According to a complete list of A-level subjects listed on Wikipedia, there are currently 85 A-level subjects available in the UK, meaning that prospective A-level subjects have a huge number of subjects to choose from. Whether you’re passionate about science or want to showcase your creativity, you’re sure to find the right A-level subject for you. Choosing the right A-level subjects is important because it can have a huge impact on your future academic or career goals. If you don’t choose the right subjects, you may find that you can’t go to university to study your chosen degree subject.
Here’s everything you need to know about A-levels, including which A-level subjects are most and least popular, who is currently taking A-levels, and what are A-levels, anyway:
What Are A-Levels?
Advanced Level Qualifications (better known as A-levels) are subject-based qualifications, often also referred to as post-16 qualifications. A-levels usually focus on academic subjects, whilst more vocational areas are studied via BTEC or NVQ qualifications. In order to study for A-levels in the UK you must normally fulfil the following criteria:
- You must have secured at least five GCSEs at grades 9 to 4/A* to C
- You must have achieved at least grade 6 in the specific subject(s) you wish to study
However, because entry requirements are set by specific schools and colleges, you may find that the grade requirements for your chosen school/college differ from this slightly. A-levels are studied over two years, and you will take examinations at the end of each year. The first year is known as your AS year, and you will receive an AS-level qualification at this point, whilst you won’t gain your A-level qualifications until the end of the second year. A-levels are sometimes referred to as linear qualifications: this is a term that describes the fact that your A-level grades won’t be determined until you sit your exams at the end of your second year.
Conventionally, students will choose subjects they want to study at A-level whilst they are still studying for their GCSEs. Their eligibility to go on to study their chosen A-levels will depend on their GCSE grades. And most schools, colleges and universities require you to achieve a grade C/4 or above in maths and English, so it’s important to focus on achieving these grades if you wish to go on and study A-levels. Because individuals typically study A-levels directly after their GCSEs, it is not uncommon for students to study some of the same subjects that they studied at GCSE at a higher level, but there is a much greater variety of A-level subjects, when compared to GCSE subjects, meaning that you can also step outside of your comfort zone and take the opportunity to learn something new.
Wondering how different A-levels will be from GCSEs? The main difference is that A-levels are more difficult than GCSEs, and this can be a culture shock for some students. You will learn subjects in greater depth and cover more complex areas of the subject, meaning that it may be harder to get your head around a subject at A-level that you understand well at GCSE level. You will also find that your teacher or tutor expects a lot more independent study and engagement from you than they did at GCSE level. The ability to work independently is a vital skill and one that you will be taught regardless of the A-level subject you choose. Finally, A-levels are assigned UCAS points which count towards your university admissions process, if you choose to attend university, whilst GCSEs are not assigned UCAS points and are therefore not taken into account when you apply to attend university via UCAS.
Who Takes A-Levels?
Many people choose to take A-levels for many different reasons. Whilst A-levels are typically taken by students aged between 16-18 years, they do not have an age limit, meaning that you can go back to college to take A-levels at any age. Two of the main reasons that people choose to study A-levels, regardless of their age, is because they need them to pursue their chosen career path, or because they wish to attend university. Most higher education courses require specific A-levels or combinations of A-levels, and you will typically need to gain at least three A-levels if you wish to attend university.
It is also becoming increasingly popular for mature students to study A-levels in order to learn more about a subject of interest or to keep their minds engaged and active. You can study A-levels at school, sixth form or college. You don’t need to stay at the school where you did your GCSEs if you would prefer to study in a college environment. Online or distance learning is also available for studying A-levels and is a great option if you’re hoping to study for your A-levels alongside work, family life, or other commitments. Online learning is also popular with mature students who have other commitments.
A-levels are the right choice for you if you enjoy academic learning, want to study a broad range of subjects, and are considering attending university. A-levels may not be the right choice for you if you are looking for a hands-on or vocational course, or if you know which trade or career you would like to work in, then studying a vocational qualification or taking an apprenticeship may be a better option for you.
When you have completed your A-levels, you will have many great options available to you, and success in your A-levels can open a world of opportunities. Common routes that students who have completed their A-levels take include:
- Continuing to university or another institute of higher education, often with an end career goal in mind.
- Seeking employment in your chosen field. A-levels are highly valued by employers because they show a good level of academic achievement and teach transferable skills, meaning that having A-levels will increase your employability.
- Achieve further qualifications via a vocational or work-based scheme, such as an apprenticeship. These are particularly popular within certain industries.
How Many A-Levels Are There?
