How many A Levels do you take?

How many A Levels do most students take?

Three. Since the 2015 to 2018 reforms made A Levels linear, with all exams at the end of the course and AS Levels no longer counting towards the full grade, the standard sixth-form programme in England has been three A Levels. A fourth subject is now the exception rather than the norm, and many schools only offer it to students with very high GCSE grades, most often for Further Mathematics alongside Mathematics.

How many A Levels do you need for university?

Three. Almost every UK undergraduate course expresses its standard offer as three A Level grades, for example AAB or BBC, or as a UCAS tariff total that three A Levels can reach. Most degree programmes sit between 96 and 144 tariff points, which is CCC to AAA across three subjects. Universities do not give extra credit for a fourth A Level in a standard offer, although a strong fourth grade can help at the margins for competitive courses.

Our UCAS points table shows the full tariff for A Levels, BTECs, T Levels and Access to HE, with worked totals.

Can you do four A Levels?

Yes, and some students do, but it is a workload decision rather than an entry advantage. Four A Levels means four sets of exams in the same May and June series, typically twelve or more papers in a six-week window. The students who most commonly take four are those studying Mathematics and Further Mathematics together, since the two subjects overlap and Further Mathematics is a requirement or strong preference for some mathematics, physics and engineering degrees. If you are weighing a fourth subject, three high grades are worth more to an admissions tutor than four middling ones.

Can you do two A Levels, or just one?

Yes. Two A Levels plus another Level 3 qualification can meet some university offers, and several universities use contextual or mature-student admissions to admit adults with two A Levels supported by relevant experience. One A Level on its own will not meet a standard degree offer, but it is the right unit for many adults: a single Mathematics or Chemistry A Level to meet a specific course requirement, a subject needed for a career change, or a grade to replace one from school. Our A Level entry requirements guide explains what is needed to start.

How many A Levels should you take as an adult?

Take the number the goal needs, not the number a sixth form would timetable. In practice that is usually:

• One A Level to meet a single subject requirement, for example Chemistry for nursing or Mathematics for an engineering conversion, or to replace a school grade.
• Two A Levels where a mature-student route or Access-style offer accepts two at the required grades.
• Three A Levels if you want to apply to university on exactly the same footing as a school leaver.

Adults studying online are not bound to the two-year school cycle. One A Level at Lift College takes most learners 12 to 18 months, and the exams are sat in person at an approved centre in the May and June series. Our fast track A Levels guide covers what a one-year timeline realistically involves.

What counts as an A Level, and what does not?

Only the full A Level (Level 3, two-year linear qualification) counts towards offers expressed in A Level grades. Things that are not full A Levels:

• AS Levels are standalone, half the size, and worth far fewer tariff points (20 at grade A). They no longer count towards the A Level grade in the same subject.
• Core Maths and the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) are Level 3 but smaller; some universities reduce an offer by one grade for a good EPQ.
• BTEC Nationals, T Levels and Access to HE Diplomas are Level 3 alternatives that universities accept, but they are counted on the tariff, not as A Levels.