Further Maths, Physics and Chemistry are strong candidates if you mean the hardest A levels for abstract thinking and technical problem-solving. Biology can be demanding because of its content and application questions, while History, English Literature and languages challenge students through reading, analysis, writing and sustained practice.
But there is no single subject that is hardest for everyone. A student who enjoys algebra may find Further Maths more manageable than History. Someone who writes persuasive essays may feel the opposite.
The essentials
That does not make comparisons useless. It means you need to know what makes a subject difficult, rather than choosing or rejecting it because of a position in a league table.
This guide compares ten demanding options, explains the work behind each one and helps you decide whether that work suits you. It focuses on A levels in England; Welsh, Northern Irish and International A level specifications and assessment arrangements can differ.
The hardest A levels at a glance
The subjects below are an editorial shortlist, not a statistically proven ranking. They illustrate substantial demands in problem-solving, knowledge, analysis or independent work. Their order does not mean one is universally harder than the next.
| Subject | Main source of difficulty | A useful question before choosing it |
|---|---|---|
| Further Maths | Abstract ideas and demanding mathematical reasoning | Do I enjoy maths when the method is not obvious? |
| Physics | Turning physical situations into mathematical models | Can I explain why a calculation makes sense? |
| Chemistry | Combining calculations, explanations and chemical patterns | Do I enjoy understanding how particles explain observations? |
| Maths | Fluent algebra and problems combining several methods | Can I work independently without following an example line by line? |
| Biology | Detailed knowledge, precise explanations and unfamiliar data | Am I prepared to practise application as well as recall? |
| Computer Science | Algorithms, theory, programming and project work | Do I enjoy debugging as well as getting a program to run? |
| History | Detailed evidence and sustained, relevant arguments | Do I enjoy weighing competing explanations? |
| English Literature | Close reading and arguments about interpretation | Can I explain how a writer creates meaning? |
| Modern languages | Listening, speaking, reading and writing together | Will I practise regularly between lessons? |
| Psychology | Research knowledge, evaluation, methods and statistics | Am I interested in evidence about behaviour, not just opinions? |
Why pass rates cannot tell you which A level is hardest
A pass rate tells you the proportion of entries awarded grade E or above. It does not tell you how the same student would perform in every subject.
Students taking different subjects are different groups. Their prior attainment, school entry requirements and reasons for choosing the course can vary. A course recruiting students who already excel in maths can have strong results while still teaching demanding material.
Top-grade rates have the same limitation. A smaller proportion of A* grades does not, by itself, prove that a subject is harder to get an A* in for a particular student.
Note
Ofqual publishes subject outcomes, including 2026 results. These show how grades are distributed; interpreting those percentages as a difficulty ranking requires assumptions the figures alone cannot establish.
For choosing your subjects, separate three questions:
| Question | What to consider |
|---|---|
| How difficult is the material? | Abstraction, technical precision and unfamiliar problems |
| How demanding is the workload? | Reading, practice, projects and deadlines |
| How difficult is my target grade likely to be for me? | Your current skills, the assessment and the support available |
A subject can be manageable to understand but difficult to score highly in if your answers lack precision. Another can feel confusing at first but become much more manageable with regular practice.
10 demanding A levels explained
1. Further Maths: demanding because the reasoning becomes more abstract
Further Maths goes beyond the standard Maths course. Depending on your specification and options, it includes areas such as complex numbers, matrices, further calculus and additional applied mathematics (see, for example, AQA Further Maths). These extend mathematical ideas rather than simply making GCSE calculations longer.
The challenge is often deciding how to begin. A question may ask you to connect ideas, justify a result or work with unfamiliar notation before there is anything straightforward to calculate.
It may suit you if you enjoy difficult maths problems and want to understand why a method works. Being quick at arithmetic is less useful than being willing to reason carefully.
Before choosing it
Ask your teacher for a short introduction to a new topic and a few guided questions. Notice whether the unfamiliar ideas become interesting once explained. You are testing your response to learning, not whether you can already pass the course.
