A level

American  

[ay lev-uhl] / ˈeɪ ˌlɛv əl /

noun

British.

1. a public examination requiring advanced knowledge in a subject and taken at the end of secondary school, usually two years after O level.

2. a pass in this examination.

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A level British  

noun

1. 1. a public examination in a subject taken for the General Certificate of Education ( GCE ), usually at the age of 17–18

   2. the course leading to this examination

   3. ( as modifier )

      A-level maths

2. a pass in a particular subject at A level

   she has three A levels

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Etymology

Origin of A level

1950–55; A(dvanced) level

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Compare meaning

How does a-level compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• O level vs. A level

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

A level

A level up from the baggage area, he and his family kept an ear out for the gate announcement.

From Slate ● Jul. 7, 2026

A level above 50 indicates an expansion in private sector business activity.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 23, 2026

A level series and evidence the stand-in Australia captain was spending more time thinking about Monty Panesar than the Ashes.

From BBC ● Jan. 7, 2026

A level shift offers a dramatic experience when you step into the ADU, as the floor drops below to the art studio and the ceiling goes up, creating a sense of spaciousness.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2025

And I started feeling a pain in my chest like I did on the underground because I thought I wasn’t going to be able to go back to Swindon and take my A level.

From "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" by Mark Haddon

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