Cambridge A Levels — the Class 12 Stage After IGCSE
The qualification that completes the Cambridge pathway and opens university admission in India and abroad.
IGCSE on its own is not a Class-12 credential
IGCSE is roughly a Class-10 qualification. To have a Class-12-equivalent credential for university, a Cambridge-track student completes IGCSE (≈Class 10) and then AS & A Levels (≈Class 12). Plan for both stages from the start.
What are AS & A Levels?
AS Level
The first year of the course. Graded A–E (no A*). Can be a standalone qualification or the first half of the full A Level.
A Level (A2)
The full two-year course. Graded A*–E (U = ungraded/fail). This is the Class-12-equivalent qualification universities look for.
Students typically take 3–4 subjects — A Levels favour depth over breadth, with no compulsory core (unlike the IB). Usually studied ages ~16–19.
Recognition & equivalence
- Recognised by AIU as equivalent to Class 12 for Indian university admission
- AIU rule: 5 IGCSE passes including English (grade C+) plus 2–3 A Level passes (grade C+) in relevant subjects
- The standard entry qualification for UK universities; widely accepted in the US, Canada, Australia, Singapore and Europe
- For professional courses in India, an AIU equivalence certificate and/or entrance exam may still be required
How to register (private candidate)
Registration is the same as IGCSE — through an authorised Cambridge exam centre, not a school. In India, the main centre is the British Council (some approved school centres also accept private candidates).
Find your exam centre
Contact the British Council or an approved Cambridge centre. Confirm they offer your subjects for private candidates.
Register online
Register for your subjects and exam session through the centre's system. Under-18s register with a parent/guardian.
Pay the fees
Fees are per subject, set in GBP. Pay online during registration.
Receive Statement of Entry
Confirms your subjects, exam dates and centre.
Sit the exams
Appear at the centre — the same papers as school candidates worldwide.
Same private-candidate caveat as IGCSE: subjects with compulsory coursework or practicals may be unavailable — choose exam-assessed variants and confirm subject-by-subject.
Exam schedule
Same series as IGCSE: May/June and October/November, plus a February/March series in India — so 2–3 windows per year. Deadlines are your responsibility as a private candidate; register early to avoid late-fee penalties.
Fees
Fees are set in GBP and vary by centre and subject (typically a little higher than IGCSE). Always confirm the current per-subject fee with your British Council exam centre before registering.
How to choose subjects
A Levels reward depth, so pick 3–4 subjects aligned tightly to the target degree — e.g. Maths + Physics + Chemistry for engineering, Biology + Chemistry + Maths for medicine, or Economics + Maths + Business for commerce. UK universities in particular publish exact subject and grade requirements per course, so check those before finalising.
Need a teacher for A Level preparation?
Find teachers on HomeLearn who can prepare your child for Cambridge AS & A Level exams across subjects.
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