The economic case for reforming A Levels

Critics claim that A level students often lack essential skills required for the world of work. In response, the government is proposing to reform the A level system. In future, students may take up to five subjects in their first year of sixth form, and a ''key skills'' course in IT, communication and the ''application of number''. This paper assesses whether employers pay a wage premium for some A level subjects, confirming a possible shortfall of these ''key skills''. We find individuals with a mathematics A level earn 7-10% more than otherwise similarly educated workers without this qualification.