This article details what the Best 3 A Levels Measure is, and how it is calculated. Calculations are supported with worked examples.
What is the Best 3 A Levels measure?
The Best 3 A Levels Measure is the total number of points achieved by all eligible pupils divided by the number of entries, giving a points score per entry. This point score can be expressed as a numeric value, or a grade.
Pupil and Qualification Inclusion
The Best 3 A Levels Measure applies to a subset of the A Level pupils, who were entered for at least one full sized A Level. This measure includes Double Award A Levels and Applied A Levels. It does not include AS Levels, General Studies, or Critical Thinking. When a pupil is entered for less than 3 A Levels, they are not included in this measure if they take any additional Academic, Applied General, or Tech Level qualifications greater than or equal to the size of an A level. Pupils who have only been in their school for a year, must have been entered in three A Levels to be included.
The following table summarises which qualifications are included in this measure:
|
Qualification |
Included in Best 3 A Levels Measure? |
|---|---|
|
GCE A Level |
Yes (except General Studies and Critical Thinking) |
|
GCE AS Level |
No |
|
Applied GCE AS Level Double Award |
No |
|
Applied GCE Single Award |
Yes |
|
Applied GCE AS Level |
No |
|
Applied GCE Double Award |
Yes |
Calculations
A Best 3 A Levels score is calculated by adding together the points that each pupil achieves in their Best 3 A Levels. The individual Best 3 A Levels point score for each of the pupils are then added to that of each other pupil in your school. Your resulting school level Best 3 A Levels score is then divided by the total entries (number of pupils multiplied by three).
Example
In this example, the outcomes of five pupils that have been in the same school for two years are used to calculate the Best 3 A Level score for each pupil. These are then used to calculate a score for the school using the Best 3 A Level measure.
Individual Pupil Best 3 A Levels
Pupil A
|
Qualification |
Size |
Year Achieved |
Grade |
Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Single Award A Level |
1 |
2023 |
A* |
60 |
|
Single Award A Level |
1 |
2023 |
B |
40 |
|
Single Award A Level |
1 |
2023 |
B |
40 |
|
Total |
- |
- | - | 140 |
In this example, Pupil A's best 3 A Levels count in the measure.
Information: If a pupil had studied a combined A / AS Level, where the size would equate to 1.5, each result is divided by 1.5 to scale the size / points to that of one A Level.
Pupil B
|
Qualification |
Size |
Year Achieved |
Grade |
Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Double Award A Level |
2 |
2023 |
A* A* |
120 |
|
Single Award A Level |
1 |
2023 |
A |
50 |
|
Single Award A Level |
1 |
2023 |
B |
N/A |
|
Total |
- |
- | - | 170 |
In this example, Pupil B's Double Award qualification counts as two of the three entries. The best one of the remaining two results is then used in the calculation.
Information: Where a pupil has studied two Double Awards, the points achieved from the lower of the two awards are divided by 2.
Pupil C
|
Qualification |
Size |
Year Achieved |
Grade |
Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Single Award A Level |
1 |
2023 |
B |
40 |
|
Single Award A Level |
1 |
2023 |
B |
40 |
|
Single Award AS Level |
0.5 |
2022 |
C |
N/A |
|
Total |
- |
- | - | 80 |
Pupil C counts towards the measure even though they have not entered 3 A Levels, as long as they have not also entered an approved Tech Level, Applied General or other Academic Qualifications whose size is equal to one A Level. Their Single Award AS Level is not included in this measure.
Pupil D
|
Qualification |
Size |
Year Achieved |
Grade |
Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Single Award A Level |
1 |
2022 |
A |
50 |
|
Single Award A Level |
1 |
2022 |
B |
40 |
|
Single Award A Level |
1 |
2021 |
B |
N/A |
|
Total |
- |
- | - | 90 |
Pupil D is included in the measure as they have two qualifications that count towards it. The A Level from 2021 is not included in the measure (as the DfE have committed not to use any results achieved between January 2020 and August 2021).
Pupil E
|
Qualification |
Size |
Year Achieved |
Grade |
Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Single Award A Level |
1 |
2022 |
A |
50 |
|
Single Award A Level |
1 |
2022 |
A |
50 |
|
Single Award A Level |
1 |
2022 |
B |
40 |
|
Single Award A Level |
1 |
2021 |
A |
N/A |
|
Total |
- |
- | - | 140 |
Pupil E has three qualifications in 2022 that count towards the measure. The 2021 measure does not count despite being higher than one of the 2022 results. This is because 2021 results are not included in the measure (as the DfE have committed not to use any results achieved between January 2020 and August 2021).
School Score
The points from each of the five pupils above are combined to produce the school score in the best 3 A Levels:
|
Pupil / Total |
Points |
|---|---|
|
Pupil A |
140 |
|
Pupil B |
170 |
|
Pupil C |
80 |
|
Pupil D |
90 |
|
Pupil E |
140 |
|
Total points |
620 |
|
Total entries |
15 (5 pupils x 3) |
|
Points per entry |
620 ÷ 15 = 41.33 |
|
Results expressed as a grade |
B |
DfE Guidance
For further information about the Best 3 A Levels Measure, please see the DfE's Technical Guide from page 50:
- DfE's 16 to 18 accountability measures: technical guidance (see https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/16-to-19-accountability-headline-measures-technical-guide)
|
For information on viewing Best 3 A Levels in the Sisra reports, see the following guide: |
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