A-level

noun

A non-compulsory examination taken in the final two years of secondary education in England and Wales as a requisite for university or other tertiary education; the qualification obtained by passing such an exam.

“I took my A-levels last year.”

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Meanings

nounA-level (plural A-levels)

plural A-levels · alternative A level

  1. A non-compulsory examination taken in the final two years of secondary education in England and Wales as a requisite for university or other tertiary education; the qualification obtained by passing such an exam.

    I took my A-levels last year.

    2 more examples

    Applicants must have at least one A level.

    "The A* grade at A-level is the inevitable consequence of the intention to make A-levels harder. As such, it will provide additional recognition for additional achievement. Importantly, it leaves the existing grades A to E untouched, so that standards over time are preserved."

    2006 November 30, Alexandra Smith, “Johnson unveils exam reform plans”, in The Guardian, archived from the original on 24 Aug 2025
  2. InterneteuphemisticlifestyleAnal sex.

Origin

Abbreviation of advanced level.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan selectivitat, proba d'accés a l'universitat
  • selectivitata non-compulsory examination taken in the final two years in English and Welsh high schools
  • proba d'accés a l'universitata non-compulsory examination taken in the final two years in English and Welsh high schools
Chinese Cantonese 高考
  • 高考 (gou¹ haau²)a non-compulsory examination taken in the final two years in English and Welsh high schools
Chinese Mandarin A水平, A水准
  • A水平a non-compulsory examination taken in the final two years in English and Welsh high schools
  • A水准a non-compulsory examination taken in the final two years in English and Welsh high schools
  • 高考 (gāokǎo)a non-compulsory examination taken in the final two years in English and Welsh high schools
Esperanto abiturienta ekzameno, abiturienteco
  • abiturienta ekzamenoa non-compulsory examination taken in the final two years in English and Welsh high schools
  • abiturientecoa non-compulsory examination taken in the final two years in English and Welsh high schools
Finnish ylioppilastutkinto
  • ylioppilastutkintoa non-compulsory examination taken in the final two years in English and Welsh high schools
French bac, baccalauréat
  • baca non-compulsory examination taken in the final two years in English and Welsh high schools
  • baccalauréata non-compulsory examination taken in the final two years in English and Welsh high schools
German Abitur
  • Abitura non-compulsory examination taken in the final two years in English and Welsh high schools
Italian maturità
  • maturitàa non-compulsory examination taken in the final two years in English and Welsh high schools
Spanish selectividad, prueba de acceso a la universidad
  • selectividada non-compulsory examination taken in the final two years in English and Welsh high schools
  • prueba de acceso a la universidada non-compulsory examination taken in the final two years in English and Welsh high schools
Turkish matrikülasyon sınavı
  • matrikülasyon sınavıa non-compulsory examination taken in the final two years in English and Welsh high schools
Cite this entry
APA

A-level. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/A-level

MLA

“A-level.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/A-level. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “A-level,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/A-level.

Source: A-level on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.