through UCAS, students may receive two types of offers:  conditional  and  unconditional .

A  conditional offer  means that the university has agreed to accept the student, provided they meet specific grade requirements in their A-Levels. It is crucial for students to be aware of these conditions and strive to achieve the necessary grades.

On the other hand, an  unconditional offer  implies that the student has already satisfied the university’s entry requirements, and their place is guaranteed. This may occur when a student has already completed their A-Levels or has demonstrated exceptional aptitude in other ways, such as relevant work experience or outstanding performance in extracurricular activities.

In some instances, students may not receive offers from their preferred universities or may not meet the conditions of their offers. In such cases, the  clearing  process comes into play. Clearing is a UCAS service that helps students find available courses at other universities. It runs from July to September each year and provides an opportunity for students to secure a place at a university that suits their interests and qualifications.

Conversely, if a student performs better than expected in their A-Levels and exceeds the conditions of their firm offer, they may be eligible for the  adjustment  process. Adjustment allows students to explore alternative courses with higher entry requirements while still holding onto their original offer. This process typically lasts for five days, during which students can research and apply to different institutions without jeopardizing their initial offer.

Understanding the processes of clearing and adjustment can help students navigate the uncertainties of A-Levels results day and make informed decisions about their university options.

In conclusion, A-Level results and university applications are closely intertwined, with the UCAS points system, conditional and unconditional offers, and clearing and adjustment processes playing vital roles in shaping students’ higher education journeys. By mastering these aspects and performing well in their A-Level examinations, students can maximize their chances of securing a place at their desired university and pursuing a fulfilling academic career.

Final Thoughts

As we reach the end of our exploration into  A-Levels , it is essential to reflect on the critical role they play in shaping future opportunities for students in the UK. A-Levels not only serve as a stepping stone to higher education but also contribute significantly to the development of essential skills and knowledge in various subject areas. These qualifications allow students to showcase their competence in their chosen subjects, ultimately helping them secure a place at their desired university or embark on a fulfilling career path.

A-Level results have a direct impact on university applications. As students accumulate UCAS points based on their exam performance, it is crucial to remember that a strong performance in A-Levels can lead to conditional or unconditional offers from prestigious universities. In some cases, students may also have the opportunity to participate in clearing and adjustment processes to explore additional university options.

Achieving success in A-Levels requires dedication, effective time management, and a clear understanding of the  A-Levels curriculum . The following tips can help students excel in their A-Level studies:

• Set realistic goals : Establishing achievable targets for both short-term and long-term objectives will allow students to maintain focus and motivation throughout their A-Level journey.
• Develop a study plan : Creating a structured study plan that allocates sufficient time for each subject will ensure that students cover all necessary material and avoid last-minute cramming during A-Levels past papers revision.
• Stay organized : Keeping track of deadlines, coursework, and exam dates will help students manage their time effectively and avoid unnecessary stress.
• Seek additional support : If students are struggling with a particular subject or topic, reaching out to teachers, tutors, or classmates for assistance can provide valuable insights and guidance.
• Practice past papers : Regularly working through A-Levels past papers will help students familiarize themselves with the A-Levels grading system and exam format, allowing them to identify areas for improvement and refine their exam strategies.
• Maintain a healthy balance : While A-Levels are undoubtedly important, it is crucial for students to maintain a healthy balance between their studies and personal life. Engaging in hobbies, sports, and spending time with friends and family can help alleviate stress and maintain overall well-being.

In conclusion, A-Levels play an integral role in shaping the future opportunities of students in the UK. By understanding the ins and outs of these qualifications, from the curriculum to the exams themselves, students can maximize their potential and achieve their desired outcomes. With dedication, organization, and a clear understanding of the A-Levels grading system and curriculum, success in A-Level studies is well within reach.

Read our latest education blogs here. We are pioneers in proffering personalised, affordable and high-quality lessons using an advanced learning platform.

What are A-Levels, and how do they fit into the British education system?

A-Levels are a critical component of the British education system, typically taken in the last two years of secondary education. They provide a pathway to university education and serve as a rigorous academic qualification.

Can you provide an overview of the subjects typically offered within the A-Levels curriculum?

The A-Levels curriculum covers a wide range of subjects such as Mathematics, Sciences (Physics, Chemistry, Biology), Humanities (History, Geography), Languages, and Arts. This diversity accommodates varied career aspirations and academic interests.

How does the A-Levels program prepare students for higher education and future career paths?

A-Levels equip students with advanced subject knowledge, research skills, and critical thinking abilities, positioning them well for university studies and various career paths.

What is the structure of the A-Levels curriculum in terms of duration and subject choices?

A-Levels are usually completed in two years, with students choosing three to four subjects in the first year and continuing with three subjects in the second year. The flexibility to choose subjects aligns with career goals and university requirements.

Can you explain the grading system used for A-Levels and its significance for university admissions?

