Choosing the Course

This is an abbreviated version of the booklet
"Choosing new A and AS levels - a guide for English Departments"
produced by OCR.

Structure
There are three syllabuses from 2000 onwards, known as specifications. In English these are English Language, English Literature, English Language and Literature.

Each new specification is governed by subject criteria which determine both what is taught and how it is taught.

All the new A/AS levels have the same six-unit structure. Three of these make up the new AS (Advanced Subsidiary). All six units must be taken to form a full A level.

The AS units will be assessed at a standard between GCSE and A level.

There will be two examination sessions per year - one in January, one in June.

The new examinations can be taken in modular form (at intervals throughout the course); as staged examinations (all three AS level units taken together, then all three A level units at a later date); or as a linear examination (all six units at the end of the course).

Comment
Many schools will find a balance of maximum flexibility and minimum disruption by choosing the staged option. This would give students the chance of gaining an AS level in one year then deciding either to continue the course to A level in the second year or to make other decisions - leaving school, taking another AS, concentrating on existing academic commitments etc.
The three examinations taken together will fit in with the traditional end of year examination period though in this scheme there will of course be two year groups taking examinations at the same time.