Start with your situation
Each of these starts from a situation and points to the next step. If yours is not here, the full library is below.
Still not sure? Ask cife — describing your situation is enough; you do not need to know which course or college you want.
50+
Years helping students find the right college
1,042
Students gained UK university places
51%
Entered a Russell Group university — twice the national average
Figures from the 2023 cife university destinations survey — see every number
Sixth-form advice articles about study skills
These articles cover the key skills you need to make a success of the sixth form and include topics such as revision, managing your time, coping with stress etc
- How to revise
How to organise your main revision before the exam - Make your revision more effective
Make your revision effective by making it active. Here’s how to do it. - Making the best of a revision session
Getting the most from each time you revise - How to do well in exams
How to give your very best under exam conditions - Getting Easter revision right
An article about the importance of effective revision during the Easter holiday, how an Easter revision course can help and how to choose the right one - Easter revision course comparison
A table showing college-by-college details of subjects, class sizes, costs and dates for Easter Revision Courses
- Managing time in the sixth form
A step by step guide to making effective use of your time in the sixth form. - Succeed with the new linear A levels
Tips to make sure you tackle the new A levels successfully. - How to do research
A guide to how to get started, what to do and when to stop reading and start writing - How to write a good essay
A guide to how to analyse, plan, structure and write effective essays for work and for exams - How to make good notes
Explains what notes are for, how to make sure your notes are effective, how to use notes for revision etc - Managing exam stress
How to make sure that stress doesn’t damage your revision or your exam performance.
Advice articles about sixth-form choices
These sixth-form advice articles include information about choosing the right subjects, FAQs about retaking, alternatives to A level, choosing a college etc
Browse by A-Level Subject
Each subject guide is laid out the same way — what the subject is about, the work involved, the background you need, where it can lead and how it is assessed — so you can compare them side by side.
By group
The guides are grouped by faculty — Sciences covers the STEM subjects. See all 26 A level subject guides.
- Independent sixth-form colleges
Explains what independent sixth-form colleges offer and what’s special about them. - Questions to ask cife colleges
Gives a detailed list of questions which will help you choose the cife college which is best for you. - Guide to individual A-level subjects
Introduces a series of pages each giving you key facts about specific A-level subjects - Brief guide to choosing the right A level subjects
A summary of the key factors to consider when deciding sixth form subjects - Comprehensive guide to choosing the right A level subjects
Describes the main things to take into account, how to find out more, and which subjects you need for specific degrees - FAQs about A-level choice
Answers the questions students often ask about A-level choice (eg ‘Are some subjects better for university entrance?’) - Should I retake A Levels?
Retaking A Levels is often perceived as a last resort – something students do when they fail to secure the grades they wanted the first time around. - FAQs about A-level retakes
Answers the questions you might have if you’re thinking about A-level retakes - Taking one-year A levels
What the one-year intensive route involves, who it suits, and how it differs from the two-year course. - EPQ – the Extended Project Qualification
Describes an addition to the sixth form curriculum which adds interest and impresses top universities - Choose the right accommodation
Describes the different sorts of student accommodation available at cife colleges, and explains the benefits (and possible drawbacks) of each
- Crammer, tutorial or sixth-form college?
An article which explains what these names mean and how they apply to cife colleges - A levels and alternatives to A level
Compares A levels with International Baccalaureate and other alternatives in terms of origins, purpose, structure, availability, university attitudes etc - FAQs for international students
Explains costs, qualifications, entry requirements, admissions, English exams etc to help students from other countries choose well - A levels or International Foundation course?
Compares the plus and minus points of A levels and Foundation courses for the older international student - Choose the right University Foundation Programme
Describes the range of courses on offer, explains how they can differ and what you should find out in order to choose the one which is right for you - Recognised ESL qualifications
Describes why you might need a recognised ESL qualification if your first language isn’t English, and describes the main ESL qualifications recognised by schools, universities, employers and the visa authorities. - How cife colleges help international students
Explains the ways cife colleges help students prepare for study in England and how they support international students after they arrive. - What happens on A Level results day?
This article advises on exactly what happens on A level results day, how to find out if things have gone according to plan, and what to do if you have a problem. - Getting a remark of an A level or GCSE exam
Describes how to get a remark, the pros and cons of a remark request, where to get advice, timescales, getting exam scripts back etc - Appealing against your GCSE or A level results in summer 2026
Describes how to appeal against your A level or GCSE result in summer 2026 - Sitting exams as an external candidate
What it means to sit A level or GCSE exams as an external or private candidate, and what to check first.
Sixth-form advice articles about university entrance
Articles cover how to write a good UCAS statement, tips for an outstanding UCAS form, dealing with interviews etc
- University or not? 10 questions to ask yourself
Even if you’re certain you’ll be going to university, pause a moment and check through these questions to make sure what you’re doing is right. - How to write a good UCAS Personal Statement
Detailed advice on how to get this most important part of a UCAS application right - Six Top Tips for an outstanding UCAS form
Tells you how to make sure that your UCAS form does the best possible job in persuading university Admissions Tutors to make you an offer. - How the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) strengthens a university application
An EPQ enables students to research an area of their own particular interest and demonstrates academic initiative and key skills required at degree level. - University interviews Oxbridge and medicine
Tells you what admissions tutors are looking for and how to prepare yourself to cope effectively with the interview. - How to increase your chances of studying Dentistry at University
Advice on what to do to try to improve your chances of being admitted to study Dentistry at University.
- Making a successful second application to Medical School
While the options for reapplicants are more limited, with strategic planning and the right support, our experience in cife colleges is that it is entirely possible to gain admission on a second attempt. - How much will university cost me?
All you need to know about the cost of getting a degree: tuition fees, living expenses and our top tips on finding student discounts and how to budget - Get the best out of university Open Days
Explains what university Open Days are for, how many to attend, how to prepare to get the best out of an Open Day, questions international students should ask etc. - What English and Maths Qualifications Do I Need for Studying at a UK University?
Embarking on the road to studying at university in the UK is an exciting prospect but it involves meeting specific academic requirements, particularly in English and Maths. - Financial help at university
Tells you about the main sources of financial help at university, and where to find out more. - A gap year after A level?
Explores the advantages and disadvantages of taking a gap year, as well as what to do and the impact on your future including whether to opt for deferred university entry