Choosing the right A Level subjects to study in the sixth form can play a key role in determining the options open to you after school - whether university choices or specific subject study.
What makes an A Level hard may depend on individual factors such as a natural aptitude, a preference for certain subjects or the quality of the teaching you receive. Nevertheless, some comparisons can be made, taking into account the amount of content to be learned and the difficulty of the concepts to be learned.
Using a combination of result statistics from Ofqual, our own experience tutoring students, and teachers’ perceptions, we will highlight some subjects that repeatedly come up in lists of the hardest A levels.
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Top 20 Hardest A Level Subjects (1-10)
There is no objective measure of which A Levels are the hardest, but the following list features the subjects that come up most often in student and teacher surveys. All the subjects on the list are academically demanding. One student’s hardest subject might sit within another’s comfort zone.
Further Maths
Often seen at the top of the list, requiring an understanding of difficult mathematical concepts, as well as problem-solving and reasoning skills. A love of maths may be a prerequisite here because you are going to have to study very hard.
Interestingly, the grade distribution of this subject is unique on this list. Most students who take this subject achieve either an A or A*. Make no mistake though; it is usually the most academically robust students with an aptitude for maths that that take on this incredibly challenging subject, which is why it is on the top of our list.
Maths
The most popular A Level subject, overtaking English Literature in 2014. A big step up from GCSE maths, you need to be able to think logically and problem-solve. Some elements of Mechanics will require knowledge of Physics concepts as well.
Chemistry
Chemistry A Level is known for its huge content, with a wide range of topics. You will need a solid grasp of theoretical and abstract concepts as well as an understanding of their application to experimental situations. A degree of maths ability will also help you.
Physics
Another challenging subject with hard concepts to grapple with, and a degree of mathematical knowledge and confidence a must. As with Chemistry, you must be able to apply theoretical ideas to a range of practical contexts.
English Literature
The first humanities subject on our list requires a very different set of skills. The ability to think critically and analyse a wide range of texts, as well as an in-depth knowledge of literary techniques, combine to make this subject a real challenge. You will have to come up with your own ideas, and not rely on easily available summaries. A love of reading will help, as there is a lot to get through, but you will need so much more.
History
History requires not only the learning and memorising of a huge amount of content, but you also need to be able to analyse information critically and have a deep understanding of historical events and causes.
Biology
Back to sciences, and Biology is another subject where you will see a big jump from GCSE. There is a lot of content to cover and you will need to understand difficult concepts in detail and show your understanding by analysing information and applying your knowledge.
Computer Science
You will not only need to learn the theoretical knowledge of computer science, but you will also need to be able to program. There is a further non-exam element to the A Level which will assess your ability to solve or investigate a practical problem.
Modern Foreign Languages
You will need a high degree of fluency and comprehension to do well in Modern Foreign Languages A Levels. These include French, German and Spanish. You will also study literary texts and need to have an understanding of historical and cultural contexts.
Psychology
Psychology has increased in popularity and is now second after maths as the most popular subject. That does not mean it is an easy one to study, with a considerable element of science and maths included. Students need to understand psychological theories and research methods to do well.
Before we continue with the rest of the list...
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Contact Us 3.0 TopTop 20 Hardest A Level Subjects (11-20)
3.1English Language
Many consider English Literature the more 'prestigious' of the two English subject disciplines. But make no mistake; getting a top grade seems to be a struggle for many students who take the English Language course. In fact, in 2024, only 2.3% - of students achieved an 'A*' grade (from 4.5% in 2017), while 34% and 30% achieved a C or a B grade, respectively. Less than 10% of students achieved an 'A' grade in 2024.
What makes A Level English Language difficult is how quickly it diverges away from the GCSE English syllabus into new territory. As the A Level's name implies, focus shifts away from analysing classical texts into understanding the theory behind language, why it changes, and how humans speak. Take this A Level if you're into words like diphthongs, syntax, lexicon, codified, and prosodics!
Economics
If understanding the fundamentals of how the economy works, including the theories surrounding market behaviour, the history of economics, as well as basic principles piques your interest, then A Level Economics might be a good choice for you. An economics A Level qualification will prepare you for a career in economics or finance-related fields such as investment banking or financial consulting.
