AS Levels are more important than you think. I am writing this review to reiterate how important these exams really are. By importance, I mean in terms of your overall A Level grade. People in my year at school had hopes of becoming doctors, vets, and lawyers. They thought however that you could breeze through this year with as little work as possible. They made a terrible mistake. Because they did not get high enough grades on AS papers in becameincredibly hard for them to increase their marks in harder papers next year in the A Level exams.

AS Levels are 50 % of your overall A level grade. I worked very hard in my AS year, and earned 4 A grades. Because of this, I need a grade 'C' on most of my papers at A level to get the grades I need to go onto University. A levels are worked out through UMS scores. Each subject is examined out of 600 UMS marks, 300UMS for the subject in AS and 300 at A level final year. These numbers are split into exams and corusework over the year. The higher you get at AS in the 'EASIER' exams, the easier the second year will be. I have done a lot less work this year and it has made me a calmer person knowing that you dont have to do as well as others in my final year. However, remember that you still must work to get decent grades at A level also. But with harder papers known as Synoptics, it is much harder to attain the grade you will want.

You must do well in the AS papers that are remotely easier than A level papers. This information is vital for any person taking AS Levels. This review is a warning to all those students who start their AS levels in the coming year. Work your asses off otehrwise you will be killing yourself a year later in your exams. My friends became completely tied down and many of them think that they wont get the grades they need to get to university because of how bad they did at AS level. People just dont realise that they are 50% of your mark.

On an AS Subject and A level -

240/300 UMS = A grade
210/300 UMS = A grade

On the AS papers it is easier than you know to get an 'A' grade. A paper has raw marks that are then calculated into UMS marks. For example, you can get 70% of your paper right and still get 120/120 UMS marks on that paper you took. This is why the nation is saying that exams are getting easier. However, this is what people dont notice. Next year it will be harder to et raw marks.

You dont need full marks on a paper to get full UMS marks. Take the advantage and do as best as you can at AS level. Slack off during the GCSE holidays. You deserve it. However, for parents who haev children that are carrying on into sixth form or going to college, you must reiterate the importance of these exams. Any one can get an A in these papers. I was a B/C student when I was younger. When I fiugred out the system though it made me smarter and wiser. These grades are possible.

If you do well at AS levels, then you should have a great chance, everyone of getting 3 B's on their subjects. I promise this to you. This can mean a better university with more subject choice, and a better future. (Well I hope so.)

AS Levels have been rated by me as 5 stars. Not because I like them. I hate revising and working. They are 5 star for importance, and this is what people must realise and I hope I have made at least 1 person realise their importance going into sixth form this coming school year.

Good luck this year to you guys/girls and parents this is of great importance to you. You have to make your kids realise its importance as a whole concerning the entire A levels.

Jelboy