A-Levels are graded from A* to E, with universities considering these grades during the admissions process. Strong grades in relevant subjects can increase the likelihood of acceptance.

How do A-Levels differ from other secondary education programs like GCSEs or the IB?

A-Levels differ from programs like GCSEs due to their specialized focus and higher level of complexity. A-Levels are a more advanced qualification, preparing students for higher-level academic pursuits.

Are there any recommended study strategies or resources for students pursuing A-Levels?

To excel in A-Levels, create a structured revision schedule, actively engage with material through summarizing and self-testing, and use past papers to simulate exam conditions. Balance revision with breaks for optimal learning.

Can you elaborate on the importance of coursework and exams in the A-Levels assessment process?

Coursework allows students to delve deep into topics, while exams assess their comprehensive understanding. Balancing coursework and exam preparation contributes to a well-rounded assessment.

How do universities and colleges consider A-Levels results when making admissions decisions?

Universities weigh A-Levels grades as a primary criterion for admissions decisions. Strong grades showcase academic aptitude and dedication, enhancing the likelihood of acceptance.

Are there any notable success stories or examples of individuals who have benefitted from completing A-Levels?

Many students who excelled in A-Levels have gone on to thrive in their chosen fields. Their strong foundation and developed skills facilitated seamless transitions into university and successful careers.

Join Asia’s Leading Online School and Unlock endless opportunities

You may also want to read

Ekta Ohri: A Versatile Woman Bringing Impeccable Change in Society

Learn to Code – 4 Reasons Why Your Child Should Do It

Coding Classes for Kids – 4 Reasons To Take Coding Classes With Your Kid

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Speak to Us

Get a call from the 21K School Advisor. Learn about the fee structure, admission process, International curriculum & more

Invalid value

Enter a value for this field.

Please ensure the number is reachable through WhatsApp and Normal calls

Select a choice

Select a choice.

Please select State

Please tick the box to confirm.

• Request a Callback

All rights reserved © 2024

Mindreflex Technologies Pte. Ltd.

Regd Address: 3 Phillip Street

#14-05 Royal Group Building

• How does it work?

How to Write a Coursework

Coursework projects do not resemble essays, research papers, or dissertations. They are the combination of all three. Students spend less time writing coursework than on making a term paper, but this type of work requires more time and efforts than an ordinary essay - it is made of several essays. Thanks to our guide, each student can discover how to write coursework. If you are running out of time or lack experience to complete the specific coursework, we recommend using our coursework writing services to hire professional academic writers.

What is Coursework and Why Does It Matter?

Coursework definition: General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) coursework is a typical academic assignment, given in the course of study to evaluate the student’s knowledge, skills, and identify the final grade. Many students face this type of writing in the US colleges. One of the examples is a coursework UTD (The University of Texas at Dallas) - the requirements of this institution are strict, and many students fail to submit their papers and pass the corresponding courses.

Such type of assignment helps to have the ‘detective’ hat on: a student observes, examines, and evaluates the chosen topic using credible, up-to-date, and relevant sources. Working under controlled conditions is important. Participating in every school class will help to prepare good coursework by the end of the term. Take a look at the examples of what students of various profiles may face:

• English Composition - English coursework is an extended essay in most cases. A student has a right to pick the topic. The tutors provide their students with the list of recommended titles to choose from, sources to observe & analyze, and a format (e.g., a comparison between different relevant articles)
• Sciences - coursework for science is a complicated assignment. Such type of work appears in the form of a scientific paper to test what a writer investigates and reports independently.
• Geography - geography coursework is about collecting, reporting, and explaining information to reply to a certain geographical question or offer solutions to the problem. One idea is to explore the usage of a shopping mall or analyze the recent tornado. No matter whether you have to prepare a coursework Columbia or such paper for other educational institutions, keep in mind these differences!

Types of Coursework Explained

English Language coursework is the most common type of this assignment. At advanced GCE level, the student will be expected to write a couple of essays, totaling 3,000 words. Every assignment is 20 marks maximum.

An analytical essay : Evaluate, compare, & contrast 3 different sources of data interconnected by a common theme; written /spoken / multimedia content. Discuss different uses for targeting various audiences. Learn more on our blog.

Original essay with a supportive commentary : A student will have to come up with a single piece of media writing in the observed modes (written, spoken, or multimodal). Add a supporting piece with details about the aspects of English language. English Language & Literature coursework is a bit different. The basic requirements are the same, and the parts are:

An analytical study : Sharing an analysis of the chosen piece and its relation to the related content. It will show how well the writer understands the original piece. Tutors grade such works based on the:

• Use of the proper terminology and the coherence of the written words;
• Understanding & evaluation of the way a structure, form, and language create the written & spoken word;
• Opportunity to observe relationships between various pieces of writing.

Creative writing & commentary : Produce a creative piece that imitates the style of the assessed text. Share comments to backup your understanding. The goal is to show the knowledge, prove the competence, and use appropriate language skills in communicating with the target audience. You will also need a relevant coursework resume (review) in both cases. Keep on reading to learn how to write coursework of A level.

