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Best A Level Combinations: How to Choose the Right Three

Which A Levels go well together? Compare proven combinations by degree path, see which subjects have coursework, and find the right fit if you are an adult learner.

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Updated 9 min read

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There is no single best A Level combination. The right one is the set of three subjects that meets the entry requirements of your intended degree, suits the way you learn and keeps your options open if your plans change. This guide compares the most common combinations by destination, explains which subjects include coursework, and covers the points adult learners often miss, such as exam centres and whether an Access to HE Diploma would serve you better.

TL;DR

  • Start with the degree, not the subject list. Check the entry requirements of two or three courses you might apply for, then work backwards.
  • If you are undecided, choose facilitating subjects such as Mathematics, English Literature, the sciences, History or a modern language.
  • Three strong A Levels are the standard aim. A fourth rarely adds an advantage unless a course specifically asks for it.
  • Few A Levels now include coursework in the old sense. Most are assessed mainly by final exams, with some practical or project components.
  • Adults without Level 3 qualifications heading for Nursing or Education may reach university faster with an Access to HE Diploma than with several A Levels.

Table of Contents

How to think about A Level combinations

According to the government’s Skills for Careers service, there are more than 40 A Level subjects and most people study three. Lucy Cavendish College, in its subject choice guidance, makes clear that its advice does not describe compulsory combinations. It exists to help applicants identify the most useful subjects for their preferred degrees.

Three questions narrow the choice quickly:

  1. Does your target degree name required subjects? Medicine, Engineering and most science degrees do. Many humanities and social science degrees do not.
  2. Do the subjects work together? A combination that builds on shared skills, such as data handling, essay writing or scientific method, makes revision more efficient.
  3. Will you do well in them? Universities make offers on grades. A subject you can realistically achieve a high grade in is worth more than a prestigious one you struggle with.

If you want a structured way to check what a course demands before you commit, a guide on choosing a degree based on entry requirements and future plans explains the same backwards-planning approach.

Proven combinations by destination

The table below groups combinations that are widely used for particular routes. Always confirm against the specific university course page, because requirements differ between institutions.

Science and medicine

Maths, Biology and Chemistry is the most frequently recommended science set. It prepares you for medicine, biomedical science, pharmacy and many life science degrees. Chemistry is the pivotal subject here, as it is required more often than any other for medical and veterinary routes.

Engineering and the physical sciences

Maths, Further Maths and Physics is the classic trio. The Cambridge admissions guidance notes that the aim is three strong academic subjects, and that a fourth adds little unless the degree specifically requires it, as Further Mathematics does for some courses. For adult learners, the full trio can be more than a career goal needs. If you are heading for a field where mathematical depth is not central, pairing one relevant subject with Maths or English is often the more practical route, as The Profs suggests in its subject combination advice.

Humanities and social sciences

History, English Literature and one of Politics, Geography, Philosophy or a language is a reliable choice for law, journalism, politics and the arts. Psychology, Sociology and Biology suits people aiming at psychology, social work or health-related degrees, since it mixes essay writing with scientific reasoning.

Keeping options open

The Informed Choices guidance advises applicants who do not yet know their degree to choose facilitating subjects, which are the ones most often asked for by Russell Group universities. Maths, English Literature, a science and one other facilitating subject keep the field wide. A combination of three facilitating subjects is not automatically better than one mixing facilitating and non-facilitating subjects, but it removes the risk of closing off a course you later want.

Combinations to approach with care

Some sets look sensible and still cause difficulty:

  • Three heavily essay-based subjects can mean a concentrated writing workload and little variety in revision.
  • Three heavily mathematical subjects, for example Maths, Further Maths and Physics, are demanding together, and a dip in one affects the others.
  • Subjects chosen only because they seem easy. If your target course asks for a specific subject, a combination that leaves it out may rule the course out.
  • A fourth A Level for its own sake. As noted above, the evidence from selective universities points to depth in three subjects.

Which A Levels have coursework?

This is a common question, and the answer has changed. AQA states that coursework units in its A Levels have been replaced by non-exam assessments (NEAs) in the reformed linear qualifications. In practice, most A Levels are now assessed mainly through exams at the end of the course, with a smaller number including a project, investigation or practical element that is marked separately.

What this means for your choices:

  • Check the specification of each subject you are considering, on the exam board’s website, to see exactly how it is assessed.
  • If you prefer to spread assessment out, look for subjects with a non-exam component, but do not assume it replaces the need for exam preparation.
  • Adults studying as private candidates should check how any practical or non-exam component will be handled before enrolling, since arrangements differ between boards and centres.

