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 2025, and compare them to previous years.
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’ or ungraded.
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 2025
2025 Overall Statistics
In 2025, the average A Level pass rate across all subjects in England was 97.4% (according to Tes). This represents a slight increase from 97.1% in 2024.
Meanwhile, the percentage of students getting at least a grade C was 77.7%, up from 76% in 2024.
The proportion of students achieving A*/A grades was 28.2%, up from 27.6% in 2024.
That said, these rates can vary widely depending on the subject.
A Level Pass Rates Table 2025
Here are the pass rates broken down by subject for 2025, based on data from Ofqual’s interactive data visualisation and Tes analysis:
| Subject | Grade E or above | Grade C or above | Grade A or above | Grade A* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 96.2% | 77.9% | 41.3% | 16.3% |
| Biology | 95.6% | 71.1% | 27.6% | 8.9% |
| Chemistry | 95.7% | 74.0% | 32.0% | 9.7% |
| Physics | 95.4% | 70.2% | 31.9% | 11.2% |
| Psychology | 96.7% | 71.5% | 19.3% | 5.7% |
| English Literature | 99.2% | 81.7% | 24.6% | 9.3% |
| English Language | 99.1% | 78.6% | 12.8% | 2.5% |
| History | 98.9% | 82.0% | 24.9% | 5.9% |
| Geography | 98.4% | 79.6% | 25.0% | 6.4% |
| Sociology | 97.8% | 75.4% | 18.8% | 5.3% |
| Business Studies | 97.9% | 75.5% | 16.6% | 4.3% |
| Economics | 98.2% | 81.9% | 30.6% | 7.8% |
| Further Mathematics | 98.3% | 90.0% | 58.5% | 28.5% |
| Art & Design | 99.4% | 86.9% | 35.3% | 15.9% |
| Drama | 99.5% | 87.7% | 23.0% | 6.1% |
| French | 98.8% | 87.1% | 39.5% | 12.2% |
| German | 99.2% | 88.6% | 48.2% | 16.8% |
| Spanish | 98.9% | 85.0% | 37.2% | 11.0% |
| Computing | 95.2% | 67.9% | 24.3% | 5.9% |
| Physical Education | 97.0% | 70.3% | 19.1% | 5.4% |
| Religious Studies | 98.3% | 79.5% | 26.1% | 6.1% |
| Political Studies | 97.9% | 79.9% | 28.7% | 8.6% |
| Law | 95.9% | 64.2% | 17.3% | 4.9% |
| Music | 98.2% | 77.4% | 24.6% | 6.9% |
| Design & Technology | 96.9% | 71.9% | 19.7% | 6.1% |
| Media/Film/TV Studies | 99.2% | 81.0% | 13.7% | 2.2% |
| Classical Subjects | 98.9% | 86.5% | 34.1% | 10.0% |
| Other Modern Languages | 98.9% | 94.2% | 68.7% | 38.9% |
| All subjects | 97.4% | 77.7% | 28.2% | 9.4% |
Data compiled from Ofqual Analytics, Tes, and FFT Education Datalab. All figures for England only.
Detailed Subject Analysis for 2025
A Level Maths Pass Rate
Of the most popular A Level subjects, maths and further maths tend to have the highest grades.
41.3% of A Level Maths students received a grade A or above in 2025, according to Tes. Meanwhile, a whopping 58.5% 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.
Maths remained the most popular A Level in 2025 with 104,580 entries, representing a 4.5% increase from 2024.
A Level Biology, Chemistry and Physics Pass Rate
The sciences remain popular options with A Level students, with all three ranking in the top 10 most popular subjects.
2025 Science Grades:
- Biology: 27.6% achieved A*/A (up from 27.1% in 2024), with 65,331 entries
- Chemistry: 32.0% achieved A*/A (down slightly from 32.2% in 2024), with 59,050 entries
- Physics: 31.9% achieved A*/A (up from 31.5% in 2024), with 41,599 entries
Out of the three, slightly fewer A Level Biology students tend to access the very top grades. However, this is still much higher than in many other subjects.
A Level English Pass Rate
2025 English Results:
- English Literature: 24.6% achieved A*/A (down from 25.2% in 2024)
- English Language: 12.8% achieved A*/A (up from 11.6% in 2024)
Although pass rates are similar for both, English Literature students are more likely to reach the higher grades.