How to Write a Coursework: Guide for Students

Several factors may lead to the coursework being disqualified. It is a serious matter! The risk factors include:

• Plagiarism - it is the worst thing that could happen to any type of academic assignment. Lots of relevant information is available on the world wide web today, and the tutors are strict about the issue of plagiarism. Write everything in your own words! If you decide to insert the quotes from the sources, apply the suggested citation format and develop a list of references. Sign the declaration claiming it is your original project. If you're unsure about how to approach this, seeking professional help by choosing to write my coursework can be a wise decision.
• Word count - do not ignore the specific requirements concerning the length of the coursework. Specify if the footnotes, appendices, & references are included in the word count.
• Topics - go through the list of available themes. If there is an examination planned on the specific topic, try to pick another idea for the coursework.
• Tutor’s assistance - do not ignore the help of your instructor, ask them to provide guidance on what to write. Ask the questions to learn more details, but keep in mind they can go through the 1st draft once and just offer some general recommendations.

Choosing a Topic for Your Project

Dedicate enough time to this extra important question. Select the field of your interest if it is possible to relate it to the course. That is the golden rule of choosing a coursework topic - keep in mind the rest of the hints:

• Analyze the offered list of topics or develop yours
• Pick a topic from the area of your expertise related to the studied subject
• Select the topic you are interested in
• Choose the topic you’ve started to observe in the past
• Check how much relevant, up-to-date information is available on the Internet about each of the topics
• Pick what you can measure, change, & control (they call it a ‘fair test’)
• Use the ideas of previous researchers and students
• Do not choose a topic with a vast scope - you risk struggling to research it correctly

10 Good Coursework Topics

• Non-traditional Forms of Poetry with TC Tolbert
• Documentary Foundations: Usage of Oral Histories with Beth Alvarado
• Traditional Forms of Poetry
• Hermit Crabs: Type of Fiction
• Writing the Autobiographical Poem
• Creative Non-Fiction on the Examples of New Journalists
• Authors without Borders
• Writing the Sticky Stuff
• Socially Engaged Literary Arts
• Common Vocabulary

Research & Data Collection

Research is an integral part of coursework. Have you written research papers before? If yes, you will find it easier to select proper primary & secondary sources and gather the necessary information (evidence to support the main point - thesis). Depending on the required paper format, cite & reference the following sources:

• Books & e-Books

Base the project on a specific hypothesis. The research must start with minimum one hypothesis. The research stage for some topics may consist of visiting websites to collect information. Leave another time for collecting the data as it is the heart of the research. Three methods of data collection are known:

• Direct personal investigation : The one an author does individually (using literature and findings from previous studies);
• Interview/Questionnaire : The researcher should gather the data from the respondents asking questions regarding required data;
• Discussion with community leaders : Community leaders are approached to fetch information for the necessary data.

In case a student works on a scientific experiment, they should pay attention to planning the analysis with the help of rigorous scientific methods (keeping in mind the Health & Safety precautions you take). Review background information and theories. Take notes to express what you expect to occur to compare & contrast it to what happened in real life. In the write-up stage, one has to evaluate and present the findings.

Writing a Coursework Outline

The writing process follows the research. Do not start it without preparing an action plan and scheduling the work - a paper pin for English coursework is based on an extended essay . An outline will look different for the science coursework projects. The goal of creating a plan is to prevent a writer from being disorganized and waffling.

Let us explain coursework outline on the specific example - a project on the global pursuit of lower costs and the role of human rights.

Start with the brief introduction explaining why it might be a topic of interest for many people. Mention those vast corporations like Wal-Mart abuse human rights by choosing and using child labor in the factories.

Provide an overview of the problem . Define human rights and costs. Pick the definitions from the official dictionaries and cite them properly when inserting in the text. Try to explain the terms in your own words.

Develop a body of the coursework , start with the case for & against ethical business practices. Using evidence and examples, list the arguments supporting ethical business practices and another side of the coin. Include a business case for ethical practices after the opening body paragraph.

Move to discussing ethical responsibilities ; explain why business organizations should care about the ethical aspects of their activities. After three sections of the body, one can conclude the paper. It can be a good idea to share a fact or statistics stressing the importance of research problem in the essay conclusion. End up with the reference list that may look this way:

• Klein N (2000) No Logo (Flamingo, London)
• Marcousé I, Gillespie A, Martin B, Surridge M and Wall N (2003) Business Studies 2e (Hodder Arnold, Oxon)
• Royal Dutch Shell (2006) 4th Quarter Financial Report at (site example)

Additional Elements

Supporting materials and pictures are a must! The sciences & geography projects require tables, charts, graphs, and other types of images to illustrate the complicated topic. Not only should you add the pictures - it is essential to interpret and reference each of them. A separate part of the coursework where the student list and explains every visual element is Appendix , and it is an optional part. The presence of appendix increases the chances to earn an A+.

