🇬🇧 United Kingdom · School
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.
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.
5 chapters · 27 topics · 75 sub-topics
Physics6 chapters · 20 topics · 53 sub-topics
Chemistry5 chapters · 20 topics · 51 sub-topics
Biology5 chapters · 19 topics · 51 sub-topics
English Literature4 chapters · 13 topics · 30 sub-topics
History4 chapters · 12 topics · 24 sub-topics
Economics4 chapters · 14 topics · 36 sub-topics
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.
Related School syllabuses
Vocational qualifications offered at various levels, widely taken in schools and colleges as career-focused alternatives or supplements to GCSEs and A-Levels.
Cambridge IGCSE syllabusThe international version of the GCSE offered by Cambridge, taken in some UK independent schools and worldwide at age 14-16.
Cambridge Pre-U syllabusA post-16 alternative to A-Levels offered by Cambridge Assessment, designed as preparation for university (being phased out).
Certificate of Secondary Education (CSE) syllabusA historic English/Welsh/NI qualification for 16-year-olds run alongside O-Levels, merged into the GCSE in 1988.
Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) syllabusA standalone Level 3 qualification in England in which sixth-form students complete an independent research project, valued for university admission.
Functional Skills Qualifications syllabusQualifications in English, maths and ICT in England providing practical core skills, often taken by students who did not achieve GCSE grades 4/C.
General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) syllabusThe main subject-based qualifications taken by students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, typically at age 16 (end of Year 11).
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB) syllabusA two-year pre-university diploma offered by many UK schools as an alternative to A-Levels.
Scottish Advanced Higher syllabusThe most advanced school-level Scottish qualification, taken in S6, beyond the standard Higher.
Browse all 30 School syllabuses → · All United Kingdom exams →