Choosing your A Level options? Or simply want to know what you can expect in your chosen subjects? Either way, you’re probably keen to find out the typical A Level pass rates by subject.
Well, you’re in the right place!
Here, we’ll show you the pass rates for the most popular A Level subjects in 2024, and compare them to previous years. But first…
What is a pass at A Level?
The minimum grade for a pass at A Level is technically a grade E.
Meanwhile, anything less is known as a U, which stands for ‘unclassified.’
Just bear in mind that universities will normally require specific grades for admission – so, although an E is technically a pass, it might not get you where you want to be.
Always check the entry requirements for a university and course before you apply!
Head over to our guide on A Level pass grades to learn more.
A Level pass rates by subject in 2024
In 2024, the average A Level pass rate across all subjects was 97.2%. Meanwhile, the percentage of students getting at least a grade C was 76.4%.
That said, these rates can vary widely depending on the subject.
Here are the pass rates broken down by subject for 2024.
| Grade E or above | Grade C or above | Grade A or above | Grade A * | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Art & design subjects | 99.1% | 85.9% | 31.9% | 13.9% |
| Biology | 95.5% | 69.8% | 27.7% | 9.1% |
| Business studies | 97.7% | 74.5% | 16.2% | 4.1% |
| Chemistry | 95.6% | 73.5% | 32.7% | 9.8% |
| Classical subjects | 98.9% | 86.1% | 33.8% | 9.9% |
| Computing | 95.1% | 67.1% | 24% | 5.8% |
| Design & technology | 96.8% | 71.4% | 19.3% | 6% |
| Drama | 99.5% | 86.7% | 22.3% | 5.9% |
| Economics | 98.1% | 81.3% | 30.2% | 7.6% |
| English language | 99% | 76.4% | 11.6% | 2.3% |
| English language & literature | 98.8% | 76.4% | 14.5% | 4.2% |
| English literature | 99.2% | 83% | 25.2% | 9.7% |
| French | 98.7% | 86.8% | 39.3% | 12.1% |
| Further mathematics | 98.2% | 89.8% | 58.4% | 28.7% |
| Geography | 98.3% | 79.1% | 24.8% | 6.3% |
| German | 99.2% | 88.4% | 48% | 16.6% |
| History | 98.8% | 81.5% | 24.4% | 5.7% |
| ICT | 96.3% | 73.3% | 23.3% | 7% |
| Law | 95.8% | 63.7% | 17% | 4.8% |
| Mathematics | 96.1% | 76.7% | 42% | 16.9% |
| Media/film/TV studies | 99.1% | 80.4% | 13.5% | 2.2% |
| Music | 98.1% | 76.9% | 24.2% | 6.8% |
| Physical education | 96.9% | 69.8% | 18.8% | 5.3% |
| Physics | 95.3% | 69.7% | 31.9% | 11.3% |
| Political studies | 97.8% | 79.2% | 28.4% | 8.5% |
| Psychology | 96.6% | 71% | 19.4% | 5.8% |
| Religious studies | 98.2% | 78.8% | 25.7% | 6% |
| Sociology | 97.7% | 74.3% | 18.3% | 5.4% |
| Spanish | 98.8% | 84.7% | 37% | 10.9% |
| Other modern languages | 98.9% | 94.1% | 68.3% | 38.7% |
| Other sciences | 96.8% | 69.4% | 24% | 8.4% |
| All other subjects | 95.5% | 67.1% | 18.8% | 4% |
| All subjects | 97.2% | 76.4% | 27.8% | 9.3% |
A Level Maths pass rate
Of the most popular A Level subjects, maths and further maths tend to have the highest grades.
42% of A Level Maths students received a grade A or above in 2024.
Meanwhile, a whopping 58.4% received a grade A or above in further maths.
However, don’t let this fool you into thinking that A Level Maths is an easy option. The high grades are more likely a reflection of what type of student chooses to take this subject.
Unlike GCSE Maths, which everyone has to take, A Level Maths and Further Maths are likely to be chosen by students who already have a real aptitude for the subject and a keen interest in it.
Read our guides to whether A Level Maths and Further Maths are hard for more details.
A Level Biology, Chemistry and Physics pass rate
The sciences are also popular options with A Level students. In fact, 37.1% of A Level exams taken in 2024 were Stem-related (according to The Guardian).
Biology, chemistry and physics are pretty similar when it comes to pass rates, with around 95% of students reaching at least a grade E.
Out of the three, fewer A Level Biology students tend to access the top grades – just 27.7% of students got a grade A or above in biology, compared to 32.7% in chemistry and 31.9% in physics.
Just bear in mind that this is still much higher than in other subjects – as an example, just 11.6% of English language students got a grade A or above in 2024.
You can learn more in our comparative guides about how hard A Level Biology, Chemistry and Physics are.
A Level English pass rate
The number of students taking English at A Level have declined rapidly in recent years.
Students can generally choose whether to take English language, English literature or a combined A Level in English language and literature.
Although pass rates are similar for all three, English literature students are more likely to reach the higher grades.
As an example, 25.2% of English Literature A Level students reached a grade A or above in 2024.
This is compared to 14.5% in combined English language and literature, and just 11.6% in English language.
Our guides on how hard A Level English Language and English Literature are go into more detail.
A Level modern language pass rate
When it comes to modern languages, A Level grades tend to be higher than average – although this can vary depending on which language you choose to study.
