Home | Academic | Subjects | Pre A-Level

Pre A-Level

Who is the Pre A-Level course at St Andrew’s for?

The Pre A-Level course at St Andrew’s College Cambridge is designed for international students who want a year of academic and language preparation before committing to a full A-Level programme. The Pre A-Level Cambridge route suits two types of student. The first is the student with an IELTS of around 4.0 to 4.5 who is academically capable but needs structured English uplift to handle the demands of A-Level lessons in the UK. The second is the student who wants a year to settle into the British system, get used to the style of teaching, and build the study habits that A-Level success depends on. As a Pre A-Level course UK provider with NCFE accreditation, we have built the programme around exactly these needs.

The Pre-A Level course, accredited by NCFE and inspected by ISI, is designed for students who wish to progress onto an academic course such as A-level or Foundation. The course, which aims to improve a student’s English, enables students to become familiar with vocabulary, culture and ethos of particular subjects and to familiarise themselves with key learning methods and texts.

Students, minimum age of 15 years, can start in either September or January and must have at least IELTS 4.0 for September entry or 4.5 for January entry to access the course. IELTS teaching at St Andrew’s is very strong and most students progress by 1.5 grades by the end of the year. What really makes the difference is the small class sizes so that every student receives significant attention and support.

All students study English (including English for Academic Purposes) and Maths and choose a particular path of interest from science, creative, computing, sporting, humanities or business.

Hours of Study (per week)

English Tuition	12 hours
Maths	4 hours
Two GCSE subjects of your choice	4 hours study for each subject
Daily personal tutor session

Key Information

September Intake	January Intake
Minimum age 15 years	Minimum age 15.5 years
Course length 1 year (3 terms)	Course length (2 terms)
English requirement IELTS 4.0	English requirement IELTS 4.5
28 hours of study per week	35 hours of study per week

Pathway Subjects

What pathway can I take on the Pre A-Level course?

Every Pre A-Level student studies core English and Mathematics, then chooses subjects from one of six pathways depending on their long-term direction. The Scientific pathway suits future Engineers, Medics and Scientists. The Creative pathway suits future Architects, Fine Artists and Designers. The Computing pathway suits future Computer Scientists and Software Engineers. The Sporting pathway suits future Sports Scientists. The Humanities pathway suits future Historians, Lawyers and Linguists. The Business pathway suits future Economists and Business students. Each pathway is structured to lead naturally into the matching A-Level subjects or into the University Foundation Course.

Scientific Pathway	Biology, Chemistry, Physics
Creative Pathway	Art and Design, Photography, Music
Computing Pathway	Computer science, Physics, Economics
Sporting Pathway	Physical Education, Biology, Geography
Humanities Pathway	Geography, Latin, Business
Business Pathway	Latin, Business, Economics

In terms of assessment, all students take exams at the end of each term in the subject studied as well as mock exams at the end of each term. Results for each subject or pathway are averaged to give a final percentage per subject or pathway and credits awarded accordingly. The Art pathway will be reviewed at the end of each term the same as the other pathways and a mark allocated based on work completed at that point in time based on the brief for the term. On completion of the results, each student will meet with his or her tutor and an Individual Learning Plan (ILP) put in place if applicable.

In addition to the internal exams students may also sit external GCSE / iGCSE in the subjects shown. English is examined via external IELTS examinations,

The table below will show the credits that can be awarded for each exam session:

Percentage Achieved	Credits
80% +	50
70 – 79%	40
60 – 69%	30
50 – 59%	20
40 – 49 %	10
0 – 39%	0

Progression

Where do Pre A-Level students go next?

Most Pre A-Level students continue at St Andrew’s into a full two-year A-Level programme. Some progress directly into the University Foundation Course where the pathway and English-level fit is stronger. A smaller group use Pre A-Level as a bridge into a second attempt at GCSE in particular subjects before A-Level. Our personal tutors plan progression early in the year so every student knows their next step well before the end of the course.

For a student to progress to their chosen A-Level or Foundation course they will need to obtain the following credits and or exam results over the academic year:

Subject	Credits Required
Maths	70
English	60
Pathway	60

The credit system is put in place to enable students to move freely between pathways and still achieve the progression required.

Support subjects

The Pre A-Level course is supported by the following non-examined subjects:

PSHE Personal Social and Health Education
PE

The credits for the above are awarded if 95% attendance is achieved over the duration of the course.

Awards

The Pre A-Level course is awarded as a credit-based qualification through NCFE. The credit system exists so that universities and onward schools can see exactly how a student has performed across each module of the year, rather than relying on a single final grade. The detail below sets out how credits are awarded, what progression thresholds look like, and how the credits map to next-step courses at St Andrew’s.

Pass: To obtain at least 190 credits in the Pathways and support subjects

Attendance: Students must have a 95% or above attendance rate in order to receive an award.

Completion of work: Students must complete all work on time.

FAQs

What is the Pre A-Level course?

A one-year, NCFE-accredited preparation programme for international students aged 16 and over who want to build their English and academic foundations before starting A-Levels.

Who is Pre A-Level designed for?

Students with an IELTS of 4.0 to 4.5 who want a year of structured English uplift and academic preparation before A-Level. It is particularly suited to students new to the British education system.

What English level do I need?

A typical entry point is IELTS 4.0 to 4.5. Students who already have IELTS 5.5 or above are normally a better fit for the 2.5 Year A-Level or the University Foundation Course.

What can I do after Pre A-Level?

Most students continue into a full A-Level programme. Some progress to the University Foundation Course depending on their target subject area.