Every year, students choosing their next step ask the same question: which A Levels are hardest, and should that change what I pick? This guide ranks the subjects most students and teachers rate toughest, explains why they are demanding, flags the commonly named easier options, and shows how to choose a combination that works for university entry.
All of the subjects below can be studied flexibly through online A Level courses, with exams sat as a private candidate.
Which A Levels are considered the hardest?
There is no official difficulty ranking. Ofqual keeps exam standards level across subjects. But student surveys, teacher feedback and university guidance consistently point to the same group. What the hardest subjects share is volume of content, abstract concepts that build on each other, and exams that reward deep understanding over memorisation.
| Subject | Why it is hard | Commonly needed for |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Further Maths | Extends A Level Maths into significantly more abstract territory, and is nearly always taken alongside Maths, effectively doubling workload | Maths, physics and engineering degrees |
| 2. Physics | Mathematical problem solving plus conceptual depth. Strong maths is essential | Engineering, physics and astronomy |
| 3. Chemistry | Three overlapping strands, physical, organic and inorganic, with heavy recall and calculation | Medicine, dentistry and pharmacy |
| 4. Maths | Big jump from GCSE. Relentless technique building where gaps compound quickly | Almost every quantitative degree |
| 5. Biology | The largest content load of the sciences. Exam questions demand application, not recall | Medicine, biosciences and nursing routes |
| 6. Modern languages | Fluency cannot be crammed, and grading is benchmarked against near-native standards | Languages and international careers |
| 7. English Literature | High reading volume and sustained analytical essay writing | Law, English and humanities |
| 8. History | Heavy content plus extended source analysis essays | Law, politics and humanities |
You can study several of these online with Lift College, including A Level Maths, A Level Biology, A Level English Literature and A Level History.
What makes an A Level hard?
Four factors matter, roughly in order of impact.
The step up from GCSE. A Levels demand independent thinking. Subjects where the GCSE gives little preparation for the A Level style, Maths and Chemistry being the classic examples, feel hardest in year one.
Content volume. Biology and History are less conceptually difficult than Physics, but carry enormous specifications.
Cumulative structure. In Maths and the sciences, missing one topic undermines the next. Subjects like English or Sociology are more forgiving of a weak fortnight.
Exam style. Essay subjects reward those who write well under time pressure. Problem solving subjects reward practised technique. Neither is objectively harder, but one will be harder for you.
What are the easiest A Levels?
Subjects most often described as more approachable include Sociology, Film Studies, Media Studies, Psychology and Business. The step up from GCSE tends to be gentler and the content more self contained.
Two honest caveats apply.
Easier still means A Level standard. A Level Sociology and A Level Psychology both require substantial essay writing and research methods knowledge, and plenty of students find them harder than expected.
Grades follow interest. A motivated student in a hard subject routinely outperforms a bored student in an easy one. Three subjects you will actually study beat two prestige picks you will dread.
Do universities care which A Levels you take?
For most courses, universities care about grades first and subjects second. But competitive courses have subject requirements. Medicine typically wants Chemistry plus Biology. Engineering wants Maths and usually Physics. Economics at top universities wants Maths.
Check specific course pages on UCAS before finalising choices, and see our guide to how UCAS points work. Every A Level grade from A* at 56 points down to E at 16 points counts toward your tariff.
If you are choosing subjects strategically, our best A Levels to take guide works through combinations by career goal.
Should you avoid hard A Levels?
No, but be deliberate.
If you need the subject for your degree, take it, and plan support early. The jump is manageable with consistent weekly work.
If you are taking it for prestige alone, reconsider. An A in Sociology serves most applications better than a D in Further Maths.
If you are studying as an adult or a retaker, difficulty is mostly about time. Online study lets you take 18 to 24 months rather than compressing into school terms. Many mature students find hard subjects far more achievable at their own pace. See our A Level entry requirements page for how flexible study fits around work.
How hard are A Levels compared to GCSEs?
Expect roughly double the depth per subject. GCSEs assess breadth across eight to ten subjects. A Levels assess depth in three.
The volume of independent study is the real change. A rule of thumb is four to five hours per subject per week beyond lessons.
Grading also differs. A Levels use A* to E rather than 9 to 1. Our A Level grades explained guide walks through what each grade means and the marks it typically needs.