Taking A-Levels Abroad: A Complete Guide for Expat Families
A-Levels remain the most widely recognised qualification for UK university entry, and they are available far beyond the borders of the United Kingdom. Cambridge International qualifications are offered at thousands of schools across more than 160 countries, and Pearson Edexcel International A-Levels extend this reach further still. For expat families whose children are heading towards UK or Commonwealth universities, A-Levels taken at an international school carry the same currency as those sat in Britain.
This guide explains how A-Levels work in an international context, which subjects universities care most about, how grades and UCAS points are calculated, and what families need to know about the practical logistics of sitting examinations abroad.
Which Awarding Bodies Offer International A-Levels?
Two main awarding bodies offer A-Level qualifications at international schools:
Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) — the dominant provider globally. Cambridge International AS and A-Levels are available in over 55 subjects and are sat by students in more than 160 countries. Results are issued in August for the May/June series and in January for the October/November series.
Pearson Edexcel International A-Level — widely used in the Middle East, South Asia, and parts of Africa. Edexcel International A-Levels are structured similarly to Cambridge's but are a distinct qualification. They are accepted by UK universities in the same way.
Both are fully recognised by UK universities, UCAS, and universities worldwide including in the US, Australia, Canada, and Singapore. When checking with a university's admissions office, specify which awarding body your child's school uses, as syllabuses differ between CAIE, Edexcel, and domestic UK boards.
How A-Level Grades Work
The Grading Scale
A-Level grades run from A* (highest) to E (lowest pass). A U grade (Ungraded) is a fail. In order:
A*, A, B, C, D, E, U
The A* grade was introduced in 2010 to differentiate the highest-performing candidates. It is awarded based on performance in certain examination components (typically the A2 units or linear examinations), not on the overall percentage alone. The A* is not available at AS-Level.
Linear A-Levels
A-Level reform in England between 2015 and 2017 decoupled AS-Levels from A-Levels in domestic UK schools, making A-Levels fully linear. Cambridge International introduced a similar linear structure option. Under the linear model, all examinations are sat at the end of the two-year course (Year 13), and the entire A-Level is assessed in a single examination series.
Some international schools retain a modular or AS+A2 approach — students sit Cambridge AS-Level at the end of Year 12 and the A2 component at the end of Year 13. Both approaches are accepted; the key point for UCAS applications is that predicted grades reflect the student's likely final A-Level grade, not just their AS performance.
UCAS Tariff Points
UCAS assigns tariff points to A-Level grades for courses that use tariff-based entry requirements. The current tariff for A-Levels is:
| A-Level Grade | UCAS Tariff Points |
|---|---|
| A* | 56 |
| A | 48 |
| B | 40 |
| C | 32 |
| D | 24 |
| E | 16 |
AS-Level grades also carry tariff points (A = 20; B = 16; C = 12; D = 10; E = 6), though AS-Levels are rarely a factor in competitive admissions.
Important: Many universities at the more selective end — including all Russell Group institutions and most schools accepting students for Medicine, Law, or Engineering — do not use the tariff for admissions. They set specific grade requirements (e.g. "A*AA") rather than a points total. The tariff is more relevant for less competitive courses.
How Many A-Levels to Take
Three A-Levels is the standard expectation for UK university entry. UCAS applications list five university choices, and all five will have their offers set around three A-Levels.
Four A-Levels is occasionally beneficial:
- For Oxford, Cambridge, or medical school applications where the admissions profile is extremely competitive.
- As evidence of academic breadth if the student's three core subjects are all in one discipline.
However, four A-Levels at the cost of lower grades in the core three is almost never beneficial. Grade inflation is not an outcome — a student achieving AAAB at four A-Levels does not outperform one achieving AAA at three A-Levels in the eyes of most admissions officers.
The EPQ (see below) is a more valuable use of time than a fourth full A-Level for most students.
Facilitating Subjects
The Russell Group universities have historically identified a set of A-Level subjects they consider most useful for keeping degree options open. Though the formal "facilitating subjects" list has been retired by some institutions, the principle remains sound in practice.
Subjects consistently valued by selective universities:
- Mathematics
- Further Mathematics
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Biology
- English Literature
- History
- Geography
- Modern Foreign Languages (French, German, Spanish, etc.)
Subjects that are perfectly valid for non-specialist courses but less commonly listed in entry requirements:
- Business Studies
- Media Studies
- Film Studies
- General Studies (not accepted at all by some universities)
- Critical Thinking
Students targeting competitive universities — particularly for STEM, medicine, law, economics, or history — should try to take at least two facilitating subjects among their three A-Levels.
The EPQ: Extended Project Qualification
The EPQ is an independently researched project undertaken alongside A-Levels, typically in Year 12 or across both sixth-form years. It can take the form of:
- A 5,000-word written dissertation
- An artefact (a physical product or designed object) with a 1,000-word report
- A performance or event with documentation
The EPQ is worth half an A-Level in UCAS tariff terms. More importantly, some UK universities (including several in the Russell Group) offer reduced conditional grade offers to applicants who achieve A or A* in the EPQ — for example, AAA reduced to AAB if the EPQ grade is A.
