Which A Level Subjects Should You Take?
Choosing the right A Level subjects is an important decision that can significantly influence your university options and long-term career direction. With certain degree programmes requiring specific subject combinations, careful planning at this stage is essential. In this article, we outline five key questions to help you determine which A Level subjects you should take, ensuring your choices are aligned with your academic strengths, interests and future aspirations.
Table of Contents
1. Which course do you want to pursue?
If you’re unsure about what course you’d like to pursue, it’s best to take subjects that enable you to pursue a wide range of courses in the future. We recommend that you take at least two general subjects. The following list has subjects that are usually required for certain university courses:
- Biology
- Chemistry
- English
- Geography
- History
- Mathematics
- Physics
Alternatively, if you’re already sure about your future path, you can choose subjects based on the future course you’d like to pursue.
2. Which subjects are not accepted by universities?
Some A Level subjects are not accepted as part of the UCAS Tariff score at many universities, particularly for competitive degree programmes. These are generally excluded subjects:
| Generally Excluded Subjects |
|---|
| Critical Thinking |
| General Studies |
| Global Perspectives and Research |
| Knowledge and Enquiry |
| Project Work |
| Thinking Skills |
In addition, certain universities are more specific about subject combinations. The London School of Economics and Political Science is one such institution, and it publishes a list of “non-preferred” subjects.
| Common Non-Preferred Subjects |
|---|
| Any Applied A Level |
| Art and Design |
| Business Studies |
| Citizenship Studies |
| Communication and Culture |
| Design and Technology |
| Film Studies |
| Health and Social Care |
| Home Economics |
| Information and Communication Technology |
| Leisure Studies |
| Media Studies |
| Music Technology |
| Physical Education / Sports Studies |
| Travel and Tourism |
These subjects may still be accepted in certain combinations, but they are often viewed as less academically rigorous or less directly aligned with the analytical preparation required for selective undergraduate study. Students aiming for competitive universities are generally advised to prioritise traditional academic subjects such as Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Sciences, English Literature, History and Economics, depending on their intended degree.
3. Which subjects are additional requirements for certain courses?
Some undergraduate courses have specific subject requirements, such as how Chemical Engineering requires Maths and Chemistry. These requirements are obvious and are directly related to the course you’re about to pursue. The A Levels subjects you have chosen to study will prepare you well for undergraduate study.
In addition to that, some subjects may have a secondary subject requirement. For example, Law courses normally require a minimum of a C in English as you’re expected to communicate well in English. However, it is not required for you to take A Levels Law to be admitted into an undergraduate course. This is because the undergraduate programme will adequately prepare you for studying Law without any prior knowledge of the subject, however, the programme expects your level of English to be at a certain level at the start of your studies.
4. Which subjects are most difficult to ace?
Some A Level subjects are harder than others. The conventional wisdom for those who are unsure about which subjects to take is to go with two science subjects which would allow you to pursue most courses.
If you’re looking for a third subject, it may be worth finding one that’s easy to ace. The reason for that is many universities look at your top three grades at the A Levels so the third subject is quite important. Most courses with subject requirements will only have two science subject requirements, so you have the option to take a humanities subject as your third subject.
Take a look at the following list of the hardest subjects to pass and ace at the A Levels.*
*Percentages are rounded estimates based on recent national A Level results in England.
5. Do subject combinations matter?
Ultimately, whether or not subject combinations matter largely depends on how set you are about your future undergraduate course. The safest option if you’re undecided is to go with two science subjects such as Biology with Chemistry as it allows you to pursue Medicine and Chemistry-related degrees in the future. Alternatively, taking Math with Physics will allow those with an inclination to physics to pursue a course in the subject. Of course, if you go with science subjects for your two A Levels, they are widely accepted if you decide to pursue an undergraduate course in the humanities later.
The majority of courses, especially those in the humanities, will accept you no matter what subject combinations you have chosen as long as you meet their grades and other requirements. One of the few exceptions is English degrees, which typically requires an A Levels in English.
Overall, choose your A Level subjects wisely, but be sure to also base your choices on your natural aptitude and interests.
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