What helps: keep your standard Maths skills fluent and revisit problems you could not start. Record the clue that pointed to the method, rather than copying only the solution.
2. Physics: demanding because knowing a formula is only the beginning
Physics asks you to connect an explanation of the world with a mathematical model. You need to understand quantities, relationships, assumptions and what a result means physically.
For example, a question about an accelerating lift may require you to draw the forces, choose a positive direction and distinguish the resultant force from the force measured by a scale. The arithmetic may be simple; building the model is the harder part.
It may suit you if you enjoy explaining how things work and are willing to use maths to develop that explanation.
Before choosing it
Check your confidence with rearranging equations, ratios, standard form, graphs and units. Ask your sixth form whether taking A level Maths alongside Physics is required or recommended.
What helps: start calculations with a diagram, a list of known quantities and the relevant physical principle. Afterwards, check units and whether the answer is plausible.
3. Chemistry: demanding because you must move between different explanations
Chemistry combines numerical problems, precise terminology, particle-level explanations and patterns in reactions. You might move from a calculation to an explanation of bonding, then to an organic reaction within the same study session.
The difficulty is keeping those ideas connected. Knowing that a substance has a high melting point is different from explaining its structure, the interactions involved and the energy needed to overcome them.
It may suit you if you enjoy both calculations and explanations, and want to understand why substances behave differently.
Before choosing it
Revisit GCSE moles, equations and bonding. If these remain confusing after feedback, discuss a bridging plan with your teacher rather than assuming the problem will disappear at A level.
What helps: practise calculations by type, then mix them. For organic chemistry, connect reactions through starting material, conditions, product and mechanism instead of learning isolated lists.
4. Maths: demanding because the question may not name the method
At GCSE, you may recognise a question and apply a familiar procedure. At A level, a problem can require you to combine algebra, functions, trigonometry or calculus without being told which technique to use first.
A small weakness in algebra can also interfere with a much newer topic. You might understand differentiation but lose marks while simplifying the expression afterwards.
It may suit you if you enjoy working through problems and can tolerate getting stuck while you develop a method.
Before choosing it
Try several GCSE Higher algebra questions without a worked example beside you. Look especially at factorising, fractions, indices and rearranging equations. Your teacher can help identify which gaps matter most.
What helps: alternate focused topic practice with mixed questions. When you make a mistake, identify whether it came from choosing the method, carrying it out or interpreting the answer.
5. Biology: demanding because remembering the content is not enough
Biology requires detailed knowledge, but questions can place that knowledge in unfamiliar experiments, organisms or data sets. Recognising every word in your notes does not guarantee that you can select the right explanation in an exam.
For example, you might know the definition of osmosis but struggle to interpret a graph of percentage mass change or explain why a particular control was needed.
It may suit you if you enjoy biological processes and are prepared to combine recall with careful analysis of evidence.
Before choosing it
Try a short data question after learning the relevant concept. Notice whether the challenge is understanding the process, interpreting the information or expressing your answer precisely.
What helps: pair each revision topic with application questions. Mark your answers for missing causal steps, not just missing keywords.
Note
In England, the practical endorsement in A level Biology, Chemistry and Physics is reported separately from the A*–E grade. It is not coursework that raises that grade. Practical knowledge and skills are also tested in written papers.
6. Computer Science: demanding because coding is only part of the course
Computer Science combines computational thinking with topics such as algorithms, data representation, computer systems and the implications of technology. You need to explain and analyse, as well as program.
Programming introduces its own challenge: a solution can look sensible and still fail on an unusual input. Finding the error requires patience and systematic testing.
It may suit you if you enjoy logical problems and are curious enough to investigate why something does not work.
Before choosing it
Build a small program, such as a quiz that tracks scores. Then test missing answers, unexpected inputs and repeated attempts. Do you enjoy improving it once the first version runs?
