There are over 80 A-Level subjects available and it is not always necessary to have previously studied them at GCSE level. These subjects include the following: English literature, English language, English literature and language, Spanish, French, German, Japanese, Chinese, Greek, Irish, Italian, Russian, Welsh, Latin, Arabic, maths, further maths, history, geography, classical studies, PE, biology, chemistry, physics, IT, computing, art and fashion, classical civilisation, drama, drama and theatre studies, theatre studies, music, film studies, film and video, government and politics, graphic design, photography, history of art, design and technology, accounting, business studies, economics, law, modern languages, media studies, philosophy, psychology, sociology, religion, archaeology, architecture, electronics, critical thinking, general studies, home economics, leisure studies, performance studies, sports studies, communication studies, dance, health and social care, music technology, performing arts, and travel and tourism.

It is possible to study new subjects at A-Level that are not offered at GCSE level. GCE Applied A-Levels are also an option (A-Levels with a more vocational aspect) – available in 10 subjects including art and design; ICT; business; and science. These qualifications focus more on practical training and hands-on learning.

Talk to people who have taken A-Levels in the subjects you want to take and seek advice from your teachers and careers adviser. If you are interested in studying a certain subject at university, or seeking to go into a particular career, make sure you check if there are any specific A-Levels you need to have before you make your choices.

Your A-Level choices do matter and so do your grades. More and more jobs are demanding A-Level qualifications and don’t forget that A-Levels are your passport into university – most university courses require at least 3 A-Levels (often in addition to one AS level) with good grades and it is getting increasingly more competitive to get onto the best courses so the higher your grades the better your chances. A-Levels can open up endless opportunities to you in terms of higher education and career paths. So, how do you choose which subjects to take for A-Level?

Firstly, you should think about taking subjects you enjoy and are good at. A recent Cambridge assessment investigating the factors affecting A-Level subject choices in England published in December 2007 shows that the majority of students surveyed chose A-Level subjects that they thought were interesting. The next most popular factor affecting students’ A-Level choices was that the subject would be useful for their future career. The least popular factor affecting students’ A-Level choice was that their friends were taking the same subject.

6597 students within 60 schools took part in this survey – including a mix of students from comprehensive, grammar and independent schools and further education, sixth form and tertiary colleges. Key findings of this survey show that students typically study four subjects at AS level and continue with 3 subjects to the full A-Level. Maths, chemistry, biology and English are seen as some of the most important subjects both at AS and A-Levels by the students in this survey. For a more in-depth look at the findings of this survey and to view the 98-page report in full click here.

You should also bear in mind that some university courses and jobs have specific subject requirements for A-Level. If you want to study medicine at university, for example, you need A-Levels in Chemistry and at least one another science subject in order to meet the entry requirements to the course alone. You must research entry requirements for university courses you are interested in taking before you choose your A-Level subjects as otherwise your choices can limit and define what you are eligible to do at university.

You should also check that your combination of choices meets the requirements for certain university courses (for example certain biology courses may require A-Levels in biology and another science subject). However, only a few courses insist on more than one or two essential A-Level subjects in their overall requirements and these are usually specialised fields such as medicine, dentistry and so forth.

For many courses at university and in some jobs, your grades are viewed as more significant than the subject actually taken. However, this is not always the case as some traditional “core” subjects such as maths, science, and English literature are often looked on more highly. Indeed, from 2008 the Russell group of 20 leading UK universities are drawing up blacklists of A-Level subjects which they deem ‘soft’ options and are preventing applicants who do more than one of these subjects from gaining places on their degree courses. The Russell group consists of the following top 20 major research-intensive universities in the UK: University of Birmingham, University of Bristol, University of Cambridge, Cardiff University, University of Edinburgh, University of Glasgow, Imperial College London, King’s College London, University of Leeds, University of Liverpool, London School of Economics and Political Science, University of Manchester, Newcastle University, University of Nottingham, Queens University Belfast, University of Oxford, University of Sheffield, University of Southampton, University College London, and University of Warwick. Cambridge University has already published a list on its website stating that students studying more than one of the following A-Level subjects will be deemed unacceptable for entry onto their degree courses:
Accounting
Art and Design
Business Studies
Communication Studies
Dance
Design and Technology
Drama/Theatre Studies
Film Studies
Health and Social Care
Home Economics
ICT
Leisure Studies
Media Studies
Music Technology
Performance Studies
Performing Arts
Photography
PE
Sports Studies
Travel and Tourism

London School of Economics and Political Science lists drama and theatre studies, music technology, and travel and tourism as ‘non-preferred’ A-Level subjects on their website. However, it does state that some departments will consider students studying drama or theatre studies. These departments are anthropology, international history, international relations, social policy, and sociology.