How to Write an Introduction for Coursework?

Most of the students underestimate the role of introduction & conclusion when it comes to writing an essay. An eye-catchy introduction is a key to success. The primary purposes of a coursework introduction are:

• To grab the reader’s attention
• To introduce the topic
• To explain the research importance
• To come up with a compelling thesis statement

The opening paragraph shows the depth of the writer’s acquaintance with the topic. Look at the expert tips below. They will help to learn how to write a coursework introduction to make the tutor want to read your entire paper.

What Is an Introduction?

The introduction of GCSE coursework is the opening paragraph that aims to interpret the central questions and purposes of the entire paper. It should have several elements to be effective. Those are:

• A hook sentence
• Background information
• Problem significance
• Solid thesis statement

Advice from our Experienced Writer

How to write an introduction to coursework? The quality of this part predetermines paper’s success. Look at some common mistakes writers do while working on the coursework introduction - try to prevent them!

Ignoring the prompt. Many students tend to neglect the tutor’s instructions. It is critical to read the prompt several times, highlight the main points, research question, rules, and grading rubric details.

Missing a plan. The prompt does not always say to develop a coursework outline. Without a plan for every separate section, it is impossible to write a flawless piece step-by-step. No matter whether you have to write a term paper, research paper, dissertation, or C3 coursework, get ready with the detailed plan. Once you understand how to write an introduction, it will be easier to develop the rest of the paper.

For those who need a helping hand in ensuring their work meets all the standards and deadlines, don't hesitate to buy coursework from trusted professionals.

Related Articles

A Level History Coursework Edexcel – A Guide

• Post author By admin
• Post date November 16, 2023
• No Comments on A Level History Coursework Edexcel – A Guide

This guide shows you how to plan, research and write A Level History coursework for Edexcel using ideas, resources, examples and structure. This coursework is weighted towards Assessment Objective Three (AO3) 15% and Assessment Objective One (AO1) 5%. This makes it substantially different from coursework assessed under AQA or OCR. For Edexcel coursework, the focus is on differing interpretations of the past and analysis of them, alongside your own view of the events.

A Level History Coursework Edexcel – Ideas, Examples and Resources

Question Format – The question that you decide to answer for the Edexcel Coursework will always use the following template.

• Historians have disagreed about [ the chosen question, problem or issue ].
• What is your view about [ the chosen question, problem or issue ]?

Thus, we can see that there are two parts to this coursework:

• Part 1 – dealing with the historian’s viewpoints which is (AO3) and worth 15%
• Part 2 – your own viewpoint which is (A01) and worth 5%  

Question Ideas, Example and Selection

There are two key points to consider when selecting a question, problem or issue for your coursework.

• Is there enough debate around this question? – There needs to be a scholarly debate around the question or issue. This means differing views on the question from different historians. This makes it easier to select appropriate works to analyse and compare.
• Can you access the appropriate resources? – You must use a minimum of three different key works as well as two supplementary works. Your three key works should hold opposing views about the question or issue. Let’s look at an example question to make this clear:

Historians have disagreed about the extent to which by 1924 the Russian people had exchanged one authoritarian regime for another. What is your view about the extent to which by 1924 the Russian people had exchanged one authoritarian regime for another?

• View 1 – Tsarist Rule was more authoritarian. (C. Hill argues this)
• View 2 – Bolshevik rule was more authoritarian. (R. Service argues this)
• View 3 – The regimes were equally authoritarian. (R. Pipes argues this)

This is the ideal example of having three viewpoints that would be spread across the historiographical spectrum. This helps us to engage with the historical debate and hit the following criteria for the coursework:

• analyse ways in which interpretations of the question or issue differ.
• explain the differences you have identified.
• evaluate the arguments, indicating which you found most persuasive and why.

You would then add to this a minimum of two supplementary works, (more is better) that would assist in helping you form your view and add weight to your analysis and arguments. Critically, you must be able to access all these resources to use them effectively in completing the coursework.  

Coursework Resources

• Library – school, local, college, university – you should be able to borrow appropriate works.
• Teacher – your teacher should be able to provide you with copies of appropriate resources to use.
• JSTOR – www.jstor.org – contains a large collection of journal articles from historical publications covering numerous topics. These will often engage in the historical debate by replying to opposing views.
• Purchase Books – many second-hand books are available to purchase at very cheap prices through Amazon or similar sites.

A Level History Coursework Edexcel – How to Research and Write

Researching the Coursework – When researching our coursework we use the resource record form, which acts as a bibliography to the books, articles and online resources we are using. As we go through these resources we want to make notes that help us to identify the overall argument of the historian. Key quotes or passages should be noted down, alongside a reference. If we then use this material in our write up, we can add the appropriate footnote.

