How to identify different types of A Level entry option and which AS results contribute to the final A Level grade

The route to an A Level grade for a candidate is determined by the entry option code their centre selects and there are likely to be different carry forward entry options available within most AS & A Level syllabuses.  

Generally speaking the available A Level entry options will fall within one of the following types: 

• Linear - a combination of the AS components and the A2 components only (no carry forward components)
• Staged - a combination of the A2 components and a carry forward component (the carry forward component will be series-specific, so your choice will depend on which previous series the AS result was from)
• Best of both - a combination of the AS components, the A2 components and multiple carry forward components.

You would select the Linear option for candidates who wish to complete the full A Level (both AS and A2) in the same exam series. Whereas candidates wishing to complete AS in one series and complete their A level in a subsequent series could follow either a Staged or Best of both option. 

Candidates on a Staged option would carry forward their previous AS result from a specific series, which would be combined with their A2 mark from the current series to produce their A Level result. The AS result must be from a series no more than 13 months prior to the series the A Level entry is being made for and it is possible to carry forward an AS result twice within this 13 month period.

When a Best of both option is selected, we will see what previous sittings the candidate had within the last 13 months and whether they sat the AS components in the current series or not. Where there is a valid set of AS marks that could contribute towards their A level result, these are used – in the case of multiple sets of AS marks being available, we would select the set of marks that produces the highest result. These options give the candidate an opportunity to improve their AS marks, with the safety net of their previous AS marks contributing towards their A Level result if they underperform at AS in the current series. 

So, it would only be when a Best of both option is selected that we would consider multiple series' AS results when arriving at the A Level result - Staged options indicate that we should carry forward a specific AS result from a particular previous series and no other AS results are considered. 

For carry forward purposes within either a Staged or Best of both option, each previous AS result is treated as a self-contained set, so could only be carried forward as a single mark for that AS sitting, rather than the system cherry-picking individual AS component marks from different series to contribute to the overall A Level grade.

There is also a difference in the entry fee for a Staged option (which would be the lower AS or A2 fee on the Fees List) and a Best of both option (which is the full A level fee).

As you will see, there might be different ways for candidates to complete their A level, depending on previous AS sittings and whether they wish to resit the AS components or not. 

For detailed guidance on AS & A Level carry forward entry options, please refer to our Carry-forward regulations supplement, which can be found on this page of our website under 'Key documents for exams officers'.