For students at international schools, the EPQ demonstrates exactly the kind of independent research capability that UK university tutors value — especially at interview for Oxford, Cambridge, and medical schools. It also provides strong material for the UCAS personal statement.
Subject Tables: Core and Subject-Specific Requirements
Medicine
| Subject | Level Required |
|---|---|
| Chemistry | A-Level (A or A*) |
| Biology | A-Level (A or A*) |
| Third subject | Mathematics or Physics (A-Level) |
Engineering
| Subject | Level Required |
|---|---|
| Mathematics | A-Level (A or A*) |
| Physics | A-Level (A or A*) |
| Third subject | Chemistry or Further Maths |
Law
| Subject | Level Required |
|---|---|
| No fixed requirement | High grades across three strong subjects |
| Beneficial | History, English Literature, Politics |
Practical Considerations for International Exam Sittings
Registered Examination Centres
To sit Cambridge International or Edexcel A-Levels, a school must be a registered examination centre. Most international schools with Cambridge or Edexcel curricula are registered. Private candidates who are not enrolled in a registered school may be able to sit examinations as external candidates through a nearby registered centre; availability varies by country.
Examination Fees
International candidates pay examination fees directly or through the school. Cambridge International fees vary by country and subject, but as a rough guide, each A-Level subject costs in the range of £70–£150 per sitting (2025 figures; check CAIE's current fee schedule for your region). Schools may charge additional administrative or supervision fees.
Results Day and Timezones
Cambridge International A-Level results are released in August — typically mid-August, around the same time as UK A-Level results. The release is coordinated globally, but students in Asia-Pacific and the Americas receive results at an unusual local time. UCAS confirmation decisions must still be made within the same tight window as UK students. Families should ensure the student has access to their UCAS Track account and that the school counsellor is available on results day even if that day falls in the middle of summer holidays.
Predicted Grades for UCAS Applications
UCAS applications are submitted before A-Level examinations are sat. International schools are responsible for providing predicted grades, which UK universities use to set conditional offers. Schools should base predictions on a student's mock examination performance, Year 12 assessment results, and teacher judgement. Under-prediction is common and can cost students competitive offers — students should discuss predicted grades with their teacher or school counsellor in good time before the UCAS submission deadline (15 October for Oxford/Cambridge/Medicine; 14 January for most other courses).
How Global Investments Can Help
The availability of Cambridge or Edexcel A-Level schools varies meaningfully across the cities and countries where international families live. In some markets — Dubai, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur — there are dozens of accredited schools with excellent sixth-form programmes. In others, provision is thinner and families may need to factor in boarding options or a move to a larger city.
Global Investments helps internationally-mobile families plan property and school decisions together, so that your child's A-Level years are not disrupted by a poorly timed relocation. See our related guides: choosing between British, IB, and American curricula and applying to GCSE and A-Level schools in Bangkok. For families whose move involves a residency application, see our residency and citizenship page.
This guide is for general information only. A-Level syllabuses, UCAS tariff values, and university entry requirements can change — verify with CAIE, Pearson, or UCAS before relying on specific figures. Property values can fall as well as rise; seek independent advice before investing.
Frequently asked questions
Are Cambridge International A-Levels the same standard as A-Levels sat in the UK?
Yes. Cambridge International AS and A-Levels are set and graded by Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE), an arm of the University of Cambridge. They are distinct from A-Levels set by UK domestic awarding bodies (AQA, OCR, Edexcel UK) but are accepted by UK universities as fully equivalent. UK universities are accustomed to receiving Cambridge International A-Level transcripts and do not disadvantage candidates on this basis.
Do I still need to sit AS-Levels before A-Levels if I am at an international school?
Not necessarily. Cambridge International A-Levels are available in a linear format, meaning students can study and sit the full A-Level at the end of Year 13 without sitting a standalone AS-Level at the end of Year 12. Some schools choose to enter students for AS-Level at the end of Year 12 as a diagnostic or to provide an additional qualification, but it is not required for university entry. For the purposes of UCAS applications, predicted A-Level grades are based on Year 12 performance and mock examinations.
How many A-Levels should my child take?
Three A-Levels is the standard expectation for UK university entry. Four A-Levels can be advantageous for highly competitive courses at Oxford or Cambridge, demonstrating academic breadth. However, taking a fourth A-Level at the expense of depth in the core three is not usually beneficial — a strong result in three subjects is preferable to a mediocre result in four. The EPQ (Extended Project Qualification) is often a better use of time than a fourth full A-Level.
What is the EPQ and is it worth doing from an international school?
The Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) is an independently researched project — a 5,000-word dissertation, an artefact with a written report, or a performance with documentation — taken alongside A-Levels. It is available at international schools through Cambridge International and AQA. UK universities value the EPQ highly: some offer lower conditional grade offers to students who achieve an A or A* in the EPQ. For students applying from abroad, an EPQ is an excellent way to demonstrate the independent research skills UK universities prize.
This guide is for general information only and does not constitute financial, legal or tax advice. Rules, fees and regulations change frequently; verify current requirements with a qualified adviser before acting.