B.S> College: GCE A-Levels

The GCE A-Level System

The GCE A-Level system is the traditional British means of entry for all Universities in Great Britain, in force since 1951. It remains to this day the "gold standard" for entry into UK universities, whether an applicant is British or from any other country in the world. For example, 6 out of 7 students at Oxford University, enter after a GCE - A Level programme of study and examinations. Put simply, GCE A-Levels are the respective Pan-Hellenic examinations in the UK..

What comprises the GCE A-Level programme

This programme usually includes 3 subjects, depending on what one wishes to study at the UK universities selected. For example, the required subjects for Engineering Schools are Mathematics, Physics and a third elective, while Medical Schools required subjects are Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics or Physics. However, since competition for certain Schools and Universities is high, the selection of a fourth subject increases the candidate's chance of successful entry. All subjects are taught in English and teaching hours range from 6-8 teaching hours per week.

Examinations and Subject Grading

The syllabus for each subject in the GCE A-Level programme is divided into 4-6 sections, and examinees are tested in each section separately. All exams are written, and are held twice a year, in January and June. Each test for each module is graded separately, and counts equally in the final grading of each subject. This enables examinees to focus only on the material processed each time; additionally, if an examinee does badly in one section, there is always the opportunity to adjust the overall grade, by scoring high in other sections or by re-sitting the examination for the particular module and not for the whole subject. The examinations take place at specific Examination Centres in Athens, with the question papers arriving from the UK, where they are sent back for grading; the question papers are exactly the same across Europe: this places Greek examinees on an equal basis with all other applicants to British Universities, as well as providing high levels of test security. Today there are 5 recognized organizations in the UK carrying out tests for GCE A-Level, with two of them having an international presence. These two organizations (Examination Boards), which perform examinations worldwide, are Edexcel - former University of London - and the University of Cambridge. Regarding the final score for each subject and therefore the required grades for admission to British Universities, these are defined from A * - C in accordance with the following scale:

Α* : 90-100%

Α : 80 - 89%

Β : 70-79%

C : 60-69%

D : 50-59%

Ε : 40-49%

Who the GCE A-Level Programme is addressed to

Although the Foundations Programme of B.S. College is accepted by most British universities for admission to the first year of study, there are some specific faculties such as Medicine, and some elite universities such as Oxford, Cambridge, LSE, UCL, Imperial, Kings College, and Warwick, which only accept GCE A-Levels, whether in combination with a Greek School-leaving Certificate (Apolytirion), or without it. This programme is aimed at those candidates who have the ambition and skills to study at these universities, as well as those who would like to study Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Science, or Speech Therapy. The programme is also aimed at students who already follow a foreign educational system (e.g. the International Baccalaureate) and would like to enrich their knowledge in specific subjects or to obtain further academic qualifications for admission to specific British Universities.

Duration of the GCE A-Level Programme

The GCE A-Level Programme is aimed at Lyceum students and graduates. Usually the program is taught in one or two academic years, as follows:

Lyceum graduates have the ability to take 2-4 subjects for one academic year, depending on the degree of their Apolytirion, their chosen field of study, as well as the University of their choice.
Students in the 3rd Lyceum Grade are given the opportunity to take 1-2 subjects along with their Greek Lyceum classes, and either continue by taking two more subjects after they graduate from the Lyceum, or choose to enter a UK university in September of the same year they graduate from the Lyceum, provided they have very high Apolytirion grades.
Students in the 1st and 2nd Lyceum Grades are given the opportunity to take 1-2 subjects in an academic year, depending on their abilities, with a planned completion of their GCE-A Level Programme upon graduation from the Lyceum.

Cost of the programme

The GCE A-Level programme costs €3,500 (EUROS) per subject. For applicants who have consciously committed themselves to studying in the UK, the total cost is less than the cost of preparing for the equivalent Pan-Hellenic examinations. The above cost does not include the cost of Examination Fees payable directly to the Examination Boards, which are approximately €300 (EUROS) per subject.