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.
2025 Modern Language Results:
- German: 48.2% achieved A*/A (highest of the main languages)
- French: 39.5% achieved A*/A
- Spanish: 37.2% achieved A*/A
- Other modern languages: 68.7% achieved A*/A
However, language entries continue to decline. According to Tes, French witnessed the largest drop of any major subject in 2025, with entries shrinking 9.1% from 7,544 in 2024 to 6,858 in 2025.
Which A Levels Have the Highest Pass Rates?
Most E Grades and Above (Highest Pass Rates)
| Subject | 2019 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drama | 99.3% | 99.5% | 99.5% |
| Art & Design | 99.0% | 99.1% | 99.4% |
| German | 99.5% | 99.2% | 99.2% |
| English Literature | 99.3% | 99.2% | 99.2% |
| Media/Film/TV Studies | 99.0% | 99.1% | 99.2% |
Most C Grades and Above
| Subject | 2019 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other Modern Languages | 89.9% | 94.1% | 94.2% |
| Further Mathematics | 86.6% | 89.8% | 90.0% |
| German | 84.8% | 88.4% | 88.6% |
| French | 85.5% | 86.8% | 87.1% |
| Drama | 81.7% | 86.7% | 87.7% |
Most A Grades and Above
| Subject | 2019 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other Modern Languages | 51.1% | 68.3% | 68.7% |
| Further Mathematics | 53.5% | 58.4% | 58.5% |
| German | 41.2% | 48.0% | 48.2% |
| Mathematics | 41.0% | 42.0% | 41.3% |
| French | 36.8% | 39.3% | 39.5% |
What Are the Most Failed A Levels?
Least E Grades and Above (Lowest Pass Rates)
| Subject | 2019 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computing | 94.7% | 95.1% | 95.2% |
| Physics | 95.3% | 95.3% | 95.4% |
| Biology | 96.1% | 95.5% | 95.6% |
| Chemistry | 96.1% | 95.6% | 95.7% |
| Law | – | 95.8% | 95.9% |
Computing continues to have the lowest pass rate, though at 95.2%, the vast majority of students still pass.
Least C Grades and Above
| Subject | 2019 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Law | 67.6% | 63.7% | 64.2% |
| Computing | 63.3% | 67.1% | 67.9% |
| Physics | 70.5% | 69.7% | 70.2% |
| Physical Education | – | 69.8% | 70.3% |
| Biology | – | 69.8% | 71.1% |
Least A Grades and Above
| Subject | 2019 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 11.3% | 11.6% | 12.8% |
| Media/Film/TV Studies | 11.3% | 13.5% | 13.7% |
| Business Studies | 14.8% | 16.2% | 16.6% |
| Law | 16.4% | 17.0% | 17.3% |
| Sociology | – | 18.3% | 18.8% |
Key Trends in 2025 A Level Results
Overall Picture
- Overall pass rate (A*-E): 97.4% (up from 97.1% in 2024)
- A*-C rate: 77.7% (up from 76.0% in 2024)
- A*/A rate: 28.2% (up from 27.6% in 2024)
This represents the second consecutive year of small increases since the return to pre-pandemic standards in 2023.
Students Achieving 3 A*s
In 2025, 4,043 students achieved three A* grades, a slight fall from 4,136 in 2024.
Of 18-year-old students who took exactly 3 A Levels in 2025:
- 2.1% achieved all A* grades
- Of these, 47.6% were male and 52.4% were female
Gender Gap
According to Schools Week, for the first time since 2019, boys overtook girls in top grades:
- Boys: 28.4% achieved A or above
- Girls: 28.0% achieved A or above
Boys continue to achieve more A*s: 9.8% of boys achieved A* compared to 9.1% of girls.
Most Popular Subject Combinations
According to Tes, the most popular A Level combinations in 2025 were:
- Biology, Chemistry, and Maths: 18,585 students (6% of all entries)
- Further Maths, Maths, and Physics: 3.4% of entries
- Chemistry, Maths, and Physics: 3.1% of entries
Entry Trends
Subjects with Increasing Entries:
- Further Maths: Up 7.2% (largest increase)
- Economics: Up 5.7%
- Maths: Up 4.5%
- Physics: Up 4.2%
Subjects with Declining Entries:
- French: Down 9.1% (largest decrease)
- Drama: Down 6.2%
- English Language & Literature: Down 6.2%
- History: Down 5.5%
Understanding the Statistics
Why Do Pass Rates Vary by Subject?
