AS-level ‘killed off’ by A-level reforms as take-up falls by 52 per cent

School leavers’ results released today signal the death of AS-levels, with the number of the exams taken by students dropping by more than 50 per cent in just one year.

There were only 346,126 AS-level entries this year, compared with 728,039 in 2017, a drop of 52.5 per cent, official figures show. Take-up in every individual subject has fallen by at least 20 per cent.

The huge drop has been blamed on reforms brought in by former education secretary Michael Gove, which “decoupled” AS from A-levels.

Students could previously take an AS exam at the end of one year of study, and then convert it into an A-level in their final year of sixth form. Marks achieved at AS-level contributed to half an A-level. Now AS-levels are stand-alone qualifications and are assessed by an end-of-course exam, rather than being split into modules.

Critics of the changes argue that AS-levels encouraged students to take a wider range of subjects, due to their modular nature, and were vital for universities when they made offers of places, as they provided a gauge of ability after the first year of sixth form.

Supporters say the move means students take fewer exams and are therefore freed up for more in-depth study spanning two years.

Professor Alan Smithers, director of the Centre for Education and Employment Research at the University of Buckingham, said: “We are seeing the demise of the AS. The drop-off means schools, parents and students think AS-levels have largely served their purpose.” He added that AS-levels were originally useful because many young people were leaving sixth form at 17 without anything to show for it. Now they have to study until they are 18.

Professor Smithers said the fall could be a factor in bringing down the overall top A-level results this year. He explained: “People used to begin more A-level subjects, and after getting their AS-level grades would continue with those subjects they were on course for a good A-level grade with. Those that were not working out they tended to discard. Now they don’t get the same preview of how they will do at A-level.”