Sixth Form
The Importance of The Lower Sixth Year and AS Levels

A Level is divided into two halves, with all pupils preparing for AS Level examinations in the Summer Term of the Lower Sixth year, and for A2 Level examinations in the Summer Term of the Upper Sixth year. The majority of Bloxham School Lower Sixth formers begin AS courses in four subjects in September, and sit two or three examination papers in each of the four subjects during the Summer Term of 2010 - usually a total of twelve papers, though in some subjects the number of unit exams is reduced because of the considerable coursework component. The results achieved on these AS papers are of critical importance since they will add to your existing GCSE profile. They will also have a very significant bearing on your eventual A Level grade in 2011 and so effectively determine your range of university options.

Universities make conditional offers on the basis of your predicted A2 Level grades., which they are now able to view online. There is provision to re-sit AS modules in the Summer Term 2011 (or in some circumstances in January 2011). If however you gain excellent AS grades, in Summer 2010, your housemaster will be able to mention them in the reference he will write for your UCAS form.

The speed of adjustment to the pace and style of AS examination work in the Lower Sixth naturally varies from individual to individual. The work will be more demanding than at GCSE, and there will be plenty of it. You will not have very many private study (PS) periods in a 39 lesson week and so you will find yourself very occupied with academic work, both during the evenings and over the course of a typical weekend. You must therefore adjust very quickly to these facts of life in September, for you will rapidly discover that the key to academic success lies in commitment, organisation and momentum.

The Michaelmas Term accounts for about half the teaching time in the AS Level year, and the eventual outcome of your AS examinations is in large part dependent on the study habits that you develop in this first term. You will need to establish a systematic work strategy in the very first fortnight of term, and one that enables you to apportion your study time sensibly and fairly. So you must be determined to tackle your new AS courses with vigour and imagination, and equally intent on developing effective study skills and habits. You should be in no doubt that the Lower Sixth year is, by some margin, your most important year at school; it lays the foundations for the Upper Sixth (A2) year, provides you with the opportunity to develop a range of skills, and determines your university options.

There is a Teacher/Parent evening at some point during the Lent Term and is devoted to discussing your initial progress in your four AS subjects. In the Summer Term, a Universities session for both boys and parents will offer advice on choosing your degree course, your university choice and the UCAS application process.



printed from Bloxham School website at http://www.bloxhamschool.com/article_634.php