Picking your A Level options is one of the most important decisions you’ll make in your academic journey.
It’s not just about choosing individual subjects you like – it’s about how your A Level subjects work together as a combination to give you the skills, knowledge, and opportunities you need for your next steps.
The right combination can open doors to your dream university course, while the wrong one can close them. But don’t worry – this comprehensive guide will help you understand which subject combinations work best for different paths and how to choose the right combination for your unique situation.
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How to pick good A Level combinations
When choosing your A Level subjects, you need to consider multiple factors. Here’s what to think about:
If you know what you want to study at university, this should be your primary guide.
Most university courses have specific entry requirements.
Important: Requirements vary significantly between universities. Always check specific course requirements at your target universities.
Facilitating subjects (Russell Group):
- Mathematics
- English Literature
- Physics, Biology, Chemistry
- Geography, History
- Modern and Classical Languages
Choose at least two facilitating subjects if undecided about your future.
A Levels are a significant step up from GCSE. Consider your GCSE grades – most sixth forms require grade 6 or 7 in subjects you want to continue.
You’ll be studying these subjects for two years. Having at least one subject you genuinely love makes the experience more bearable and improves your results.
Most popular A Level combinations
The most popular combination
Biology, Chemistry, and Maths
Perfect for: Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Science, Biomedical Sciences
Taken by more than twice as many students as the second most popular option.
Other top combinations:
Chemistry, Maths, and Physics
Perfect for: Engineering, Physics, Chemistry degrees
Maths, Further Maths, and Physics
Perfect for: Mathematics, Theoretical Physics, Engineering
Best A Level combinations by career path
Essential:
- Chemistry (required by all medical schools)
- Biology (required by most)
Recommended: Chemistry, Biology, Maths
Most common combination, opens doors to all medical schools.
No required subjects for Law degrees.
Recommended: English Literature, History, Politics
Classic combination with strong essay-writing development.
Essential:
- Maths (required by all)
- Physics (required or highly preferred)
Recommended: Maths, Physics, Chemistry
Most versatile combination, opens doors to all engineering types.
Subject combinations to avoid
1. All creative/non-facilitating subjects
Avoid: Media Studies, Drama, Art, Photography all together
Better: One creative subject + two facilitating subjects
2. Too much overlap
Avoid: Business Studies, Economics, Accounting
Better: Economics, Maths, Geography
3. Sciences without Maths
Avoid: Biology, Chemistry, Physics (no Maths)
Better: Include Maths with sciences
Get expert guidance
A handpicked tutor can provide expert guidance on:
- Understanding university course requirements
- Evaluating your strengths and weaknesses
- Exploring career paths and how A Levels connect to them
Frequently Asked Questions
There’s no single “best” combination – it depends on your goals:
- Medicine: Biology, Chemistry, Maths
- Law: English Literature, History, Politics
- Undecided: Choose at least two facilitating subjects
Maths, Further Maths, Physics, and Chemistry is widely considered the most challenging combination.
For most students, 3 A Levels is better. Universities value quality over quantity – three A*s beat four As.
