and also 747 the new system that the education board has set up with leading examination centres for a levels is that if you fail your first year you resit, secondly you have to do 4AS levels in year 1 and to get into any of the good unis its a hell of a struggle. i know many people who cried there eyes out as they didnt make it into there chosen course
by the way all the top ten unis in britain probably had A level points on average per student between 26-30 points equivalent to ABB-AAA
for many courses especially medecine, denistry, engineering etc