Cambridge International AS & A Levels are two-year, subject-based qualifications for students aged 16–19, examined by Cambridge International (CAIE) and accepted by universities worldwide, including the UK, US, India, Singapore and Australia. AS is the first half; A Level is the full qualification.
What is the difference between AS Level and A Level?
AS Level is the first year’s content, examined and certificated in its own right; A Level is the complete two-year qualification. Cambridge lets students take the AS route first and “carry forward” that result into the full A Level, or sit everything at the end. AS alone carries roughly half the weight of a full A Level in university applications.
How many subjects should my child take?
Three full A Levels is the standard university-entry load (four for the most competitive courses, where the fourth is often Further Mathematics). Quality beats quantity everywhere: three A*s outrank five Bs on every admissions desk in the world.
How are Cambridge A Levels graded?
A* to E, all externally examined. There is no coursework in most subjects; where practical work exists (sciences), it is examined as a practical paper rather than teacher-assessed. Grade thresholds are set per session, so a hard paper does not punish a strong cohort.
When are the exams, and can papers be retaken?
Cambridge runs two international sessions a year — June and November — with results roughly two months after each. A student can resit a whole qualification, or resit the AS year to improve the carried-forward half. This structure is quietly one of the strongest safety nets in post-16 education: a disappointing June is repairable in November without losing a year.
Do universities prefer A Levels or IB?
Neither, officially — every major admissions system accepts both. The honest difference is shape: A Levels reward depth in three chosen subjects; IB requires breadth across six plus its core. A child with a clear direction (medicine, engineering, law) often plays to strength with A Levels; a genuine all-rounder may prefer IB. Our counselling team maps this against actual target courses rather than in the abstract.
Are Cambridge A Levels accepted in India?
Yes — the Association of Indian Universities recognises them as Class 12 equivalent, subject to combination requirements (and specific courses like medicine have their own subject rules). Indian students increasingly use A Levels as the flexible route to both Indian and international universities simultaneously.
Can my child do Cambridge A Levels online?
Yes — the full programme can be taught online and examined at authorised centres. What matters is who stands behind the exam entry: taught 1:1 and live at Catalyze, with exam pathways handled through our accredited-centre infrastructure rather than left to families to navigate as private candidates.
Explore: What is International A Level? · Cambridge programmes at Catalyze · UK A Level explained
Frequently Asked Questions
Is AS Level half of an A Level?
Yes — AS covers the first year’s content at a gentler standard and typically carries about half the UCAS weight; it can be banked and carried forward into the full A Level.
How many A Levels do universities require?
Three is standard; the most competitive courses may value a relevant fourth. Offers are made on grades in three.
Can you retake Cambridge A Level exams?
Yes — in the next session (June or November), either the AS component or the full qualification, with the better result standing.
Are Cambridge A Levels harder than CBSE Class 12?
Different rather than harder: fewer subjects in far greater depth, with analytical exam questions instead of syllabus recall. Students strong on understanding usually find the transition energising.
What subjects should my child pick for medicine or engineering?
Medicine: Chemistry and Biology, usually with Mathematics or Physics. Engineering: Mathematics and Physics, ideally with Further Mathematics for the top courses. Check specific university requirements before finalising.
Does Catalyze teach Cambridge AS & A Levels?
Yes — live and 1:1 across sciences, mathematics, economics, business and English, with the same diagnostic-first intake (Lesson Zero) every programme begins with.