What helps: learn theory alongside programming. Start project milestones early and include analysis, testing and evaluation in your schedule. In England, A level Computer Science includes a non-exam assessment worth 20% (for example, AQA Computer Science); check your specification for its precise requirements.
7. History: demanding because knowledge must become an argument
History requires substantial factual knowledge, but an essay earns credit through what you do with that knowledge. You must select evidence, explain its relevance and make a judgement that answers the question.
For a question about whether economic problems were the main cause of political change, describing economic conditions is only the first step. You need to show how they caused change and compare their importance with other explanations.
It may suit you if you enjoy reading, debate and examining why events happened.
Before choosing it
Find out which periods your school teaches. Your interest in those topics matters because you will read and write about them repeatedly. Also ask to see an example of a strong analytical paragraph.
What helps: practise planning arguments and selecting evidence before writing full essays. After each paragraph, ask: "What does this establish about the question?"
For AQA History, the historical investigation is worth 20%, so its deadlines also need planning.
8. English Literature: demanding because interpretation needs close evidence
Enjoying novels is a useful starting point, but Literature asks you to analyse how writing produces meaning. You need to support interpretations through language, form and structure, alongside the other requirements of your specification.
Saying that a character feels isolated is different from explaining how imagery, narrative perspective or dialogue constructs that isolation.
It may suit you if you enjoy rereading, discussing different interpretations and developing an argument about a text.
Before choosing it
Ask about the set texts and assessment. Try analysing a short unfamiliar passage: can you move beyond identifying a technique to explaining what it does?
What helps: build notes around interpretations and supporting passages. Practise explaining a small piece of evidence closely rather than filling an essay with disconnected quotations.
9. Modern languages: demanding because several skills must develop together
A language course requires more than vocabulary recall. You need to understand speech, read accurately, use grammar, express ideas in writing and respond orally. Depending on the specification, you may also analyse literature or film and discuss an individual research project; AQA French, for example, includes these demands.
Knowing a word when you see it does not necessarily mean you can recognise it at speed or use it spontaneously in conversation.
It may suit you if you enjoy communication and culture, and are willing to practise even when your speech is imperfect.
Before choosing it
Try listening to a short recording, summarising it aloud and writing a few sentences about it. Identify which skill needs the most support.
What helps: spread practice across the week. Use vocabulary in sentences, revisit grammar through your own errors and include speaking from the start.
10. Psychology: demanding because interest in people must become scientific reasoning
Psychology involves theories and research, but also evaluation, research design, data and statistics. It is not simply discussing personalities or sharing opinions about behaviour. AQA Psychology explicitly includes research methods assessed through scenarios and within topics.
For example, identifying a small sample is not enough for a developed evaluation. You need to explain whether its characteristics limit generalisation and what that means for the conclusion.
It may suit you if you want to examine explanations of behaviour and are interested in how evidence supports or challenges them.
Before choosing it
Try a research-methods task as well as a lesson on an appealing topic. Your experience of the course will involve both.
What helps: practise knowledge, application and evaluation separately, then combine them in exam answers. Check that your resources match your specification and exam year.
Which A levels will be hardest for you?
The most useful warning sign is a mismatch between a course's everyday work and the work you are willing to do.
| If you find this difficult… | Look carefully at… | What to investigate |
|---|---|---|
| Algebra and mathematical modelling | Maths, Further Maths, Physics, Chemistry | Which gaps can you realistically close before the course? |
| Remembering and organising detailed information | Biology, Psychology, History | Can you build a routine for retrieval and application? |
| Reading and constructing arguments | History, English Literature, Law | Do you improve when given specific writing feedback? |
| Speaking and listening regularly | Modern languages | Are you willing to practise these between lessons? |
| Managing extended deadlines | Subjects with projects or coursework | How will you divide the work into weekly milestones? |
Key point
These are areas to investigate, not reasons to automatically rule out a subject. A weakness that improves with teaching is different from an activity you consistently dislike.
If you would rather find subjects that play to your strengths, see what are the easiest A Levels.