Writing the Coursework – When writing our coursework we need to be aware of the total word count as well as making sure that we hit all the assessment criteria. This means dividing up the 4000 words (maximum word count) effectively between the assessment criteria. An example structure to implement this is shown in the next section.

A Level History Coursework Edexcel – Structure and Planning

First section – introduction to the overall question and key works (c. 1000 words).

Introduction to the overall topic. You need to put the question into context by providing relevant information regarding what was happening at the time. You then need to define any key terms in the question.

Example from our question above – authoritarian regime would be defined as ‘a regime in which power is highly centralised and maintained regardless of popular support, with the use of repression and violence’.

Finally, you need to set out valid criteria by which the question can be judged.

Example from our question and definition above – we need to compare the Tsarist regime to the Bolshevik regime in terms of:

• Centralisation of power .
• Power maintained despite lacking popular support.
• Power maintained through repression and violence.

You should now have a complete introduction to the topic (1 paragraph)

Introduction to the debate by placing each of the key works in the historiographical debate. You can also place your supplementary works on the historiographical line here. (1 paragraph)

Set out the arguments in extended detail from the three key works. What are the historians’ views on this question? (1 paragraph)

Show how the arguments from each of the key works differ or are like one another. (1 paragraph)

Summary of the views of the key works. (1 paragraph)

Second Section – Explaining why the key works differ from one another (c. 1000 words)

Introduction – You need to set out three valid criteria to explain why the key works differ. Why is it that the historians’ arguments differ? There are several different potential criteria that could be used here: When was the work written? What sources and evidence did they use? Have they defined the key terms of the question differently? Have they defined the criteria to answer the question differently? Do they have different scopes of enquiry? What is the purpose of the work? What is the historians background and view?

Example from our question – The historians have defined the key term to answer the question differently – C. Hill has focused on authoritarian being defined as lacking popular support. R. Service is more focused on authoritarian being defined through repression. R. Pipes is mostly focused on authoritarian being defined as a centralisation of power.  

The historians have defined the key term ‘authoritarian’ differently. (1 paragraph)    

Paragraphs – This is where you use the criteria set out from the introduction to this section. You want one paragraph per item of criteria that we are judging the key works on.

Example from our question – one paragraph regarding how the historians have defined the key term ‘authoritarian’ differently.

Then you need to consider the three works in terms of the criteria set out for that paragraph. Show why there are differences in the key works regarding that criteria and how that leads the historian to arrive at their interpretation. Use evidence to support your points. (3 paragraphs – 1 for each criterion)

Conclusion – Brief conclusion that offers a summary of why the key works are different. (1 paragraph)

Third Section – Your own viewpoint on the question (c. 1000 words)

Brief introduction of your own viewpoint and line of argument that will be taken, remembering to re-instate the criteria by which the question can be judged . (1 paragraph)

Paragraphs that set out your own view on the question. This is where you should be using the criteria set out in your introductions. You want one paragraph per item of criteria.

Example from our question – one paragraph regarding ‘centralisation of power’.

Then you need to bring evidence and analysis to assess the criteria being judged. You can also use the key works and the supplementary works in this section to help you. (3 paragraphs – 1 for each criterion)

Conclusion that reaches a judgement on the question and follows your line of argument that has flowed throughout. (1 paragraph)

Fourth Section – Evaluation and Judgement of the key works and of the question (c. 1000 words)

Go through each of the key works and make a judgement on how convincing and valid the arguments from the historians are compared to the criteria. (3 paragraphs – 1 for each key work)

Form an overall judgement on the question and an overall judgement on which of the key works is most convincing. These should broadly align together. (1 paragraph)   

How To Improve Further at A Level History

Pass A Level History – is our sister site, which shows you step by step, how to most effectively answer any A Level History extract, source or essay question. Please click the following link to visit the site and get access to your free preview lesson. www.passalevelhistory.co.uk

Previous and Next Blog Posts

Previous – A Level History Essay Structure – A Guide passhistoryexams.co.uk/a-level-history-essay-structure/

Next – A Level History Coursework AQA – A Guide passhistoryexams.co.uk/a-level-history-coursework-aqa/

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

7-Week SSP & 2-Week Pre-College Program are still accepting applications until April 10, or earlier if all course waitlists are full. 4-Week SSP Application is closed.

Celebrating 150 years of Harvard Summer School. Learn about our history.

Your Guide to Conquering College Coursework

Getting good grades in college can be a lot tougher than in high school. For many students, it requires building new skills and establishing new habits. Learning those skills now—before starting college—will help make your transition as easy and as successful as possible.

Mary Sharp Emerson

The transition from high school to college is a big one. Meeting new friends, living on your own, and creating your own schedule are just some of the new, exciting challenges that await you.   

In the excitement of starting a new life on campus, college coursework can sometimes become a second priority.

However, adjusting to college coursework is often the biggest challenge of all. Even the best students may be surprised at how difficult college courses are. The subject matter is more complex. The workload is larger. And instructors’ standards are higher.