What adult learners need to know first

Most advice online is written for sixth formers. If you are returning to education, several practical points matter as much as the combination itself.

Entry requirements

The Skills for Careers page says most A Level courses expect five GCSEs at grades 9 to 4, with at least a grade 6 in the subjects you intend to study. If you lack GCSE English Language or Mathematics, address that first. These two are required for almost all university applications and professional degree pathways. Our online GCSE courses for adults start with these subjects.

Exam centres

Adults normally sit A Levels as private candidates, and that has a logistical side. Newcastle University’s advice is not aimed at adults, so check with your provider and the exam board for private candidate arrangements. In general, many schools and colleges do not accept private candidates, so you should secure a centre well ahead of the exam season, sometimes six months or more. Ask any provider where you will sit the exam before you pay for anything.

Be realistic about workload

Three A Levels alongside work and family is a heavy load. Many adults study one or two subjects at a time and sit exams in separate seasons. That can be a sensible way to protect your grades, provided you check the application timeline of your chosen university.

Do you need A Levels at all?

For some adults the best combination is none. If you want to study Nursing, Midwifery, Education or another professional degree and do not hold Level 3 qualifications, an Access to Higher Education Diploma is designed for exactly your situation. The UCAS entry for Adult Nursing at one university lists A Levels at BBB alongside other accepted qualifications. Another, the University of Manchester, asks for BBC including at least one science subject. Requirements vary, so always read the course page for each university you plan to apply to.

An Access to HE Diploma is one qualification, studied in one programme, rather than a set of three separate exams. For many adults that makes planning simpler. See our comparison of the Access to HE Diploma and A Levels for university entry, or read whether universities accept Access to HE.

A quick decision guide

If Nursing is your goal, our guide to keeping your nursing options open with A Levels and the page on UK nursing without A Levels go into the detail.

Studying A Levels online with Lift College

Lift College offers regulated online qualifications for adults, with named UK tutors, no contracts and no credit checks. You can pause or cancel at any time, and there is a 7-day free trial. Among our online A Levels for adults are A Level Biology and A Level Mathematics, each from £39.99 per month. Biology with Maths is a practical pairing for health-related routes, and it works alongside a GCSE or Functional Skills course if you need to close a gap in your foundations.

If you are unsure which route fits, use our A Level pathway guide or compare our plans and pricing. For Nursing, our Access to HE Diploma (Nursing) starts from £69.99 per month. You can start the 7-day free trial from our homepage.

A step-by-step way to choose

  1. Name two or three target degrees. Even a rough shortlist is enough.
  2. Read each course’s entry requirements on its UCAS page and the university site. Note required subjects, grades and any accepted alternatives.
  3. List subjects that appear on every page. Those are your fixed choices.
  4. Fill remaining places with subjects you are likely to do well in, preferring facilitating subjects if you are unsure.
  5. Check the assessment method for each subject, including any non-exam component.
  6. Confirm your exam centre before enrolling, and plan your study load around work and family.
  7. Compare with an Access to HE route if your target is a professional degree such as Nursing or Education.

FAQ

How many A Levels should I take?

Most people take three, as the Skills for Careers service notes, although you can take more or fewer. Competitive universities look for strength in three subjects, so a fourth is worth considering only if a course specifically requires it. Adults often study fewer at a time to fit around work.

Which A Levels go well together?

The best pairings share skills or point to the same degree: Biology and Chemistry for health sciences, Maths and Physics for engineering, History and English Literature for law and humanities. If you are undecided, facilitating subjects keep more courses open. Always check the specific course requirements first.

Can I go to university without A Levels?

Yes. Many universities accept an Access to Higher Education Diploma from mature applicants, particularly for Nursing and Education. Entry requirements vary, so check each course page. Our guide on what Access to HE is explains the qualification.

Do I need GCSEs before starting A Levels?

Most A Level courses expect five GCSEs at grades 9 to 4, with a higher grade in the subject you plan to study, according to Skills for Careers. Almost all university applications also need GCSE English Language and Mathematics. Providers can sometimes accept other evidence, so ask before you enrol.

Sources

This article was produced with AI assistance and reviewed by the Lift College team. It is provided for general information and does not replace personalised advice. For guidance on your specific situation, contact our learner support team on info@liftcollege.co.uk.

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