The age of students while learning GCSEs is from 14-16 and if a student knows the value of GCSEs for doing A-levels makes the students concentrate and aim for good GCSE grades. But there are many students who don’t know about it.
Generally, you will need to have 4 GCSEs to get the A-levels. Though it depends upon the subject you want to take up. Further, we have discussed it in detail.
How many GCSEs do you need to do A-Levels?
GCSE stands for general certificate of secondary education which is completed by the student in years 10 and 11. But there are many students who take 9 or 10 GCSEs. The students should take the GCSEs by thinking of courses they want to do after school. As if the subject chosen by the students in GCSEs is not continuing in A-levels further it will be a waste to choose that subject. The students before choosing the GCSEs should know about the aim they want to achieve and according to that should choose the GCSEs subject.
There are different requirements in different sixth-form colleges for GCSEs and to study A-levels. There will be some colleges in which the minimum requirements for GCSEs will be 4 to study A-levels so before choosing the GCSEs the students should make sure to check the minimum requirements of GCSEs in the colleges. Also, you must remember the difference between the A-levels and GCSEs.
What GCSE Subjects do students Need to do A-Levels?
The requirements of GCSE subjects to do A-levels are different. For example, if a student is doing A-levels psychology the subject needed is GCSE math and to study BTEC art the student needs to take GCSE art. So the students should research what A-level studies they are doing to continue in the future and what are the requirements of GCSEs in that course.
What GCSE Grades do students Need to do A-Levels?
You should have grades between 4-9 in order to get into the sixth form college in which the subject must include being passed in English language and math to do A-levels. The requirements of grades to do A-levels are also different.
For example, if you aim to become a scientist then the minimum requirement for GCSE is 6 grades in GCSE science, if you want to do A-levels in Psychology the minimum requirement for GCSE is 6 grades in GCSE math and if you want to do A-levels English literature the minimum grade required in GCSE is 6 in GCSE English language. Thus it is important for you to choose your GCSEs wisely.
Can Students Go to Sixth Form College if they Fail Some/All of Your GCSEs?
If the students fail in GCSE subjects like English language and math they do have the option to retake GCSE with continuing their A-levels studies. But getting to study A-levels if the student fails in the GCSE subject depends on how many GCSE subjects and in which subject.

But when the students fail the GCSE subject such as English or math the students will not be able to study A-levels English literature as passing In GCSE English is required to study A-levels English literature. If the students want to study English literature further they need to give the GCSE English exam again so that they get the grades with are required to continue A-levels study. If the student fails most of the subjects in GCSEs it will be hard for the students to study A-levels at a sixth form or college. So failing in most subjects will make the students repeat year 11 and resit all the GCSEs subjects again.
What to do if the student is not able to meet the requirements of A-levels?
The following are some options that the students can do if they are not able to meet the requirements of A-levels:
1. Resit a GCSE subject
Failing in most subjects including English language and math left the students with a choice to resit year 11. If the students only fail in one subject out of math and English they meet the requirements of the sixth form then the students will be able to continue A-levels study but they have to retake the exam in math or English while studying A-levels studies.
2. Get remarking on exams
If the student is confident that they deserve more grades in GCSE they can appeal for paper remarking. For remarking the student needs to contact the school and apply for remarking in which the student has to pay some amount also but if the grade after remarking is increased then the money will be refunded. There is also a bad effect as if remarking the grade is reduced the students will get less grade than.
3. Complete a vocational college course
To meet the requirements for A-levels study the students can take a vocational course in which they are made to study one subject and make the student study all the skills required to progress in the career in which the student wants to continue further.
4. Access to the HE course
The student can apply for access to higher education courses by which the student will have direct access to university in a specific subject area.
Conclusion
The requirements of GCSEs to continue for A-levels are different so the students need to check what the minimum requirements are to study a particular A-levels study. The minimum requirement for A-levels science is 6 grades in GCSE science.
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