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How to Choose A-Levels Subjects
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By Chloe Daniel
Subjects
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How to Choose General Tips
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The A-Levels are a U.K subject based
qualification, typically taken after GCSE
O-Levels. While A-Levels are a British system,
they are recognized by colleges and universities
worldwide as a requirement for admission.
Due to this global recognition, they are also
offered at schools worldwide. Most higher
education institutions, like colleges and
universities, typically require a passing grade
in at least 3 A-Levels subjects.
Subjects
Unlike the GCSEs, there are no required subjects
for A-Levels, with students having
complete freedom to choose whatever they want.
This choice can be dependent on what form of
higher education and career they want to pursue,
or they can simply choose whatever interests them
most, and shape their future plans around that.
A-Levels offers a vast array of different
subjects, so it is important to check beforehand
if the school youre going to offers the ones
you want, as these vary from school to school.
Some of the subjects offered in A-Levels are
English Language Literature, French,
Maths, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, History,
Geography, Psychology, Economics, Art,
Information Technology and Foreign Languages
such as French, German, and Spanish.
Most students pick 3 subjects as that is
typically the minimum requirement for most
higher education institutions. With how big a
step up in difficulty A-Levels are compared to
what comes before, it is generally a good idea
to pick just 3, and focus on doing as well as
possible in them, rather than taking on too many
courses for you to handle.
The flexibility of A-Levels allows students to
pick subjects they are good at, and drop ones
they struggle with.
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How to Choose
Now, picking your A-Levels subjects is a huge
decision. It can have a big impact on your
future, mostly with regards to college or
university admissions. Consult family, friends
and teachers, and otherwise educate yourself on
what subjects would be best for you, so you can
make an informed decision, based on accurate
up-to-date information.
Do keep in mind, however, that the final decision
is yours, and yours alone, as you are the
one who will have to put in the hard work, and
you are the one who best knows your own
capabilities.

• What to do if You Have a Career in Mind

This monumental decision can be made much easier
if you already have a future career in mind. If
you have decided, for example, to pursue a career
in engineering, you should look at taking
courses that are most likely to equip you with
the skills you will need in that field.
You should also look at college or university
engineering programs, and find out what
A-Levels they require. Some higher education
programs can be very relaxed and flexible in what
A-Levels they require, while others require
highly specific ones, so looking this up
beforehand will help you better prepare for the
future.

• What to do if You Do Not Have a Career in Mind

On the other hand, this decision can be made much
harder by not having a goal in mind. If you do
not know what you want to do later on, you should
pick a combination of subjects that will allow
you to pursue a wide range of options in higher
education.
You may even want to consider pursuing a
different qualification, if A-Levels isnt quite
offering what you want. Some subjects, known as
facilitating subjects, are almost universally
accepted
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by colleges and universities, and these include
Maths, English, Physics, Biology,
Chemistry, History, Geography or a Foreign
Language.
It may also be pertinent to pick out a few
degrees you may wish to pursue, and call the
college or university to enquire on what subjects
you would need for admission into the program.
This can help you narrow down your options, and
make it easier to progress, even without having
your future fully planned out.
General Tips
Regardless of whether or not you have a future
career picked out, there are a few
things everyone should consider before making
this monumental decision.
1. Research the Subject Carefully research the
subjects youre thinking about taking. Talk to
parents, teachers, classmates, and senior
students to get a better idea of what to expect
when choosing a specific subject.
Dont assume the subject will be easy for you if
it was easy at GCSE level, as the difficulty
curve can be quite steep when making the step up
to A-Levels.
2. Be Careful with Combinations Pick and choose
your combination of subjects very carefully, as
some colleges and universities may not like a
combination with very similar subjects, such as
economics and business.
Its also important to keep in mind that, while
not necessarily a bad idea, picking new
subjects may pose a challenge. Be especially
mindful to not pick multiple new subjects, as it
can be quite difficult to learn multiple
entirely new things, at such a high level.
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3. Pick Something Fun Dont base your subject
choices purely on what type of degree or career
you wish to pursue. If these subjects are not
enjoyable to you, or arent your strong suit, it
might be best to pick something that is your
strength, or which you enjoy, and shape your
future decisions around those subjects.
While this is an important decision, keep in mind
that getting it wrong is not the end of the
world. There will be plenty of time later on to
get yourself back on track, if you find that the
subjects you ended up picking werent right for
you.
The purpose of this guide is to ensure that
readers are able to make an informed,
well-educated decision, so be sure to think
about it very carefully, and go out and ace your
A-Levels.