Explore the differences between T Level and A Level qualifications to help you decide your next step in education.
If you’re approaching the end of your GCSEs and considering your next steps, weighing up your various post-16 options can be overwhelming. Between A Levels, T Levels, BTECs, apprenticeships, or leaving formal education and going straight into work, there are many different choices available and it can be hard to know which one is right for you.
In today’s post, we will look at two of your options: T Levels and A Levels. While you’ve probably heard of A Levels, T Levels are a newer creation. The UK government introduced these new technical qualifications in 2020 and they are intended to offer a more vocational alternative to traditional academic qualifications like A Levels.
Though both T Levels and A Levels are designed to give students the knowledge and skills they need to progress onto higher education or into the workforce, there are several key differences between the two qualifications. Read on to learn about the main differences.
Technical vs Academic
T Levels and A Levels are designed for students aged 16-19 in England who have completed their GCSEs. Though they are both studied at a sixth form centre or further education college and take around two years to complete, the most important difference between T Levels and A Levels is the course content.
T Levels are designed to offer a more vocational and “hands-on” approach to learning, focusing on trade and industry skills with the aim of helping students into work in a particular field (though T Levels are less hands-on and more classroom-based than apprenticeships.) T Level subjects have been designed with input from leading companies in their respective industries.
A Levels, on the other hand, are more theoretical and academic, focusing on subject knowledge and critical thinking skills. A Levels don’t focus on providing a route into a particular career or job, though they can be a stepping stone to certain jobs in some circumstances.
One Subject vs Multiple Subjects
Most students will take three or four A Level subjects (some will take as many as five, though this is less common. It is also quite normal to take four AS Levels and then drop one subject in the second year.)
With T Levels, however, you will take one subject and focus on that exclusively throughout your time at sixth form or college. 18 T Level subjects are currently available, with more set to be added for entry from September 2024 onwards.
Assessment Styles
T Levels and A Levels are graded similarly. Both require students to complete both coursework and exams, with different percentages of the final grade awarded for each component depending on the specific course.
However, T Levels have an additional assessment component. As well as completing classroom learning and exams, students will also undertake a 45 day industry placement, spending time in a workplace related to their industry. This unpaid work experience is also assessed and will make up 20% of the final T Level grade.
Entry Requirements
You will normally need to have completed your GCSEs to take either T Levels or A Levels. To study A Levels, you will need a minimum of 5 GCSEs at grades 4-9 (that’s A*-C under the old grading scheme.) Two of these usually have to be English and Maths.
There may also be specific grade requirements for individual A Level courses. For example, many colleges require at least a grade 7 in GCSE Maths to allow students to take this course at A Level due to its high level of difficulty.
At least 5 GCSEs will normally also be required for T Level subjects, including acceptable grades in any subject that relates to your chosen T Level course. You’ll usually need passing grades in English and Maths, though some colleges will allow you to retake these alongside your T Level studies if you didn’t obtain them the first time around.
Can You Go to University with T Levels?
A common misconception is that it is not possible to go to university with T Level qualifications, but this is not the case. In fact, one T Level is worth the UCAS points equivalent of three A Levels and over 100 universities have confirmed that they will accept T Levels for entry onto at least one of their courses.
Some universities, including Oxford and Cambridge as well as several other members of the prestigious “Russell Group” of universities, do not accept T Levels. If you have a particular university in mind, check the institution’s requirements before you commit to your post-16 plans.
If you want to go down the route of more traditional academic study, A Levels are likely to be appropriate. However, T Levels are not a barrier to eventual university study and can even be an asset for some courses.
Do A Levels and T Levels Increase Your Employability?
Both A Levels and T Levels make you a more attractive candidate to future employers. T Levels prepare you for work in a specific sector or industry, while A Levels offer a broader academic education and a range of transferable skills.
When choosing whether to take A Levels or T Levels, you should consider your future career plans carefully. As long as you choose wisely, both A Levels and T Levels can increase your employability in the long run.
A Levels or T Levels: Which is Right for You?
Ultimately, you are the best person to decide whether A Levels, T Levels, or another option entirely is the right choice for you. There are lots of people who can help you, though. Don’t be afraid to ask your parents or guardians, teachers, friends, older siblings, careers advisors, and former students for their advice.
People who know you well can help you to identify your strengths, interests, and the kinds of pathways that are most likely to work for you.
A Levels might be right for you if…
- …you are academically skilled and prefer theoretical, book-based learning
- …you want to attend an academically rigorous university such as Oxford, Cambridge, or another Russell Group institution
- …you want to study several different subjects
- …you’re not sure what career you want to do yet
- …you want to go into a career that requires a high level of academic qualification (e.g. medicine, veterinary, dentistry, or law)
T Levels might be right for you if…
- …you have a specific career path in mind and want a course that will prepare you for the workforce
- …you don’t want to go to university, or want to study a more vocational university course
- …you want to study one subject in-depth
- …you prefer hands-on and practical learning
- …you want to gain real-world work experience as part of your studies
Discover T Levels with City & Guilds
Could T Levels be your perfect fit?
T Levels are equivalent to 3 A Levels. They’re 80% classroom, 20% work with a 45-day industry placement to get you to the next level!
Explore T Levels