Mastering college-level courses requires a new level of independence, advocacy, engagement, and time management.

You can prepare yourself to succeed before you even get to campus. Identifying the skills you need, and building those skills into established habits, will help make your transition to college academics, and college life, easier, less stressful, and more successful.

Be engaged in your college coursework

College courses require your full attention and active participation.

And the more you engage with your teachers, teaching assistants, and classmates both in and out of the classroom, the easier it will be for you to succeed in that class.

The importance of active listening

Active listening is one of the most critical parts of engaging in a course, according to Gina Neugebauer, assistant director of Harvard Summer School’s Secondary School Program.

“Professors and teaching assistants can tell if you’re actively listening. They notice if you’re taking notes and making eye contact. They also notice if you’re distracted by your phone or computer,” notes Neugebauer.

Active listening means not checking your social media accounts or texting friends during class.

It also means really giving the instructor and your classmates your full attention.

It sounds easy in theory but it takes practice. It can be tough to not think about all the work you have or your next party. But the more you work on actively listening, the easier it will be to not get distracted and miss important information in class.

Different ways to actively participate

Beyond active listening, there are many ways to participate in a course. And you can tailor your level of engagement to your personality and comfort level.

“It’s all about gauging what you’re comfortable with,” says Neugebauer.

“You may not be the person who raises their hand all the time but you actively respond to online discussion posts, for example. You may not feel comfortable talking in front of hundreds of students in a large lecture hall but you take advantage of TA office hours and email the instructor with questions.”

But don’t be afraid to push yourself if you aren’t someone who usually speaks up in class.

It’s ok to start small. Work on raising your hand in small seminars or discussion sections. As you gain confidence, you’ll find it gets easier to answer questions and share your opinions.

Build independence and advocate for yourself

In college, you are responsible for your own success. You will need to advocate for yourself and know when—and how—to ask for help. That requires a level of independence that you may not have needed in high school.

The good news is that instructors and teaching assistants want to help you.

“Instructors, on the whole, enjoy hearing from you. And they’d rather hear from you right from the start, rather than have you struggle on your own for three weeks,” says Neugebauer.

If you have a question about an assignment, send your instructor an email. Are you upset about a grade you got on a recent test? Visit your instructor or TA during office hours to discuss what went wrong and how you can improve.

But remember, says Neugebauer, professors are busy and you are only one of many students.

“Your email should include your full name, what course you’re taking, and a brief description of your question or concern. And you cannot expect an answer at 2 a.m. because that’s when you’re studying. When you reach out to an instructor, give them 24-48 hours to respond.”

And remember, always be respectful and non-confrontational.

Challenge yourself in a college course. Get a sneak peak at college life.

Explore summer programs for high school students.

Don’t be afraid to seek help

If you have excelled in high school without extra help, you might be tempted to persevere on your own.

In college, Neugebauer points out, asking for help is the norm.

“Once you get into your undergraduate program, you’ll find that almost everyone has, at some point, asked a TA for extra tutoring, gone to a tutoring center, or a writing or math center for extra help. It’s part of the learning process of an undergraduate program,” Neugebauer says.

Colleges have a variety of support systems in place to help you succeed.

TA office hours are a great place to start if you find yourself struggling with a specific concept or assignment. Peer tutoring programs enable you to learn from students who have been through the course themselves. Academic coaches can help with more general study tips or exam-related stress.

The key is seeking out help proactively, before you get too far behind. As the courses become more difficult, catching up becomes increasingly difficult.

Build time management techniques

Balancing everything that comes with life on a college campus can be difficult for many incoming college students.

“The biggest challenge we see facing high school students who are trying to adapt to college life is overcommitment. Students want to engage in every activity, a full course load, and even sometimes a part-time job. They don’t schedule enough time for self-care, quiet time, doing laundry, and plenty of study time. All those things take time,” Neugebauer says.

Good study habits and time management are key to avoiding the stress that comes from getting overcommitted.

Neugebauer recommends getting into the habit of keeping an accurate and up-to-date calendar.

“The best thing I can recommend is a calendar, such as Google Calendar. Use it to schedule everything: your class, your lunch time, time at the gym. It may seem counterintuitive, but work on scheduling literally everything, even sleep.”

Be sure to include assignments, tests, and other deadlines, as well as office hours for your instructors, TAs, and academic coaches.

Use your calendar to block off dedicated study time. And once you schedule it, stick to it! Avoid the temptation to procrastinate or use that time to hang out, play video games, or scroll on your phone.

Your calendar should also include dedicated time for self-care.

Regular mealtimes, good exercise habits, and a full night’s sleep are not only critical for your physical and mental health. You’ll also be surprised at how much they contribute to your academic success.

Challenge yourself as you engage in college coursework

Getting outside your comfort zone is a critical part of preparing yourself for the exciting challenges that await you in college.

