是完整A Level的前半部分（后半部分称为A2），通常在12年级学习。某些由新西兰学校与CIE联合开发的AS水平仅作为13年级课程提供。涵盖高级主题的核心基础知识。值得一提的是，可以用于高等教育的独立资格。授予5个及格分数：A，B，C，D，E。这些分数以下的分数为未评分。
Cambridge International is administered by the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES). UCLES is one of the world's leading examining bodies. Established in 1863 it provides examination services in over 160 countries around the world. Although CAIE is based in the United Kingdom, and the structure of the Cambridge International awards is the same as the UK awards, its courses are designed for the international community. New Zealand's qualification for school learners is the National Certificate of Educational Achievement - NCEA. NCEA is a qualification on New Zealand's National Qualifications Framework (NQF). It sits alongside more than 800 other national qualifications used throughout tertiary education and industry training. NCEA is achievement based. National standards have been set in each area of learning. When students achieve these standards they earn credits towards their NCEA qualification. The NQF contains two types of national standards: achievement standards and unit standards. Credits from all achievement standard and unit standards count towards NCEA. Achievement standards allow students to show the quality of their achievement in a standard - students can just achieve the standard, or achieve it with merit or with excellence. <br>Cambridge offers three general secondary qualifications: <br>International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) - usually taken in Year 11<br>Advanced Subsidiary Level (AS) - usually taken in Year 12 <br>Advanced Level (A Level) - usually taken in Year 13