A-levels 'could be reformed'

July 05 2010

A-level exams could be overhauled over the coming years to make them more rigorous for pupils.

Education secretary Michael Gove is keen to put more focus on examinations, rather than modules and coursework.

In an interview with the Sunday Times, he said he is keen to revive "the art of deep thought" and better prepare pupils for third-level education.

"We need to ensure that the knowledge expected of A-level students is such that they can hit the ground running (at university) and they don't need, as some have suggested, four-year courses or catch-up tuition," Mr Gove told the publication.

He is keen for AS-levels - exams taken in the first year of sixth form - to be scrapped in the near future.

There are currently more than 80 AS and A-level subjects available to students in the UK.
The qualification was last reformed in 2001 by the Labour government in a bid to increase the number of subjects available.

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