Justification
The AEAs, which were taken by a small proportion of students in a limited number of subjects, were introduced in June 2002 as a successor to the S-level examination.
In 2008 25.8% of all A level subjects were given an A grade, and there were renewed calls for a better system of differentiation between higher-level candidates to be introduced. With the introduction of the new A* grade at A level for the 2010 June examination season, the AEAs have been deemed to no longer be needed and are to be withdrawn after the 2009 June exam season (with the exception of the Maths AEA, which will continue until June 2015).
Read more about this topic: Advanced Extension Award