“Being uncomfortable allows for growth. It means saying to yourself, ‘this is new. I want to try it. I want to see how it feels.’ This is all about adapting to a new environment but also examining yourself as a person,” says Neugebauer.

Taking on a new challenge—regardless of the ultimate outcome—builds resilience, mental toughness, and confidence, all of which you will need to succeed in your college courses.

But, warns Neugebauer, it’s also important to know your limitations.

“That uncomfortable feeling should be manageable. It should be a challenge but not so challenging that you feel panicked and wake up in cold sweats every night. It should be something that gets you a little nervous but also excited about what you’re involved in every day.”

However you decide to challenge yourself, it’s never too early to start if college is in your future. The sooner you start identifying and mastering the skills you need in college, the better prepared you’ll be to succeed right from day one.

Spend your summer at Harvard!

About the Author

Digital Content Producer

Emerson is a Digital Content Producer at Harvard DCE. She is a graduate of Brandeis University and Yale University and started her career as an international affairs analyst. She is an avid triathlete and has completed three Ironman triathlons, as well as the Boston Marathon.

8 Reasons Why Harvard Summer School Isn’t a Summer Camp — It’s So Much More!

Learn more about how a summer at Harvard offers so much more than your traditional summer camp experience.

Harvard Division of Continuing Education

The Division of Continuing Education (DCE) at Harvard University is dedicated to bringing rigorous academics and innovative teaching capabilities to those seeking to improve their lives through education. We make Harvard education accessible to lifelong learners from high school to retirement.

• Online Services
• Agency Listing

Administrative Services Certification Program

What is the administrative services certification program.

The Administrative Services Certification Program (ASCP) is a comprehensive training and certification program for support staff of governmental entities.  The program combines classroom training and hands-on learning to develop teamwork, leadership, and customer service skills.  Many agencies choose ASCP as their primary method for training support staff due to the results achieved by graduates.  ASCP graduates are highly regarded team members in their agencies and the State of Mississippi.

Who Should Attend?

ASCP is designed for those who provide administrative support within government agencies.  The training benefits administrators, clerks, receptionists, and those who support agency managers.  All support staff of state agencies are eligible for ASCP.

How do I register?

ASCP is offered twice per semester, four times per year.   Click here to view the current course schedule.  Learn how to register here .

What are the requirements?

In addition to completing Levels I - III, participants must successfully complete:

• Two (2) job-related projects
• One (1) reading assignment
• Three (3) written exams
• Ten (10) electives

Course Agenda

Ascp documents.

Administrative Services Certification Program Participant Information Sheet

Administrative Services Certification Program Computer Competency Certification Form

Administrative Services Certification Program Individual Development Plan Form

Administrative Services Certification Follow Up Form (Level I)

Administrative Services Certification Program Report - Post Session Summary (Level II)

Administrative Services Certification Program Required Reading Form (Level III)

Contact Information

For information about the Administrative Services Certification Program, contact Dionne Young at 601-359-2768 or via email at  [email protected] .

Accessibility menu

• Future students
• Current students
• Alumni & friends
• Faculty & staff
• Email & apps

Not sure what you're looking for? Browse the A-Z index

Quicklinks at your fingertips!

Select which audience you belong to and we'll display quicklinks and announcements tailored to you.

Spread your wings as a UW-La Crosse Eagle!

Experience the power of a UWL education through high-impact learning and life-long friendships, all while surrounded by the epic beauty of La Crosse. Follow your path. We’ll show you the way.

• Campus Life
• Explore our academic programs
• Fast facts about UWL
• Campus Safety
• Cost and Aid
• Map and Directions
• Scholarships
• UWL Bookstore
• Housing Information
• Textbook Rental

Choose another audience

You’re kind of a big deal!

You’re part of a group of truly amazing people. At UWL, we are inspired every day by the driven, active and engaged students who make us so proud. That’s right, you’re amazing!

• Course catalog
• Canvas support
• Class timetable
• Community Engagement for students
• Office 365 (email, calendar, collaboration)
• Residence Life
• My UW System (HR)
• Student Organizations
• Dining, meal plans
• Financial information
• Pay for print
• Cashier's Office
• Eagle Help Desk
• Password reset
• Academic advising

Here in La Crosse, people come together to work for the common good.

At UWL, we live out the Wisconsin idea of public service and community engagement. We are proud to work with our many partners in La Crosse, giving back every day to a community that generously supports our teaching, learning and service mission.

Work with the Community Engagement Office

• Advance your adult degree
• Attend an event
• Develop your organization
• Discover small business resources
• Engage with students
• Explore UWL-community partnerships
• Hire an Eagle
• Register for youth programs
• Visit campus
• Work at UWL

The "La Crosse Experience" stays with you for a lifetime.

UWL pride stays strong long after graduation! Stay connected with our beautiful campus and the faculty and friends who made your "La Crosse Experience" so special.