Out of the most popular modern languages, German has the highest proportion of students receiving an A grade or above – with a massive 48%.
Meanwhile, this is a feat achieved by 39.3% of French students and 37% of Spanish students.
The less popular languages tend to see even higher grades – for instance, 63% of students studying other modern languages got a grade A or above in 2024. This encompasses languages that we haven’t listed separately, such as Arabic, Chinese, Dutch, Italian and Russian.
Which A levels have the highest pass rates?
Wondering which A Levels tend to have the highest success rates?
Here, we’ll break down the subjects that got the highest proportion of E, C and A grades in 2024 – and compare the numbers to previous years.
Most E grades and above
A Level students need at least a grade E to pass. Here are the subjects with the highest pass rates in 2024.
| 2019 | 2023 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drama | 99.3% | 99.2% | 99.5% |
| German | 99.5% | 99.4% | 99.2% |
| English literature | 99.3% | 99.2% | 99.2% |
| Art & design subjects | 99% | 99% | 99.1% |
| Media/film/TV studies | 99% | 98.9% | 99.1% |
Most C grades and above
Although an E is technically a pass, you’ll need at least a C grade to access many opportunities. Here are the subjects that had the most C grades and above in 2024.
| 2019 | 2023 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other modern languages | 89.9% | 93.3% | 94.1% |
| Further mathematics | 86.6% | 88.5% | 89.8% |
| German | 84.8% | 87.5% | 88.4% |
| French | 85.5% | 84.7% | 86.8% |
| Drama | 81.7% | 83.3% | 86.7% |
Most A grades and above
Lastly, if you’re aiming for the highest marks, you might be wondering which subjects get the most A grades. Here are the subjects with the most A grades and above in 2024.
| 2019 | 2023 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other modern languages | 51.1% | 60.4% | 68.3% |
| Further mathematics | 53.5% | 58.5% | 58.4% |
| German | 41.2% | 45.5% | 48% |
| Mathematics | 41% | 41.9% | 42% |
| French | 36.8% | 38.7% | 39.3% |
What are the most failed A Levels?
In a similar vein, you might be wondering which A Level subjects have the lowest pass rates and grades.
Here’s the lowdown.
Least E grades and above
Students that fail to get at least an E grade in an A Level subject won’t pass that course, which is known as unclassified (or ‘U’). Here are the subjects with the lowest proportion of passes in 2024
| 2019 | 2023 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computing | 94.7% | 94.8% | 95.1% |
| Physics | 95.3% | 95.3% | 95.3% |
| Biology | 96.1% | 95.7% | 95.5% |
| All other subjects | 95.6% | 95.4% | 95.5% |
| Chemistry | 96.1% | 95.9% | 95.6% |
Least C grades and above
Meanwhile, these are the subjects where the smallest proportion of students achieved a grade C or above in 2024.
| 2019 | 2023 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Law | 67.6% | 64.6% | 63.7% |
| Computing | 63.3% | 65.8% | 67.1% |
| All other subjects | 64.6% | 67.3% | 67.1% |
| Other sciences | 69.7% | 72% | 69.4% |
| Physics | 70.5% | 69.3% | 69.7% |
Least A grades and above
Interestingly, there’s little overlap between the subjects with the lowest pass rates and those with the lowest proportion of high grades. Here are the subjects where the fewest students achieved a grade A or above in 2024.
| 2019 | 2023 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| English language | 11.3% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Media/film/TV studies | 11.3% | 13% | 13.5% |
| English language & literature | 12.3% | 15% | 14.5% |
| Business studies | 14.8% | 16.2% | 16.2% |
| Law | 16.4% | 17% | 17% |
Find an A Level tutor to help you reach the top grades
As you can see, pass rates and grades can vary widely between subjects.
But it’s important that you don’t just consider pass rates when you’re picking your A Level options.
Rather, make sure to consider other factors, like which subjects you enjoy, your skill set and your future aspirations.
Whatever the pass rates, with hard work and the right support, there’s no reason why you can’t succeed.
Our A Level tutors can support you every step of the way to help you keep up with your A Level class and get the best grades possible in your exams.
Browse expert, vetted tutors, message free, and book instantly.
FAQs
How many people get all A*s at A Level?
In 2024, 4,135 students got three A*s or more at A Level in England (according to Gov.uk)
This is out of around 203,815 students who took three or more A Levels.
What is the hardest subject to get an A in at A Level?
Based on previous exam results, English language is the hardest subject to get an A in at A Level – just 11.6% of students received an A or above in this subject in 2024.
That said, the hardest subject for one student won’t be the hardest subject for another. So, depending on your skill set and preferences, you may still find it easier to get an A in this subject than in another that perhaps looks easier on paper!
What is the easiest A Level subject?
No two students are the same, so the easiest subject for one won’t be the same for another. However, drama has the highest pass rate, at 99.5%, making it one of the easier subjects to pass.
What is the most respectable A Level?
Facilitating subjects are often viewed as the most respectable, as these are most commonly preferred by universities for a range of degree courses.
This typically includes these subjects:
- Maths
- Further maths
- Physics
- Biology
- Chemistry
- English literature
- History
- Geography
- Modern languages
- Classical languages
What subject has the lowest pass rate?
Computing is the A Level subject with the lowest pass rate. Only 95.1% of students got a grade E or above in this subject in 2024.
Meanwhile, Law was the subject with the fewest C grades and above.
