These types of questions arise in every student’s mind after matriculation. Student’s often feel difficulty in selecting a suitable field after matriculation, as their choice lays the foundation for a student’s career and sets a path for professional excellence.
However, the question arises ‘what is the best field after matric in Pakistan?’
Although, there are several career options to choose from each group of study after matriculation, like Science students can choose the professions of medical, engineering and ICS, similarly, Arts students may opt for FA in General Science, Humanities, Math Stat & Computer, ICOM or ACCA.
However, nowadays, many students prefer to choose A-Levels over intermediate, as it is considered to be an excellent general academic subject-based qualification that is valued by employers and universities alike.
A-Level’s is both nationally and internationally recognized qualification that offers students a wide variety of subjects they can choose to study and helps to get a place at college or university at home or abroad.
A-level means which class in Pakistan?
In Pakistan, A-Levels is equated to the Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSSC) and is equivalent to 11th and 12th class, where 11th class is known as AS-Level (Advanced Subsidiary), and 12th class is known as A-Level (Advanced Level), or simply A2.
Choosing A-level as your education system has several advantages:
- A-Level is globally recognized as a high-quality pre-university qualification.
- A-Level is a great choice for students who want to study at a university abroad, or obtain an internationally recognized high school diploma.
- A-Levels curriculum offers a wide range of subjects that you can choose as per your interest.
- Students pursuing A-Levels can tailor their studies towards the degree they wish to study due to subject specific qualification.
- A-level is primarily focused on conceptual exams so you don’t have to memorize the contents of a textbook. It makes students stronger conceptually and improves communication skills.
- A-Level is also appropriate if you want to study a variety of courses belonging to various disciplines like business, accountancy, engineering, commerce, IT, Arts and Media etc.
- A-Level qualification improves your job prospects as it is valued by potential employers worldwide.
- Due to the high standard of the A-Level education system, students may earn a more competitive position in the global knowledge-based economy.
A-Level qualification is by far the most popular and effective route and is considered as the best field after matric in Pakistan.
A-Levels Career Scope in Pakistan
In Pakistan, if you have opted for the study of A-Levels over intermediate, then you will find many benefits.
The academic curriculum that is taught in A-Levels is all of practical focus and does not favor the crowded approach or traditional ‘Ratta’ system. The conceptual approach that is taught in the A-Level program makes this medium a more preferable and successful career pathway after matriculation in Pakistan.
Pakistani institutions, after every 2 years, revise the A-Level curriculum to keep it synchronized with foreign educational institutions.
Students achieving high grades in A-Levels can easily gain admission to a number of best universities around the world on scholarships, as well as, to some internationally recognised universities within Pakistan like NUST, FAST, GIKI and ITU for Engineering field and LUMS, IBA and LSE for Business, Economics and Law fields.
A-Level institutions prepare their students with proper career counseling due to which they get better job opportunities as compared to other students. The potential employers also recognize and value the A-Level qualification.
What makes A-Levels the best field after Matriculation in Pakistan?
A-Level qualification has been offered in Pakistan by the Cambridge International since 1959. The recognition and acceptance of this education system in fifty countries including Pakistan, is evidence of its rapid growth and social acceptance all over the world.
Although there are many institutions in Pakistan which offer GCE A-Level courses to the students, the recognized institutions from the British Council in Pakistan are 335.
Research shows that the rapid growth of A-Level education in Pakistan was due to the following reasons:
- better learning environment
- fair examination system
- advanced and better curriculum
- easy admission in foreign universities
- provision of quality education
- knowledge based education system
- status symbol for family
- flexible scheme of studies
- comprehensive and informative courses
- international acceptance and recognition
- better professional careers
- dynamic future for students.
Is it easy to do A-levels after matric in Pakistan?
Admissions in A-Level are offered by many Schools and Colleges in Pakistan. Those students who are between the ages of 16 to 19 can apply for A-Level.
The academic curriculum being offered by the A-Level programmer makes students skilled and professional. It gives a broad study to students and provides opportunities to students to enhance their knowledge and academic skills.
Realistically, Matric to A-level is a harder route to take. Students who opt to do O-levels are more familiar with the CIE system and how getting grades in it works. They also become familiar with the added work of doing past papers without which your preparation is meaningless. However, for a Matriculation candidate, you will obviously have this clear disadvantage.
A level is a new phase of your life which requires a more mature mindset and different approach. It is the conceptual mixed practical subject-based methodology that makes A-Level qualification as the best field after matric in Pakistan.
There are quite a few reasons due to which students consider A-Levels tough and difficult to attempt. Some are enlisted below:
- A-Level offers academically rigorous and inspiring courses. The academic syllabus of the A-Levels programmer is a lot larger than GCSE. There’s a lot more content in a lot more detail, particularly in subjects like Science or Maths.
