Overview
This article explains what the AAB measure is, the subjects classified as Facilitating, and those pupils and subjects included in the measure.
AAB measure definition
The AAB measure is used to identify a subset of students who have achieved at least grades AAB in three A Levels, with at least two of these subjects being classified as Facilitating subjects. The Facilitating subjects are:
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Physics
- Classical or Modern Languages
- English Literature
- Mathematics
- Further Mathematics
- Geography
- History
This measure has traditionally been used to recognise high academic achievement in subjects that support progression to top universities while keeping students’ future study options broad and flexible.
Pupil and qualification inclusion
The AAB measure:
- Applies to a subset of the A Level pupils, who are entered for at least one full-sized A Level, excluding Applied A Levels.
- Includes Double Award A Levels.
- Does not include AS Levels, General Studies, or Critical Thinking.
When a student is entered for fewer than 3 A Levels, they are only included if they have not taken any additional Academic, Applied General, or Tech Level qualifications.
Students who have only been in their school for a year must have been entered in to three A Levels to be included.
The following table summarises those qualification types included in the AAB measure:
| Qualification | Included in the AAB measure (of which at least two are in facilitating subjects) |
| 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 | No |
| Applied GCE AS Level | No |
| Applied GCE Double Award | No |
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