Law
Law is a less popular A Level to take, with just ~14,000 students taking it in the whole of the UK in 2024. However, it is certainly a difficult subject. Just under 5% of all students who took Law at A Level received an A*, while the most common grades achieved were C and B, at ~25% and ~22% respectively.
Students looking to go into Law would, obviously, benefit from taking this A Level - although it is certainly not required as an A Level to pursue Law for Undergraduate or Post-Graduate study.
Business
A common myth surrounding Business is that it is the 'softer' version of Economics; the truth is, while the fields are similar, they actually cover quite different subjects. Business A Level is more focussed on marketing, operations, human resources, and business strategy, while Economics explores market theory, market structures, supply and demand, inflation, unemployment, and international trade.
A Business A Level qualification may be worth pursuing if you are interested in obtaining a degree in Marketing, or running your own business.
Computing
Computing A Level has seen a significant spike in popularity in the past ten years - with just over 3,000 students taking it in 2013 and close to 20,000 students in 2024.
While continuing advances in technology, a vanishing social taboo around being a 'nerd', and access to online learning resources for coding and other computing subjects has undoubtedly helped, perhaps an increase in funding and school resources to this subject at schools has continued to encourage students to pick this subject more often. High grades in Computing are quite common, with As, Bs, and Cs being some of the most common grades.
Music
While Music A Level has always been a less popular subject to take at A Level, it has seen a significant decline in popularity in the past 20 years, with only half the amount of students choosing it in 2024 compared to 2008. However, the performance of Music A Level students remains relatively stable, with 17% of students achieving an 'A', and just over a quarter of students receiving a 'B' in 2024.
Studying A Level Music is crucial for those interested in pursuing music at a classical Conservatoire or prestigious university. Additionally, most universities and conservatoires prefer an A Level over a BTEC for a standard music degree, as focus is placed more on classical composition and music theory.
Sociology
Sociology, the study of society, is similar to Psychology in that it is a very diverse subject that can be applied to many different career paths. Sociology A Level would be a useful degree if you are interested in human behaviour, and would like a career working with people. Typically, sociology students may find a career in human resources, marketing, social care, or other human behaviourally-focussed careers
Media Studies
Media Studies was taken by roughly 20,000 students in 2024, with the most common results achieved at 'B' and 'C', respectively. While it seems that with this subject students generally perform quite well, it is a subject on this list that has one of the lowest 'A*' averages by far.
To contrast this subject with, say Biology, where around 8% of students achieve an A* grade each year, only around 2% of students will get an A* in Media Studies.
If you are interested in Film and TV, then this is the subject for you.
Fine Art
We've placed Fine Art lower on this list, as results show that students who take this course are generally quite good at it. However, what we found interesting is the disparity in grade between genders. Female students, who this subject is noticeably more popular with, tend to perform much better than their male counterparts. This subject was taken by 3x as many females than males, who were also 4% less likely to achieve a C grade; 4% more likely to achieve a B grade, and 5% more likely to achieve an 'A' grade.
P.E.
P.E. may be a difficult subject for students who go into it thinking it's an 'easy' or 'soft' subject to take. But again, as is the theme with the rest of this article - there is no such thing as a 'soft' A Level subject: A Levels are objectively challenging. What makes P.E. more difficult than its predecessor, P.E. GCSE, is that you have to specialise in one chosen sport. Furthermore, there is a lot of about human anatomy you will need to familiarise yourself, so get studying!
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Hardest A Level Exam Boards
There are three main exam boards offering A Levels: being Pearson Edexcel, AQA and OCR. Which exam board is the hardest is often a matter of perception. In terms of university choices, universities do not specify which exam board they expect students to study. Unless you are looking to move at sixth form to a school or college offering a particular board, you will take the exams offered by your school. The teachers will be familiar with the specifications for whichever board they are following.
It is important to remember that if you are studying A Levels in the UK, then the boards are broadly comparable as standards are monitored by the UK Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual). Schools may choose different boards for different subjects, sometimes due to teacher preference, or a perception that a particular exam board will suit their student cohort.
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Grade Distributions For A Level Subjects
One possible method of measuring a subject's 'difficulty' is to observe the average grade distributions by A Level subject, provided by Ofqual.