- The theoretical and essay heavy subjects like History or English Literature will keep you busy and you will find yourself working through all of your free hours during weekdays.
- A-Levels challenging and lengthy syllabus demands a lot of energy and hard work. With a grueling routine, you will feel unusually tired and out of energy, making you sleep a lot on the weekends.
- Another thing that makes A-Levels tough for students is the amount of homework they receive, as it increases exponentially from GCSE. Several homework assignments will require you to do independent research as there is rarely enough time in school during periods.
What makes it easy to do A-Levels after matric in Pakistan ?
Preparation for A-Levels requires a proper mindset and a well thought out plan for your whole 2 years. First of all, you need to decide what subjects you will be giving. When that is decided you will have a clear idea as to what you will be working on and your future career likewise.
Be it science or business, be it engineering or accountancy, a vast majority of students go for the combination of subjects as per their choice and interest. Whatever are your subject choices or combinations, the below mentioned tips will give you great help with your preparation for A-Levels:
Preparation Tips for A-Levels
Remember, acing A-Level is by no means impossible. The emphasis of your studies for A-Levels will be on three key elements throughout the year. It includes Syllabus, Books and Past Papers that you need to be properly and thoroughly going through.
- SYLLABUS:
It is important to cover your entire syllabus and finish off everything given in the latest syllabus of that subject. A student must cover every topic to its maximum extent. There are several authentic and informative websites that can help you understand your subject contents and the boundaries of your syllabus.
The best approach is to clear your concepts of a topic by searching or looking for information on the websites. Once you have the clarity of concepts, you may be able to describe everything easily when required. It is recommended that you go through the website contents in your revision times.
A-Levels is the best field after matric in Pakistan for students who wish to develop a stronger conceptual foundation of the basics of their syllabus.
- BOOKS:
The challenging and diversified syllabus of A-Levels requires reading a lot of books for better and deeper understanding of the subject. Usually, students prefer to study from the books that have the latest edition and follow the latest syllabus. However, studying from the ‘right’ books is what matters the most, as not all the books thoroughly explain topics to a level which is required in A-Levels. It would be a good idea to continuously refer to the syllabus while you are covering the book so that you don’t leave anything out.
It is recommended that the Cambridge endorsed course books are the most reliable ones, as they cover most of the topics from the syllabus. So your first priority should be to cover that book.
If you don’t understand a topic in a book, save it for last and carry on with your pace. Don’t just get stuck on one thing for days. It is better to deal with it later when the other major portion of the syllabus is covered.
While studying books, remember to highlight important things and make notes. Hand written notes help to learn and memorize concepts in a faster and better way. Moreover, in last moment practice, notes make the best way to go through the concepts and you don’t need to scurry through the whole book.
- PAST PAPERS:
The most important aspect of your preparation that will prepare you in the best way, depending upon how consistent you are with your studies, is to practice past papers. As you progress more and more with your past papers, you will see a huge difference in your preparation. Persistent practice is the best approach to excel in A-Levels.
A lot of people tend to start solving past papers beforehand, before even finishing the book. This approach wastes time and creates confusion. It is suggested that you finish off your text book syllabus first in minimum possible time and then start working on Past Papers.
Initially, it might be difficult for you as you start solving past papers. However, the best way is to read off the questions and solve them on your own, check in the marking scheme for the right answer and then add those points in your answer.
Don’t get stuck on a question in past papers for too long. Mark it and deal with it at the end of the day or week, when you’re done with a good amount of papers.
Once you are good at solving the papers, start timing them. However, change your method and approach every time and think about it like solving a test by proper timing and marking every paper yourself. This will help you to know where you stand with your preparation and what and where you lack.
While solving past papers, don’t forget to revise your notes and book as it will keep you on track as you progress more and more on the syllabus.
Remember, timely studying and practice will keep you well on track. Practice is much more important as compared to memorizing textbooks. Allocate your time in doing a full thorough revision, as comprehensive knowledge of the subject is highly essential.
Concluding Remarks
Choosing a course of study is one of the most important decisions a student will make. Therefore, it is essential to check that qualifications are widely accepted and valued by further education institutes, universities and employers.
Cambridge A-Level qualification is the best field to choose after matric in Pakistan as it opens up a world of opportunity, helping you get a place at your chosen university.
Everyone struggles when they first begin their A-Levels. However, it is all about having a mature mindset, well-thought out plan, and a wise combination of subjects that you choose to study in A-levels.
Hopefully, the above article will be helpful for you to choose A-Level qualification as your career pathway after Matriculation.