There are currently 85 different A-level subjects available in the UK. This means that you can choose between subjects that you have studied before, such as history, maths or art, variations of subjects you have studied before, such as further maths or English Literature, or subjects that are brand-new to you. This includes subjects such as psychology, law, or economics, which are subjects that are not offered at GCSE level. It’s important to note that some of these new or more obscure subjects are not taught at every school or college. That means that if you wish to study law or economics at degree level then you may not be able to study those subjects at A-level. Don’t worry. Universities understand that these subjects are not widely available and therefore will list other, more conventional subjects in their admissions requirements (you can study maths if you wish to pursue an economics degree, for example, or English Literature if you wish to pursue a law degree).
With such a huge range of A-levels available, it can feel overwhelming and difficult to choose the subjects that will be right for you. To support you in your decisions, some criteria to keep in mind when choosing A-levels include:
- Considering subjects you already enjoy and are good at, or are likely to enjoy and excel in. What do you do well? If you have certain abilities or skills (such as a talent for art or a head for figures) then these are subjects you are more likely to enjoy and perform well in.
- What are your future career goals? Do you have aspirations to study a specific degree at university? If this is the case, then you may need to choose specific A-levels in order to meet strict university entry criteria. As outlined above, you will also be required to choose at least three A-levels if attending university is your ultimate goal.
- If you don’t have a future career goal or study choice in mind, then it may be wiser to opt for generic subject choices and keep your options open. Traditional academic subjects tend to be more open-ended, teach a broader range of transferable skills, and have wider applications in both the world of work and the world of further education.
Most Popular A-Levels
When it comes to choosing your A-levels there is no right and wrong: Only what is right or wrong for you. But it may help you when making your decisions to know that some subjects are favoured by students much higher than any other: and those subjects are consistently popular too. Between 2001 and 2021, a group of eight subjects were in the top ten most popular subjects every year. Those subjects were English, maths, biology, chemistry, physics, art and design, psychology and history, making these officially the most popular A-level subjects in the UK.
The subjects you choose should be driven by your future career aspirations, and this explains why subjects such as biology, physics and chemistry are so popular: you will need to study all of these subjects if you wish to apply to medical school or work anywhere else within the medical field. Maths and English are also popular because they are versatile, traditional, academic subjects that are highly regarded by university admissions officers. Many degree-level subjects will specify that you need to have taken either English (if you are applying for a BA, arts-based degree) or maths (if you are applying for a BSc, science-based degree) in order to be accepted. Thanks to a huge campaign to promote STEM subjects to both male and female students, maths is by far the most popular A-level subject in the country: In 2021, more than 20,000 more applicants sat examinations for maths A-levels compared to the next most popular subject which, surprisingly, was not English but Psychology. The rise in the popularity of psychology has been driven by two main factors: increased awareness of the importance of mental health, and the popularity of true crime and psychological documentaries and dramas within the mainstream media. Both of these factors mean that young people are more interested than ever in learning about human psychology.
If you’re interested in studying a modern foreign language, then the three most popular to choose between are French, Spanish and German: This is unsurprising given that these are the languages most widely spoken by our closest neighbours. In 2001, French was the most popular foreign language A-level, but the focus on French has shifted and now Spanish is the most popular option, having taken the top spot in 2019.
Finally, if you’re considering studying a humanities subject then the two most popular of these are history and geography. Entries to history and geography were almost equal in 2001, but since then geography entries have declined, whilst entries to history have been on an upward trend. This trend was only broken in 2015, but history remains the more popular of these two humanities subjects.
Least Popular A-Levels
Understandably, the least popular A-levels in the UK are those in niche subjects that don’t have a wide-reaching appeal. Some subjects are also unpopular because they are considered to be ‘tier four’ subjects: those are subjects that are not well-respected by universities, and may even be excluded from entry offers. In 2022, the ten least popular A-level subjects in the UK were:
- Environmental studies.
- Home Sciences.
- Performing Arts.
- Information Technology.
- Geography.
- Modern Foreign Languages.
- Physical Education.
- Music.
- Media/Film Studies.
- Religious Studies.
These subjects are listed in no particular order and are each unpopular for a different reason: either because they are less likely to get you the university place you want or assist with your chosen career path, or because they simply aren’t subjects that are considered interesting to modern students (this is true of home sciences, such as food technology, which is widely considered to be an outdated subject).
Education is constantly evolving, and popularity and trends continue to shift. So, whilst it is important to be aware of the most and least popular A-level subjects, you shouldn’t necessarily let that influence your choices. If you have a passion and talent for playing a musical instrument, for example, you shouldn’t let the unpopularity of A-level music deter you from studying the subject and pursuing your passion. You should also consider how academically focused the subjects you wish to study are, and whether this will help you to reach your final goals (whether that is attending university or securing your dream job). This should be a more important factor than the popularity of a course.
