A level course information

Information to help you decide

We hope this page will give you all the additional information you need as you select your AS and/or A level subjects.

We offer AS and A levels from CambridgeEdexcel and Edexcel International.

Cambridge AS and A level exams are held in May/June and in October/November each year both in the UK and internationally. The May/June sitting is the more widely available. There is also a March sitting in some subjects for students in India.

Edexcel UK AS and A level exams are only available in May/June, though they are available internationally.

Edexcel International AS and A level exams are available in January, May/June and October every year, but are not available to students in the UK.

All of our A level courses include a number of past exam papers in the final module. These include the most recent paper which can be taken as a mock exam and submitted to your Tutor for assessment and feedback for a modest additional fee.

In the UK, most students take three A level subjects over two academic years in order to apply for university. Strong academic candidates might consider taking an additional AS qualification or a fourth A level to boost their application for competitive courses. A levels can however be studied simply for pleasure.

Where they are applying for university, students should choose subjects that are either required or recommended for their desired university degree course. Information about entrance to UK universities is available at UCAS.

Homeschooling student

All Levels Open Event

Join us on Wednesday 20th March 2024 at 10am (UK time) to find out how homeschooling works with Wolsey Hall Oxford.

Our live presentation covers how our courses work at Primary and Secondary level and the extensive learning support we offer to students and their families. There is also a question and answer session for parents at the end.

Meet some A level students

Salma is homeschooling A levels in Uganda

Salma in Uganda

Salome is studying A levels in South Africa

Salome in South Africa

Sanjana is studying A levels in India

Sanjana in India

Kari is a gifted a level homeschooler

Kari in the UK

A level course information for homeschoolers

Additional information

  • If you are unsure of what an ‘equivalent’ qualification is in your country, our Admissions Team will be happy to discuss.
  • A level courses are designed to be taken over two academic years of study or about 16 months of continuous study.
  • You can find more information on our A level Exam Centres page.

Our AS and A level courses include:

  • Textbooks providing the core knowledge and understanding for each subject, usually endorsed by the relevant examination board.
  • Access to Canvas, our learning management system, with stimulating online and offline resources.
  • Assignments to complete at regular intervals throughout the course.
  • Fast and helpful assignment feedback from our Tutors (within 3-5 working days).
  • Student Progress Manager who will monitor your progress and who is available at all times for advice and help.
a level course information for homeschoolers

Hours of study

Our AS courses take approximately 250 hours of study, plus the time needed for preparation of each assignment (8-12 assignments per subject) and revision at the end of each course.

Our full A level courses take approximately 500 hours of study, plus the time needed for preparation of each assignment (16-20 assignments per subject) and revision at the end of each course.

The time could be longer or shorter than this depending on your ability as a learner, your organisational skills and the support you receive at home.

Study skills sessions can be booked for those students who need a bit of extra help organising and structuring their studies. See our Learning Support services.

We provide a handy study hours calculator to families to work out how many hours per week their child will need to study. The calculator takes into account holidays and exam dates.

a level course information for homeschoolers

Our promises to you

  • Should you wish to retake the exam because your result in any subject has fallen short of grades A* – C, we will provide full support at no extra charge for you to prepare for the next available examination.
  • You will have two years in which to complete your A level course. Should you wish to defer your exam beyond the original exam date, you may do so for a small additional fee.