Take Cambridge University as an example. In 2023, a total of 341 students from China were admitted, and only 262 students were admitted successfully. Many of the more than 80 students who failed to enter the school as scheduled failed to meet the strict standards of Cambridge University precisely because of their A-level test scores.
This month, the results of ——A Level, a popular international course exam that many China students are competing for, were finally announced, which will affect the future of countless people. For many students, failing to reach the required scores in universities may mean that the hard-won admission notice will be dashed. Take Cambridge University as an example. In 2023, a total of 341 students from China were admitted, and only 262 students were admitted successfully. Many of the more than 80 students who failed to enter the school as scheduled failed to meet the strict standards of Cambridge University precisely because of their A-level test scores.
At the same time, many universities, such as University College London, began to make up records, which provided new opportunities for some students who failed to do so. This undoubtedly brings hope to those students who are facing challenges. Although their A-level scores fail to meet the requirements of the initial application, they still have the opportunity to continue to pursue their academic dreams.
According to the latest data, the number of applicants for this year's A-level exam has reached a new high. According to the data of Cambridge Examinations Bureau, more than 630,000 students from all over the world took the exam, an increase of 9% over the same period last year. This trend not only reflects the increasing popularity of international education, but also shows students' desire for high-quality education.
Then, from the data point of view, what new discoveries have been provided for us by the release of A Level results this year? Today, we will deeply analyze the current situation of A Level Examination Bureau, discuss its trends and changes, and help you better understand the influence of this important examination.
I. International courses suitable for China students
A Level course has always been regarded as an international educational choice that seamlessly connects with the learning needs and physique of China students. At present, there are more than 600 A-level certified schools in China, and this figure does not include a large number of educational institutions offering full-time A-level courses. This fully shows that, from the perspective of market share, A Level schools are firmly in the leading position among the three major international courses.
Take this year's situation as an example. In China, there are 20 new international schools that opened for the first time in September, of which more than half (11) are A-level schools. This trend not only reflects the wide recognition and demand of A Level courses, but also shows that more and more parents and students attach importance to international education.
With its flexible learning style and wide choice of subjects, A Level course can effectively cultivate students' independent thinking ability and critical thinking, and is favored by parents and students. In addition, the curriculum of A Level is highly compatible with the entrance requirements of many universities around the world, which makes students more competitive when applying for international higher education.
With the continuous development of the international education market, the popularity of A Level course is expected to continue to rise, providing more China students with quality education choices and broad development space.
2.Why is A Level course so popular?
A Level course is getting more and more popular in China students' choice of studying abroad, and there are many factors behind it, which are mainly reflected in the destination of studying abroad, the threshold for setting up courses and so on. Lai?
Related to the destination of studying abroad
China students show a relatively high success rate when they apply to top universities in Britain, such as Oxford and Cambridge. According to statistics, the admission probability of China students applying for Oxford and Cambridge is between 8% and 15%, and the actual number of students enrolled exceeds 400, which is in sharp contrast with the "climbing vine" success rate of famous American schools (only 0.51%). This phenomenon not only reflects the popularity of British higher education to China students, but also illustrates the advantages that China students have in the application process.
In addition, the number of China students studying in Britain is about 150,000, while the number of students studying in the United States is 290,000. Although the number of American universities is 10 times that of Britain, in terms of the density of students in China, almost all British universities are crowded with students from China, forming a phenomenon of "reverse study abroad". This trend of studying abroad makes A Level course as a bridge to famous universities in Britain, which attracts much attention.
Related to opening a threshold
The threshold for opening A Level course is relatively low. There are three major examination bureaus in China: CAIE in Cambridge, Edexcel in Edith and AQA in Oxford, and full-time courses can be offered only through certification. In contrast, the application and authorization cycle of IB courses is as long as 2 to 4 years, or even longer, and IBO evaluation is required every five years. This high threshold prevents many schools from offering IB courses, while the flexibility and efficiency of A Level attract more schools to join.
According to the statistics of the Daily Telegraph, among the 20 overseas schools with the largest number of students admitted by Niu Jian, China has 7 seats, including many training institutions. This shows that the recognition and demand of A Level courses in China market is increasing day by day, and schools and institutions have set up related courses to meet the needs of students studying abroad.
Related to the curriculum
The setting of A Level course enables students to focus on three or four subjects they are good at, which is similar in form to the college entrance examination in China and is convenient for students to adapt. The hard index of A Level course inspection conforms to the characteristics of exam-oriented education and can help students improve their grades in a short time, especially for those students who already have a certain foundation.
In addition, A Level has a clear syllabus, and the examination bureau updates the syllabus every three years, providing a stable learning framework. For example, the newly updated A Level Chinese subject syllabus of Cambridge Examinations Authority is more difficult than the Chinese first language exam, which provides greater convenience for students' learning. Compared with the unified textbook of IB course, the systematization and standardization of A Level make teachers more targeted in teaching and students easier to use.
Under such a trend, the number of A Level applicants has reached a new high this year. According to the latest data released by Cambridge Examinations Authority, June this year ushered in the biggest exam season in history. Students from more than 5,200 schools in 140 countries around the world actively participated, and the total number of applicants exceeded the 630,000 mark, achieving a significant increase over the same period last year, with an increase of 9%. This data not only reflects the global attraction of A Level course, but also highlights that China students' enthusiasm for this course is reaching a high point.
3.Competition for high scores: the rising rate of A*.
The score of CAIE in each big exam of Cambridge Examinations Bureau has attracted much attention because it has the largest number of authorized schools and the largest number of candidates, and is recognized as the most difficult. At this year's parting time, there are three observation points worthy of attention:
Britain's domestic A rate drops.
According to the Daily Telegraph, the A* rate and A rate in all parts of Britain are expected to drop to 25.4% this year, which is about 16,000 high marks, including 11,000 A scores.
According to official data, the A* rates of private schools, public grammar schools and public schools are 49.4%, 41% and 22.3% respectively.
China students have higher scores.
China students, who have always performed well in exams, scored against the trend last year. The ratio of A* to A grade in East Asia was as high as 58%, which was 28 percentage points higher than the global average. However, it should be noted that the evaluation of A grade is not based on a fixed "score line", but on the overall distribution of candidates' scores. Therefore, the final grade depends not only on the efforts and strength of candidates, but also on the overall level of competitors in the same field.
Specifically, the score of A Level exam consists of AS and A2, with a total score of 250 points, each accounting for 125 points. For China test area, a single set of test papers (usually AZ or AY) is used. In order to get A*, China candidates usually face higher score requirements. For example, in 2024, the score of physics subject A* of AY Option in China test area was 212, which was 3 points higher than last year, and the competitive pressure increased significantly. This means that with the increase in the number of candidates with high scores, China students are facing greater challenges in striving for high scores.
Changes of Students' Subject Choice in China
In addition to the overall score, the scores of individual subjects are also crucial, so the choice of subjects for China students becomes a key factor. According to the official data of Cambridge Examinations Authority, mathematics, physics, economics, chemistry, Chinese and advanced mathematics are the most popular A-level subjects for Chinese mainland students. In addition, the number of candidates in biology, computer science and Cambridge IPQ is also increasing significantly.
In the choice of subjects, apart from Chinese, China students have a long-standing preference for science, and the A* rate of science subjects is significantly higher than that of liberal arts subjects.