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GCE Advanced Level (A-Levels) Syllabus

Subject-based qualifications taken at age 18 that form the primary basis for UK university admission.. The complete GCE Advanced Level (A-Levels) outline — 7 subjects, 33 chapters and 125 topics — laid out so you can see exactly what has to be covered and tick each item off as you go.

7Subjects
33Chapters
125Topics
320Sub-topics
428Flashcards
~160hEst. first pass

GCE Advanced Level (A-Levels) subjects

Each subject below has its own page with the full chapter → topic → sub-topic tree and a set of real exam-style flashcards.

GCE Advanced Level (A-Levels) flashcard decks

428 question-and-answer cards across 7 decks, written against this syllabus. Preview any deck free.

How to work through the GCE Advanced Level (A-Levels) syllabus

The outline on this page is arranged the way the syllabus itself is: subject, then chapter, then topic, then sub-topic. That last level is what most study plans skip, and it is where coverage actually goes wrong — a chapter marked "done" often has three sub-topics inside it that were never touched.

Weight your plan accordingly: Mathematics carries 27 topics while History carries 12. Giving both the same number of weeks is the most common planning mistake for GCE Advanced Level (A-Levels).

The ~160 hour estimate above is a first pass only: roughly 45 minutes per topic plus 12 minutes per sub-topic. Revision cycles, past papers and mocks sit on top of that number.

GCE Advanced Level (A-Levels) syllabus FAQ

What subjects are in the GCE Advanced Level (A-Levels) syllabus?

GCE Advanced Level (A-Levels) covers 7 subjects: Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, English Literature, History and Economics. Together they contain 33 chapters and 125 named topics.

How big is the GCE Advanced Level (A-Levels) syllabus?

The full GCE Advanced Level (A-Levels) outline breaks down into 33 chapters, 125 topics and 320 sub-topics. Mathematics is the largest single subject with 27 topics across 5 chapters.

How long does it take to cover the whole GCE Advanced Level (A-Levels) syllabus?

Roughly 160 hours for one full pass. That estimate allows about 45 minutes per topic plus 12 minutes per sub-topic, so it is first-pass coverage — revision, past papers and mock tests sit on top of it. At 3 hours a day that is about 8 weeks.

Are there GCE Advanced Level (A-Levels) flashcards?

Yes — 428 question-and-answer flashcards across 7 decks, one per subject, written against this syllabus. A sample of every deck is readable on this site for free, and the complete decks are in the Examius app.

Is this GCE Advanced Level (A-Levels) syllabus free to use?

Yes. Every page here is free to read, and importing the GCE Advanced Level (A-Levels) syllabus into the Examius app to tick off topics as you finish them is free too, in United Kingdom and everywhere else. No account is needed to start.

BTEC (Business and Technology Education Council) syllabus

Vocational qualifications offered at various levels, widely taken in schools and colleges as career-focused alternatives or supplements to GCSEs and A-Levels.

7 subjects · 29 chapters · 108 topics · 385 cards
Cambridge IGCSE syllabus

The international version of the GCSE offered by Cambridge, taken in some UK independent schools and worldwide at age 14-16.

7 subjects · 33 chapters · 130 topics · 464 cards
Cambridge Pre-U syllabus

A post-16 alternative to A-Levels offered by Cambridge Assessment, designed as preparation for university (being phased out).

8 subjects · 31 chapters · 128 topics · 467 cards
Certificate of Secondary Education (CSE) syllabus

A historic English/Welsh/NI qualification for 16-year-olds run alongside O-Levels, merged into the GCSE in 1988.

8 subjects · 34 chapters · 126 topics · 432 cards
Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) syllabus

A standalone Level 3 qualification in England in which sixth-form students complete an independent research project, valued for university admission.

6 subjects · 22 chapters · 89 topics · 304 cards
Functional Skills Qualifications syllabus

Qualifications in English, maths and ICT in England providing practical core skills, often taken by students who did not achieve GCSE grades 4/C.

8 subjects · 27 chapters · 108 topics · 413 cards
General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) syllabus

The main subject-based qualifications taken by students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, typically at age 16 (end of Year 11).

8 subjects · 46 chapters · 154 topics · 474 cards
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB) syllabus

A two-year pre-university diploma offered by many UK schools as an alternative to A-Levels.

7 subjects · 31 chapters · 107 topics · 361 cards
Scottish Advanced Higher syllabus

The most advanced school-level Scottish qualification, taken in S6, beyond the standard Higher.

8 subjects · 31 chapters · 106 topics · 409 cards

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