Choosing your A-levels means deciding which subjects you will study in much greater depth. Your choices can also affect which university courses you can apply for.
Start by checking subjects you might need for your next step. Then choose a combination you enjoy, can realistically do well in and can manage over two years.
You do not need a complete career plan at 16. You do need to understand what your choices make possible, and which routes they might close.
Note
If you start a typical two-year A-level course in September 2027, you would normally finish in summer 2029 and apply for 2029 entry. Check university requirements for your intended entry year when they are published. Current requirements are a useful starting point, but they can change.
How do I choose my A-level subjects?
Follow these five steps:
- Check required subjects for any degrees, apprenticeships or careers you are considering.
- Shortlist subjects you enjoy and show strength in.
- Look at the actual A-level course, including topics, exam questions and coursework.
- Check your sixth form's entry requirements and timetable.
- Choose a manageable combination, usually three subjects, and keep a backup option.
UCAS's guide to A-levels identifies the same main considerations: what you enjoy and are good at, what your future plans require, and how open you want to keep your options.
Check university subject requirements first
A university offer can include both grades and named subjects. Meeting the grades does not make up for missing a required subject.
Example
If a course requires AAA including Maths, achieving AAA in three subjects without Maths would not normally meet that requirement.
You do not need to decide on a university now. Choose three to five courses that interest you, ideally at different universities, and compare their requirements.
| What to check | What you need to find out |
|---|---|
| Required subjects | Which A-levels must I take? |
| Subject grades | Do I need a particular grade in Maths, Chemistry or another subject? |
| Recommended subjects | Which subjects would help me prepare or strengthen my application? |
| Accepted combinations | Are any subjects excluded or treated as overlapping? |
| Other requirements | Are there GCSE requirements, admissions tests, portfolios or practical requirements? |
Key point
Required means you need it. Recommended means you should take the advice seriously, but it is not the same as compulsory.
Check
Read the complete course page. A table showing "AAA" may leave out important conditions, and joint degrees can have different requirements from single-subject degrees.
Which A-levels do you need for different degrees?
These examples show why checking individual courses matters. They are starting points, not rules for every university.
| Possible degree | Subjects to investigate first | What Oxford says (as an example) |
|---|---|---|
| Medicine | Chemistry, Biology and other sciences or Maths | Requires Chemistry plus one of Biology, Physics, Maths or Further Maths |
| Engineering | Maths and Physics | Engineering Science requires both; Further Maths is helpful but not required |
| Computer science | Maths and Further Maths | Requires Maths; Further Maths is highly recommended; Computer Science A-level is not required |
| Economics | Maths; investigate Further Maths | Economics and Management requires Maths, not Economics A-level |
| Law | Subjects that build reading, analysis and argument | Law has no required subjects; an essay subject can be helpful |
| English | English Literature, or English Language and Literature | Requires English Literature or English Language and Literature; English Language alone does not qualify |
Other universities may set different conditions. A few more examples from outside Oxford:
- Dentistry: Manchester's 2027 BDS requirements include Chemistry and Biology (or Human Biology).
- Veterinary medicine: the Royal Veterinary College's standard BVetMed route requires Biology and Chemistry.
- Mathematics: Cambridge requires Further Maths as well as Maths for its Mathematics course.
Watch out
Two common mistakes are assuming you need A-level Law for a law degree, and assuming economics degrees never require specific subjects.
Choose subjects you enjoy studying
Enjoyment matters because you will spend time on homework, independent study and revision as well as lessons. Ask yourself:
- Do I enjoy the actual work, such as solving problems, analysing texts or writing essays?
- Which topics make me curious enough to find out more?
- Would I still choose this subject if my friends were taking something else?
- Am I willing to practise the parts I find difficult?
Try to tell the difference between enjoying a topic and enjoying how it is assessed.
Example
Enjoying documentaries about human behaviour does not necessarily mean you will enjoy Psychology research methods and exam questions. Enjoying novels does not automatically mean you will enjoy close analysis and timed English Literature essays.
Tip
Before choosing, try an introductory lesson and look at a sample paper. You are checking what the subject involves, not whether you can already answer everything.
Use your GCSE performance as evidence
Your GCSE grades can help you identify strengths, but one result should not make the whole decision. Consider:
- your performance across several assessments;
- whether your grades are improving;
- how much help you currently need;
- which skills you find easier or harder;
- your teacher's view of your readiness for A-level study.
A high grade is encouraging. It is also worth asking whether you enjoy the work needed to keep it up.
Ask your teacher
If you love a subject but are struggling, ask: "What would I need to improve to cope with the A-level course?" Get a specific answer, such as algebra, essay structure or interpreting unfamiliar questions.
What GCSE grades do you need for A-levels?
There is no single entry requirement used by every sixth form. Schools and colleges set their own overall requirements and subject-specific grades, so check your chosen provider directly. Find out:
- the minimum GCSE grade for each A-level;
- whether Maths or English GCSE grades are also required;
- how Combined Science grades are considered for science A-levels;
- what happens if you narrowly miss the requirement;
- whether Further Maths has a separate requirement.
Meeting the minimum requirement does not tell you how easy you will find the course. Use it alongside your teacher's advice and your experience of the subject. See what is a good GCSE grade? and GCSE Combined Science grades explained.
