If you want to study at UK's top universities, such as Oxford or Cambridge, the best way to succeed is to attend A-Levels (Advanced Levels) courses.

A-Levels are two year courses taken just before the university, right after completion of the secondary school, i.e. after a General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) is obtained. Usually, students that attend A-Levels are 15 - 16 years old. In Romania and Bulgaria, A-Levels are the equivalent of 10^th and 11^th form or 11^th and 12^th form.

The first year of A-Levels is called AS-Level and the second year is called A2-Level.

The number of A-Level exams taken by students can vary and students are free to decide how many courses they wish to study, depending on their career choice, ability, and subjects studied previously. However, normally students study four subjects at AS-Level and then they drop down to three at A2-Level, although in many occasions they may continue with the fourth subject. Three is usually the minimum number of A-Levels required for university entrance, with some universities specifying the need for a fourth AS subject. Some students obtain five or more A-Levels.

The choice of A-Levels subjects includes: Accounting, Art and Design, Biology, Business Studies, Chemistry, Classical Studies, Computing, Design and Technology, Divinity, Dress and Textiles, Economics, Environmental Management, Food Studies, Geography, Geometrical and Mechanical Drawing, History, Law, Various Languages and Literatures, Mathematics, Music, Physical Education, Physics, Psychology, Sociology and Thinking Skills.

A-Levels are graded from A to E, along with a fail grade, U (Unclassified).

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