A Levels are known as general qualifications because they are about extending your knowledge of a particular subject. They are at level 3 in the qualifications table and are also sometimes called 'academic' subjects. As well as being able to enter higher level jobs and training A Levels are at the minimum level required for entry to university. Though most A Levels are in traditional subjects there are now some Applied A Levels where there is a greater practical element linked to the world of work.

As with all learning routes you will need to think carefully about what is involved in studying A Levels, whether you will enjoy them, whether you can cope with them and whether they will take you where you want to be. Most A Levels involve theory and research and students are expected to do a great deal of study in their own time. A Levels are broken down into units, many of which involve exams, and there is usually the chance to resit individual units to improve grades. Look at the subjects on offer in your school or area and see if they look like the right qualification for you.

People choose A Levels for different reasons, often to improve their qualiification levels and so open more opportunities for themselves later on. Some have Higher Education (HE) in mind and want to take A Levels so they can meet the entry requirements, others want to enter the world of work, perhaps on an Advanced Apprenticeship or on a company training scheme, but need level 3 qualifications first. Many young people simply haven't made up their minds what they want to do so taking A Levels gives them another 2 years where they can keep all options open.

There are many subjects available at A Level but, as with other qualifications, each school or college can only offer a selection. Though this may sound restricting this is not normally the case. Schools and colleges offer the most popular courses that students want to take and can even introduce new courses if there seems to be a demand for them. You may find that if you're really struggling picking from the subjects on offer that perhaps A Levels aren't for you in which case you could look at other learning routes.

Check out your own 6th form prospectus, or the prospectuses of local 6th forms, 6th form colleges and Further Education (FE) colleges. There should be a good selection of A Levels on offer. Make sure you read the small print though - many students choose subjects without really knowing what is involved in studying them. A bit of research now can save problems with a course later on, or prevent you from dropping out altogether.

These are not separate qualifications to A Levels, they are in fact the two parts of the A Level qualification. An AS Level is the first half of the A Level which you take in Year 1. The A2 part is the second half of the A Level and you need to pass this to achieve the full A Level qualification. AS Levels are qualifications in their own right and were introduced to enable students to study a broader range of subjects in their first year. Which subjects you take at AS Level and which ones you continue to A2 will depend on your own circumstances.

Most students studying straight A Levels will choose 4 subjects at AS Level and drop down to 3 subjects at the end of the first year. They continue the remaining 3 subjects at A2 Level. This means they would finish after 2 years with 3 and a half A Levels. However, there are many variations to this pattern depending on your own circumstances - some students may take 2 full A Levels, some may take up to 5.

Some students combine A Levels with other subjects to make the best learning programme for them. This will usually have timetable implications so you may find you can't do all the combinations you would like. Popular combinations are A Levels with a 14-19 Diploma, perhaps an A Level with a BTEC National Diploma or even A Levels with one or two GCSE resits (eg, to achieve higher grades in Maths and English). If you have definite ideas about what you want to combine you may need to look at a range of learning providers to see where you can take that combination.

Normally students progressing to A Level subjects will need at least 5 A* - C grades at GCSE or equivalent. This general standard shows teachers, tutors and lecturers that you can cope with the demands of learning at a certain level. However, you must look at specific entry requirements for certain subjects very carefully as not all learning providers will have the same criteria. For example, for some A Level subjects you may need specific grades at GCSE (eg, you may need a B grade in Maths to take Maths A Level).

Entry requirements for A Level courses should be seen as a guide only and whilst they are important most schools, 6th form colleges and FE colleges will always take into account individual factors when deciding whether to accept you onto A Level courses. Some young people may have had an illness during GCSEs, may have had exam nerves or perhaps been going through personal problems. These and other reasons can contribute to poorer grades than the young person was capable of and most places will be more than willing to give someone a chance once they have discussed these issues with them.

In the past having A Levels was the most common route to gain entry to university, however now there are different routes into Higher Education (HE) that reflect the different learning styles and career plans of young people. You can go into HE with a range of level 3 qualifications such as the Advanced 14-19 Diploma, BTEC Nationals, NVQs and CACHE qualifications to name just 4. It is extremely important, though, that you check out HE entry requirements very carefully. Do not assume that simply because you have level 3 qualifications you will be able to apply for any HE course.