While this may not be the most accurate way to determine difficulty, since several variables affect the distribution of grades, it can still provide a general understanding of students' performance in each subject.
Using the most recent 2024 data, here is a table that examines the 20 most common A Level subjects taken and their average grade distribution:
| Subject | No. of Students | Average Grade | Most to Least Common |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 89,720 | A | A, B, A*, C, D, E, U |
| Psychology | 76,970 | B | B, C, D, A, E, A*, U |
| Biology | 67,965 | B | B, C, A, D, E, A*, U |
| Chemistry | 56,730 | A | A, B, C, D, E, A*, U |
| Sociology | 45,060 | B | B, C, D, A, F, A*, U |
| History | 44,155 | B | B, C, A, D, A*, E, U |
| Business Studies | 40,700 | B | B, C, D, A, E, A*, U |
| Economics | 38,020 | B | B, C, A, D, A*, E, U |
| Physics | 35,375 | A | A, B, C, D, E, A*, U |
| Geography | 34,625 | B | B, C, A, D, A*, E, U |
| English Lit. | 33,610 | B | B, C, A, D, A*, E, U |
| Political Studies | 20,425 | B | B, C, A, D, A*, E, U |
| Computing | 17,230 | B | B, C, D, A, E, A*, U |
| Religious Studies | 14,685 | B | B, C, A, D, A*, E, U |
| Media Studies | 14,300 | C | C, D, A, A, E, A*, U |
| Further Maths | 14,265 | A | A, A*, B, C, D, E, U |
| Law | 13,945 | C | C, B, D, E, A, A*, U |
| Fine Art | 13,580 | B | B, C, A, A*, D, E, U |
| English Lang. | 13,050 | C | C, B, D, A, A*, E, U |
| P.E. | 11,970 | C | C, B, D, A, E, A*, U |
Conclusion
All A Levels are challenging and academically rigorous exams. When choosing A Level subjects, it is important to be looking beyond the exams to your next steps. Which universities do you want to apply for? Which subjects do you want to study? These questions may have the greatest influence on your choices.
A 2017 Report by Ofqual found that “subject choices appear to be primarily driven by a triad of perceptions: enjoyment, usefulness, and difficulty (with perceptions being mostly person-specific). Although perceptions of difficulty did have an influence on subject choices, they are perhaps the lesser of these three concerns.”
Whilst Maths and Further Maths consistently come near the top of any list of hardest A Level subjects, Maths remains the most popular A Level subject, closely followed by Psychology, which has seen a surge in applicants in recent years. The FFT education data lab has produced independent statistics on the popularity of different A Levels.
Whatever your aspirations and choices, Ivy Education has expert A Level consultants and tutors who can help you make the best choices, and support and guide you through the curriculum to maximise your academic performance.
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FAQs
A range of factors may make an A Level hard – or seem hard. These include a student’s natural aptitude, their personal preference, and the quality of teaching they receive.
Overall, the perceived difficulty of A Level subjects is subjective and can vary depending on individual factors such as personal interests, academic background, teaching quality, and assessment methods. However, some subjects are designed to be objectively more difficult than others.
For instance, Further Maths is an extension of Maths A Level and is, therefore, a more challenging subject to undertake.
It's also important to note that some subjects, like Fine Art, P.E., or English Literature, feature more subjective assessments, such as essays or coursework. This subjectivity can challenge students, depending on their strengths and weaknesses. Recognising this can help students prepare for the varying assessment styles they may encounter.
Your A Level choices must be led by the course you want to take in the future. The Russell Group, representing 24 leading UK universities, used to publish a list of so-called facilitating subjects, which were seen as the most academically rigorous and the most likely to open doors. They no longer use this list and instead encourage students to make informed choices and consider a broader range of subjects. Their Informed Choices website can help students research the subjects they might need.
As previously stated, the 'difficulty' of A Level Subjects is highly subjective. However, looking at the grade distribution table in the section above, there are some notable outliers of subjects that students appear to struggle with overall.
A noteworthy example is A Level Law, which shows that fewer students are obtaining A* and A in this subject, with the most common grades (in order) being C, B, D, then E, with A and A* being the most 'rare' grades, not counting U.
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BY Alastair
Alastair Delafield is the Managing Director and founder of Ivy Education.
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