Previous to the introduction of the A-level in 1951 schools graded students with the Higher School Certificate. This qualification had existed as the accepted means for testing students from 1918 till the A-level replaced it. The A-level remained pretty much unchanged for several decades until 1987 when the introduction of the AS level was made.

The intention of this new grade was to enable students to take a wider choice of topics for study and that two AS levels were equivalent to one A-level.

The most recent changes to the A-level system came with Curriculum 2000 introduced in September of that year. Previously an A-level was a stand alone two year course and if not completed then the student would fail. This new system of A-level study split the course into two part or rather six units studied over 2 years. The first year of three units would have an exam upon completion and could be taken as a stand-alone qualification called an AS-level.

The student could then carry on to complete the next three units in the second year and this would, upon completion and satisfactory grading, then become an A-level.

A-levels tend to be the stepping-stone for students to go on to further education in University. Students that do not wish to go to University often opt for tertiary college and courses, which are more vocation based, and prepare them for their chosen career. Universities will all have differing requirements for their students to be accepted onto their courses. It tends to be that the more popular the University or course then the higher the number of A-levels and grade of A-level is required from the student.