WHAT NEXT?

WHICH PATH WILL YOUR STUDIES AT SCHOOL TAKE YOU?

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF QUALIFICATIONS AND 

WHAT DO THEY MEAN?

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland there are 8 qualification levels (1 - 8) plus an entry level qualification for those just starting. Qualifications all have their place in the rankings – whether you pick them up from school/college, university, technical college or work. Generally, the higher the level, the more difficult the qualification is. Levels 1-3 are typically taught in schools and colleges.

A qualification’s level tells you how difficult it’s considered to be. It doesn’t tell you how long the course is or how it can be used to help you qualify for another, higher-up qualification.

With so many different qualifications, it can be hard to know what they mean and where they might lead to next. To help you understand, we've created a summary of what the levels mean highlighting academic, vocational and work-based routes to higher education.