Try a subject before committing
For each serious option:
- Get the exact course details. Ask for the exam board, specification, topics, assessment and school entry requirements.
- Try a short introductory lesson. Use a teacher's transition task or a suitable beginner resource.
- Complete a small task independently. This might be a calculation, an analytical paragraph or a programming exercise.
- Use feedback and try again. The important evidence is whether you can improve and whether you want to understand more.
Watch out
Do not judge your suitability by attempting an entire Year 13 paper before learning the content. Difficulty at that stage tells you very little.
Looking at real exam papers for your school's board can show you what the assessment looks like: browse Starley's A Level past papers, and see how many marks each grade needed on the grade boundaries pages.
What is the hardest A level combination?
There is no universal answer. A combination becomes demanding when several subjects compete for the same limited time or expose the same weakness.
Maths, Further Maths and Physics can involve sustained technical problem-solving, but their mathematical overlap may help a student who enjoys that work. History, English Literature and a language can create a substantial reading and writing load, while also developing complementary skills.
Four subjects add another set of lessons, assignments and assessments. Before taking a fourth, identify a concrete reason: a course requirement, a useful subject combination or a genuine academic interest. Then ask how your school handles dropping a subject and whether the workload could weaken the grades you need most. An EPQ is another way to extend your studies without a full fourth A level.
Quick tip
Ask teachers about a normal week's independent work and when major deadlines fall. Plan around the actual courses, rather than labels such as "three hard subjects".
Should you choose harder A levels for university?
Start with the subjects required for the courses you might apply to. Difficulty rankings cannot replace entry requirements.
Universities may specify required or recommended subjects, and these can vary between courses and institutions. Cambridge, for example, provides course-specific subject guidance; for Mathematics, it advises: "If your school offers Further Mathematics to AS or A level, you should take it."
For each possible degree, record the required subjects, recommended subjects and typical grade offer from the university's current page. Check the intended entry year.
Important
A supposedly impressive combination is of little help if it omits a required subject or leaves you struggling to reach the offer. Choose courses that prepare you for your next step and give you a realistic opportunity to achieve the necessary grades.
Frequently asked questions
Is Further Maths the hardest A level?
It is a strong candidate for mathematical depth and abstraction. It is not automatically the hardest for every student: someone with strong mathematical foundations and an interest in problem-solving may find its demands more suitable than extensive essay writing.
Is Biology harder than Chemistry?
They challenge students differently. Biology places substantial demands on detailed knowledge, precise explanations and interpreting unfamiliar evidence. Chemistry combines calculations with chemical explanations and reaction patterns. Compare your response to those tasks rather than assuming one must be easier.
Are essay subjects easier than sciences?
There is no reliable general rule. Essay subjects require relevant evidence, analysis and coherent judgements under time pressure. A student who is comfortable with equations can find those demands harder than a science problem.
Does a high GCSE grade mean I will find the A level easy?
No. It is encouraging evidence, but the course introduces new content and greater independence. Ask how you achieved that grade: can you explain ideas and solve problems independently, or do you still rely heavily on rehearsed answers?
Should I avoid a subject because it is hard?
Avoid choosing it blindly. Investigate the work, your starting point and the support available. A demanding subject you enjoy and improve in can be a better choice than one you expect to be easy but have little motivation to study.
What if I have already chosen and I am struggling?
Identify the problem before deciding the subject is wrong for you. Bring your teacher examples of questions you could not complete, feedback you do not understand and your current study routine.
Agree on a specific change and a date to review progress. If you are considering switching, ask promptly about deadlines and catch-up work.
Before you make your final choices
The hardest A levels are those whose demands are hardest for you to meet consistently. Further Maths, Physics and Chemistry deserve careful consideration for technical difficulty, but Biology, Computer Science, essay subjects and languages can be just as demanding in other ways.
Before confirming a subject, answer three questions:
- What will I actually do each week?
- What makes this course challenging for me?
- Why is it worth that work?
Those answers will help you choose far better than a difficulty ranking alone.