Find out what each A-level actually involves
A subject can feel different at A-level. There may be more independent reading, more complex questions or substantial coursework. Ask your sixth form for the exam board, specification and course outline for your year group.
| Course feature | Questions to ask |
|---|---|
| Topics | What will I study in Year 12 and Year 13? |
| Exams | Are questions mainly essays, calculations, short answers or a mix? |
| Coursework or projects | Is there an extended investigation, portfolio or programming project? |
| Practical work | What laboratory, fieldwork or performance activities are involved? |
| Independent study | What will I need to do outside lessons each week? |
| Support | What help is available if I fall behind? |
For History, ask which periods you will study. For English Literature, check the set texts. For Art, ask to see portfolio examples. For Computer Science, investigate the programming work and any assessed project. For subject-by-subject detail, see the easiest A Levels and the hardest A Levels.
Watch out
Do not assume the course will focus on your favourite GCSE topics.
What if you do not know what you want to do?
Start with possible areas rather than a specific job title. Are you drawn towards healthcare, technology, business, humanities, languages or creative work? Pick two or three areas and investigate their subject requirements.
The Russell Group's Informed Choices tool can help you explore how A-level subjects connect to degree options.
Remember
There is no three-subject combination that keeps every degree open. A more useful aim is to keep open the routes you might realistically want.
Example A-level combinations
These examples show how you might build a combination. They do not guarantee eligibility for every related degree.
| Possible interests | Example combination | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Healthcare or life sciences | Biology, Chemistry, Psychology | Each course's science requirements, and whether Maths would be useful |
| Engineering or physical sciences | Maths, Physics, Chemistry | Further Maths expectations at your target universities |
| Maths or highly mathematical courses | Maths, Further Maths, Physics | Course requirements, and whether this workload suits you |
| Economics with humanities interests | Maths, Economics, History | Further Maths expectations for more mathematical economics courses |
| Humanities or law | History, English Literature, a language | Requirements for English, languages and any joint degrees |
Key point
Choose each subject for a clear reason: it meets a requirement, builds useful skills, or is something you enjoy and can do well in.
Should you take three or four A-levels?
Three A-levels are a sensible starting point for most students. A fourth should have a clear benefit and fit your workload.
Oxford, for example, says its offers are normally made on the basis of three A-levels, and its Maths department says there is no advantage to taking a fourth. Cambridge, by contrast, notes that strong applicants for some STEM courses often take Further Maths as a fourth subject, so check the guidance for your intended course.
Consider a fourth subject if:
- it gives preparation expected for your intended course, such as Further Maths;
- you are doing well and can manage the extra study;
- your school offers a supported arrangement for starting four and reviewing later.
Watch out
Before adding one, ask what you would give up: revision time, sleep, other commitments or time exploring your intended degree. Extra qualifications or tariff points do not replace a missing required subject, so read the exact offer conditions.
If you are weighing A-levels against a broader programme, see A-levels vs IB.
Questions to ask at a sixth-form open evening
- Can I take my preferred subjects together?
- What GCSE grades do I need for each?
- Which exam boards and topics will I study?
- What does a typical week's independent work look like?
- Can I see sample papers or current students' work?
- What support is available if I struggle?
- When is the deadline for changing subjects?
- What are my backup choices if my GCSE results differ from predictions?
Check
Timetable clashes can affect your combination, so check them before committing. If your application needs a statement, see how to write a sixth form personal statement.
Common mistakes to avoid
| Mistake | Why it is a problem |
|---|---|
| Choosing because your friends are taking a subject | Their strengths and plans may be different from yours |
| Picking a subject because someone says it is easy | Difficulty depends on your skills, interest and the assessment |
| Choosing a prestigious-sounding combination without checking requirements | It may not suit your goals, or you may struggle to succeed in it |
| Assuming a subject's name matches a degree requirement | Law, Economics and Computer Science show why this can mislead |
| Leaving the decision until GCSE results day | Research first, then use your results to confirm or adjust your choices |
Frequently asked questions
Can I take an A-level subject I did not study at GCSE?
Sometimes. Check the sixth form's rules and ask about assumed knowledge or preparation. Do not assume every subject requires the matching GCSE, or that none does.
Do all three A-levels have to be related?
No. A mixed combination can suit your interests. The important question is whether it meets the requirements of your possible next steps.
Should I take Maths to keep my options open?
Take Maths if it supports routes you might want and you are prepared for the course; investigate it carefully if you are considering mathematical degrees. You do not need to choose it only because someone calls it universally useful.
What if my school does not offer Further Maths?
Check the guidance for your intended course and contact admissions if necessary. Explain what your school offers and ask how applicants in your situation are considered. Oxford's Computer Science page, for example, sets out an alternative offer for applicants without access to Further Maths.
Can I change my A-level choices?
Ask your provider. Changes may depend on timing, available places, timetable clashes and how much work you have missed. Raise concerns early.
What if A-levels do not suit how I learn?
Compare other post-16 routes, including technical or vocational qualifications and apprenticeships. Check that the specific qualification supports your next step, because acceptance varies by course and provider.
Your final A-level checklist
Before confirming your choices, make sure you can tick each box:
- I have checked subject requirements for possible next steps
- I know which requirements are compulsory and which are recommendations
- I have looked at the actual topics and assessments
- My choices reflect both my interests and my strengths
- I meet, or am working towards, the sixth form's entry requirements
- My subjects fit the timetable
- I understand the workload and any coursework
- I have a backup choice and know when changes are allowed
The bottom line
Choose subjects that support your next step and that you are willing to work at for two years. You can make a thoughtful decision without having your whole future planned.