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IF YOU'RE TAKING A-levels and expect to get an A grade, it might also be worth going for an Advanced Extension Award (AEA). It gives you the chance to show how deeply you understand a subject. |
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Advanced Extension Awards ask you to use the knowledge you have gained during your A-level studies, and then apply it more widely and critically than in the A-level exam.
Because AEAs are designed for the top 10% of students, they also allow universities to tell the difference between the most able candidates, especially in subjects where many students get A grades.
The AEA is at level 3 on the National Qualifications Framework. The framework shows how different types of qualifications compare, in terms of the demands they place on learners.
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You take a written exam that's assessed by external examiners.
You'll be expected to demonstrate use of critical analysis, good evaluation and the ability to pull together different topics.
There are two pass grades for an AEA - distinction and merit. If you do not reach the standard for merit you will be graded unclassified.
From 2006, AEAs officially count towards the UCAS tariff to get in to higher education. A distinction is worth 40 points, and a merit 20. This is over and above the points you get for your A-levels.
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AEAs are normally taken by students studying A-levels, so there's no need to attend extra classes or learn new topics. However, it's possible take the AEA without the A-level itself.
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What subjects are available? |
AEAs are available in 19 subjects. In most cases, it's advisable for you to be studying (or to have finished studying) an A-level in the same subject. More information can be found on the QCA website.
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Directgov - Advanced Extension Awards
www.direct.gov.uk/...
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