• Lantern Magazine
• Alumni Calendar
• Class Notes
• Campus Events
• Athletic Schedules
• UWL Alumni & Friends Foundation
• Volunteer at UWL
• A-Z Directory

Experts. Scholars. Public servants. Community members.

UWL consistently delivers a high-quality and life-changing experience. We’re able to do it because of you, our talented and dedicated faculty and staff. You are the reason for our excellence!

• Campus Connection
• Campus calendar
• HR homepage
• Course Catalog
• Community Engagement for Instructors
• Community Engagement for Staff
• Digital Measures (Faculty Success)
• My Mediasite
• Google Drive
• Transferology Lab

University of Wisconsin-La Crosse | uwlax.edu

•   Home
• Health Professions

Occupational Therapy

Admission requirements.

This program has a competitive admissions process. Please review the minimum requirements listed below prior to applying. Candidates who do not meet the minimum requirements and do not request special consideration will not be considered for admission.

*Starting with the 2022-2023 application cycle, there is no GRE requirement for this program.

Applicants must have completed a Bachelor's degree (in any degree area) prior to starting the program.

Science & Math

• 200 level or above
• UWL courses:  BIO 312 & 313

The two courses must each contain a lab component and curriculum must cover the majority of the following: c omprehensive physiological principles, membrane physiology, b ody fluid compartments, f luid & electrolyte balance, s ystems of the human body (skeletal, muscular, nervous, cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, endocrine, reproductive, & urinary).

• Examination of concepts using algebra & trigonometry, or calculus
• Matter, motion, energy, thermodynamics, waves, light, & electricity
• Biomechanics coursework is not an acceptable substitute
• UWL courses:  PHY 103 or 104
• Descriptive statistics, binomial and normal distributions, estimation, hypothesis testing, and introduction to Z, T, F, chi-square test statistics, computer use, and statistics software
• UWL courses: STAT 145

Social Science

• Emphasis on historical, theoretical, & methodological approaches to human development across the lifespan
• Psychological principles, concepts, and historical/recent research in various areas (i.e., prenatal, cognitive, language, social/emotional, and physical development)
• UWL courses: PSY 210 or PSY 212  
• Clinical descriptions, bio-psychosocial causes and associated treatments of psychological disorders with special emphasis on mood & anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, and assessment/diagnosis
• UWL course: PSY 204 or PSY 304
• Role of socio-cultural, socioeconomic, & diversity factors and lifestyle choices in contemporary society
• UWL course: any SOC or ANT course
• UWL courses:  HP 250, CHE 460, or RTH 355

The following tables list equivalent courses offered by many Midwest institutions:

• OT Course Equivalencies - Univ. of Wisconsin System
• OT Course Equivalencies - Wisconsin Private Colleges
• OT Course Equivalencies - UW Colleges (2 Year Campuses)
• OT Course Equivalencies - Univ. of Minnesota System
• OT Course Equivalencies - Minnesota State Colleges & Universities (MnSCU)
• OT Course Equivalencies - Minnesota Private Colleges
• OT Course Equivalencies - Minnesota Community & Technical Colleges

Prerequisite course completion timeline

You may apply to the program while completing prerequisite work. However, all prerequisite courses must be completed prior to beginning the program . 

Prerequisite science & math courses (Anatomy & Physiology, Physics, & Stats) must be completed within 7 years of application to program. All other prerequisite courses must be completed within 10 years of application.

Advanced Placement (AP) credit

The program accepts AP credit with an official undergraduate transcript listing  the specific credits/courses for which AP credit was granted, an AP exam score alone is insufficient for satisfaction of prerequisite requirements.

Graduate level transfer credits & advanced program placement

• Due to the tight sequencing and integration of the curriculum we do not accept didactic or clinical credits from other institutions
• Students must complete the entire OT curriculum at UWL
• Students must complete the entire OT curriculum at UWL, regardless of background, education and experience

Questions regarding prerequisite coursework?

Application Review Specialist 4033 Health Science Center [email protected]

• Course number
• Course description
• Institution at which the course was completed
• 3.00 minimum cumulative GPA required
• No more than two "C" grades in prerequisite coursework will be accepted

GPA is calculated on a 4 point scale by OTCAS. Applicants not meeting GPA requirement are ineligible for admission and will be removed from consideration.

A felony charge may affect your ability to obtain fieldwork placements and/or sit for the board examination.  

Save the Date

18th Annual Distinguished Lecturer

Speaker: Carol Chiang OTR/L, founder of Evolving Homes Topic: Use of technology to promote aging in place Date: Friday, April 5, 2024 from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm

2024 Distinguished Lecturer Registration Packet

Interested in learning more about the UWL OT Program?  We will host an Open House on Friday, February 9 from 1:00 to 4:00 pm .  A virtual option will also be provided for those unable to make it to La Crosse on that date.  Please RSVP by completing a brief online survey.

Meet Dr. Wags

Program welcomes Rossi, Canine Companions Facility Dog.

WEAU News Story

Health professions news feed