The S-level or scholarship level was a General Certificate of Education (GCE) public examination in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, taken by the most able A-level students.
Likewise, local authorities also considered 'S' level results when awarding county scholarships.
As a result, it was customary for sixth form students to offer 'S' levels when applying to universities.
'S' levels principally aimed to test candidates confronted with unfamiliar situations and show their reasoning.
After 1963, the Ministry of Education, following advice from the Secondary School Examinations Council, decided only 2 'S' levels could be offered by a candidate at any one time and results given as gradings.