Qualification details

• General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE)
• Advanced Subsidiary and Advanced level (AS/A level)
• Advanced Extension Awards (AEAs)
• A levels in applied subjects
• 14-19 Diplomas
• National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs)
• Vocationally Related Qualifications (VRQs)

General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE)

Should you not get the grades that you were expecting, some schools and colleges offer the option of retaking your GCSEs in order to gain an improved grade. Some offer new GCSE courses. Getting better GCSEs could help you to get the job or the college place that you want.

Advanced Subsidiary and Advanced level (AS level and A level)

• You can choose from a wide range of subjects at AS and A level. You could continue with subjects you studied at GCSE, or take up a new subject not offered at GCSE, for example sociology, law or philosophy.
• Find out what is available at sixth forms and colleges in your area.
• Most students take three or four AS subjects in the first year and carry three on as A2 subjects in the second year to gain full A levels. From September 2008, the number of units of work will be reduced from six to four in most subjects at A level.
• From September 2008, an optional extended project will be available. This will increase the range, breadth and challenge of A levels available. The extended project is a single piece of work that requires students to explore a subject independently and in depth. It is a free-standing qualification and can be completed at various stages.
• Most A level subjects involve a combination of examinations and coursework. Optional coursework is not available.
• Higher education modules now allow you to work in greater breadth and depth, and also enable you to develop your independent working skills in preparation for progression on to higher education courses.

Advanced Extension Awards (AEAs)

If you are likely to get A grades in your A level studies, there is the option of taking an Advanced Extension Award, which can provide proof of a greater depth of understanding than an A level. These are available in several subjects.

A levels in applied subjects

• A levels are also available in a wide range of applied subjects, for example applied art and design, applied business, applied ICT, applied science, engineering, health and social care, leisure studies, media communication and production, performing arts, and travel and tourism.
• They involve assessments to measure skills and coursework to examine understanding.
• They provide practical skills and an understanding of what it's like to have a job.
• They can be taught in schools or in conjunction with local colleges and training providers.
• Entry requirements may be more flexible than for academic A levels - check with sixth forms or colleges

14-19 Diplomas

• Do you want a real alternative to traditional qualifications? The 14-19 Diploma can help you develop work-relevant skills, knowledge and understanding in an exciting, creative and enjoyable way. You will experience different styles of learning in different settings, often in a more adult environment.
• From September 2008, you may be able to do a Diploma in Creative & Media; Construction & the Built Environment; Engineering; Information Technology; or Society, Health & Development. Find out whether any of these Diplomas will be on offer in your area.
• By 2013, you will be able to take one of 14 different Diplomas at Levels 1, 2 and 3 covering all the sectors of the economy. They will sit alongside, and sometimes incorporate, A levels and GCSEs.
• Diplomas will give you the essential knowledge and personal skills that you will need for college, university or work and help you make choices about what career you want to follow.
• Diplomas will offer you a mix of theoretical and practical learning, including functional skills in English, mathematics and ICT, and personal learning and thinking skills, such as independent enquiry, creative thinking or team working.
• Through the additional/specialist learning part of your Diploma you will get the opportunity to study a particular topic in more depth or broaden your studies through complementary learning. This could include GCSEs or A levels.
• You will also take on an extended project as part of your Diploma, which will allow you to plan and organise your own learning. At Level 3 the project will demonstrate project management and other higher skills that you need for university.
• Your Diploma, at whatever level, will also include at least 10 days of work experience.

Find out how to access your Local 14-19 Prospectus at: www.dcsf.gov.uk/14-19.

For more information speak to your Connexions personal adviser or careers co-ordinator.

National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs)

• There are more than 900 NVQs, designed for people interested in gaining practical skills and knowledge in a specific industry, for example beauty therapy, travel services, veterinary nursing or plumbing.
• They are work-related qualifications that reflect the knowledge and skills required to do a job effectively.
• There are no formal entry requirements, although you need to have experience of specific areas of work for the higher levels.
• There are five levels of NVQ. Most 16-19 year olds start on Levels 1 to 3, depending on their experience and qualifications.
• Each level is divided into units of competence that cover different aspects of work.
• NVQs are assessed through observation of practical tasks linked to the work role and continual assessment through the creation of a portfolio of evidence.

Vocationally Related Qualifications (VRQs)

• A wide range of other vocationally related qualifications are available from different awarding bodies, such as City & Guilds and Edexcel BTEC.
• They are designed to provide you with the relevant skills and knowledge needed for your chosen vocational area, for example in subjects like food hygiene, hospitality and public services.
• They are work-related qualifications which vary in length, from short programmes to a BTEC First Diploma, which is roughly the same size and at the same level as four GCSEs (A-C).
• They have a practical approach to learning, and are made up of units and modules which are assessed through assignments. You will build a portfolio of evidence of your knowledge, skills and understanding of your chosen work area.