SOME "brainy" people, even while young, face a certain unchangeable reality.

Not counting the gifted ones with multiple talents, a person who is an ace at Mathematics might often be clumsy with English, for example.

The mental fortitude that goes into decoding a mathematical riddle can be said to be wholly different from the artfulness required to string sentences that make readers swoon.

So at some point in one's academic journey, once the path ahead begins to take shape, it would be wise to specialise.

And this is when, for young adults with a clear view of their own prowess, the Cambridge A-Level programme works.

With a RM2,000 fee waiver per A-Level subject at UOW Malaysia, this pathway becomes even more attractive.

The average estimated fees to be paid for A-Level study at UOW Malaysia is between RM33,000 and RM36,000, so a waiver of RM6,000 to RM8,000 off the fees is a welcome privilege.

Created in 1951, the A-Level’s goal is to encourage students to focus on a small number of subject areas that they might choose to pursue at university.

There are no compulsory subjects at A-Level.

Students choose two, three or four subjects that interest them.

For school leavers in Malaysia who choose this path, this will be the first time in their academic lives when they are allowed to drop the need to "learn a little of everything" and really focus on what they are good at.

As a pre-university path, this makes A-Level unique compared with routes such as foundation, matriculation or STPM.

There is no denying that A-Level is regarded as challenging.

With fewer subjects taken, the syllabus of every subject is more in-depth and is meant to prepare students for the rigours of pursuing a Bachelor's degree.

This is partly why A-Level may not be suitable for every student, especially those who might not do well in purely exam-based assessments.

A few subjects, such as Chemistry, Biology and Physics will require a practical assessment, but these assessments only add up to 20% of the final score; facing a written exam is a necessity.

A Levels may then be the most likely path for you if:

a) You like academic learning.

b) You know you are heading to a university to continue with your studies.

c) You have not pinned down exactly which Bachelor's degree you want and wish to get your qualifications while keeping your options open.

Some degree programmes are best opened with A-Level too, such as Law.

It takes two A-Level passes to gain entry into a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) programme and the in-depth level of the A-Level Law subject will gear you up well for LLB.

At UOW Malaysia, years of experience resulting in 100% passing rates have helped the campus devise two A-Level groupings: the Science and Arts.

In the Science stream, you choose three to four subjects out of Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology and Physics.

In the Arts stream, you choose two, three or four subjects out of Mathematics, Economics, Accounting, Sociology and Law.

Undeniably, A-Level is today the cliched gold standard of entry requirements into almost any university in the world.

UOW Malaysia A-Level students regularly join the ranks of the "Top in World" of the subjects they take, meaning their scores for the subjects taken are in the highest bracket of achievement on a global scale.

Being one of the "Top in World" is not an exaggeration because A-Level examiners mark exam papers from around the world with one measuring stick, hence the cliched gold standard.

There are few achievements besides A-Level that a young student can snap up, so to understand more and have a look at other pre-university entry options, speak with UOW Malaysia education advisers by visiting us at our Cambridge A-Level Open Day on the 5 – 6 & 12 – 13 August 2023 or visit www.uow.edu.my for more information.