Several factors influence pass rates:
- Self-selection: Students choose subjects they’re interested in and often good at
- Prior attainment: Subjects like Further Maths are typically taken by high-achieving maths students
- Subject difficulty: Some subjects have more content or assess in different ways
- Cohort size: Smaller cohorts may include higher proportions of motivated students
- Assessment methods: Subjects with more coursework vs pure exams may have different grade distributions
What Do These Statistics Mean for You?
Don’t choose subjects based solely on pass rates:
- High pass rates don’t mean a subject is “easy”
- Low pass rates don’t mean a subject is impossibly hard
Choose based on:
- Your interests and strengths
- University course requirements
- Career aspirations
- Your GCSE performance in related subjects
How Do 2025 Results Compare Historically?
Compared to 2019 (pre-pandemic):
- A*/A grades are 3 percentage points higher (28.2% vs 25.2%)
- A*-C grades are 2.2 percentage points higher (77.7% vs 75.5%)
- Pass rates are 2.1 percentage points higher (97.4% vs 95.3%)
The trend: Grades have stabilized at a slightly higher level than 2019, representing what Ofqual considers appropriate standards given cohort improvements.
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.
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.
Find an A-Level TutorFAQs
In 2025, 4,043 students achieved three A*s or more at A Level in England (according to Tes).
Of 18-year-old students who took exactly 3 A Levels, 2.1% achieved all A* grades.
This is out of approximately 186,945 students who took three A Levels in 2025.
Based on 2025 exam results, English Language is the hardest subject to get an A in at A Level – just 12.8% of students received an A or above in this subject.
Other subjects with low A*/A rates include:
- Media/Film/TV Studies: 13.7%
- Business Studies: 16.6%
- Law: 17.3%
That said, the hardest subject for one student won’t be the hardest subject for another. Depending on your skill set and preferences, you may still find it easier to get an A in a subject that looks harder on paper!
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. Art & Design subjects also maintain very high pass rates at 99.4%.
For achieving top grades (A*/A), Other Modern Languages has the highest rate at 68.7%, though this includes many native speakers.
Facilitating subjects are often viewed as the most respectable, as these are most commonly preferred by universities for a range of degree courses.
The Russell Group facilitating subjects typically include:
- Mathematics
- Further Mathematics
- Physics
- Biology
- Chemistry
- English Literature
- History
- Geography
- Modern Languages (French, German, Spanish, etc.)
- Classical Languages
These subjects are valued because they develop rigorous academic skills and keep university options open.
Computing is the A Level subject with the lowest pass rate in 2025. Only 95.2% of students got a grade E or above in this subject.
However, it’s important to note that 95.2% is still a very high pass rate – the vast majority of students pass.
For C grades and above, Law has the lowest rate at 64.2%, meaning just under two-thirds of students achieve a C or better.
Pass rates have been relatively stable since the return to pre-pandemic grading in 2023.
2025 vs 2024:
- Overall pass rate: Up slightly from 97.1% to 97.4%
- A*/A rate: Up from 27.6% to 28.2%
- A*-C rate: Up from 76.0% to 77.7%
The trend suggests slight improvements year-on-year as cohorts adapt to post-pandemic education, but changes are small and within expected variation.
Universities generally prefer facilitating subjects (listed by the Russell Group):
For STEM courses: Maths, Further Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Biology
For humanities: English Literature, History, Geography, Languages
For social sciences: History, Geography, Economics, Psychology (depending on course)
Competitive courses (Medicine, Law, Engineering at top universities) often require specific A Levels. Always check individual course requirements.
Less preferred subjects: Media Studies, General Studies, Critical Thinking (often not accepted for entry requirements)
Note: All statistics in this article are for England unless otherwise stated. Data sources include Ofqual, Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ), Tes, FFT Education Datalab, and Gov.uk. Figures represent summer 2025 examination series.
