A-levels are the traditional pathway to university. They teach you more advanced skills than GCSEs while preparing you for undergraduate degree study. A-Levels are certainly not easy qualifications, although they do vary in difficulty.
At A-level, there are various reasons why you might choose to study a specific subject. It could guide your future plans, or maybe it’s just your favourite one. Some are also just more straightforward than others.
In this blog, we’ll talk about what goes into choosing your A-levels – and why you might pick a less difficult one. We’ll also reveal the five easiest A-level subjects.
Which A-levels Should You Take?
When choosing your A-levels, consider:
- Are you planning to go to university?
- Do you have a specific university in mind?
- Do you have a particular degree subject in mind?
Universities traditionally look at A-levels when deciding their admission criteria. A-Levels are used to calculate UCAS points for university, so it’s crucial that you pick the correct subjects if you have a preferred university or degree course.
You could also choose a favourite subject. This might be where you get your best grades at GCSE, or a subject that you find exciting. Unless you have strict university criteria, this is usually a good option to follow.
You might also be looking for an A-level subject that is easier than others.
What Are the Easiest A-level Subjects?
A-levels are not simple to study. Some, though, do have a lower workload or higher pass rate than others. If you want to give yourself the best chance of passing, or want an easier subject to study alongside other A-level courses, consider the following five subjects.
Film Studies
With A-level Film Studies, you will immerse yourself in the world of cinema and delve into more than what meets the eye. You will no longer take movies for face value, you will be looking into factors such as production quality, and research the director of each movie to understand their thinking behind making the film.
A-level Film Studies course content will see you study some of the finest directors to ever grace us with their work. Such as Alfred Hitchcock, Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese. You will also do research on famous actors who made the transition from acting to producing and directing. One of the most satisfying feelings in cinema has surely got to be watching your idea come to life.
The pass rate of A-level film is 99%. With the majority of students achieving a grade of C or above. It is safe to say A-level Film Studies will feel more like a hobby than an actual course.
English Literature
In an English Literature A-level course, you’ll study the written word. You’ll read books, analyse the content, and produce written work that digs deep into meanings and themes. Of course, English Literature is a more interesting course to study if you enjoy reading.
The A-level English Literature course content covers legendary writers like William Shakespeare and Margaret Atwood. You’ll get to know their texts, evaluate the content and understand the significance of the works.
While English Literature requires thought and reading time, it is comparatively light on revision and exams. You’ll typically study two books in particular and produce an essay for your graded work. Compared to scientific subjects, this could save you precious time during other subjects’ exams.
English Literature has a high pass rate. In 2022, over 20% of students scored A, while only 0.7% failed to pass.
Sociology
Sociology studies social change and how people behave. As such, it pairs well with Psychology, Economics and Politics. During study, the A-level Sociology course will also teach you many transferrable skills, such as research, analysis, and critical thinking.
Topics of study include the role of the family in modern society, the education system, and the media. The A-level Sociology course content would suit somebody who wants to find solutions to common societal issues.
A-level Sociology is typically graded through an exam with practice papers. With enough study time, it’s possible to get an excellent grade in the subject. Around 99.6 per cent of students passed Sociology in 2021, while 32.5 per cent achieved the highest grades of A and A*.
Religious Studies
Another subject that is primarily thought-based, Religious Studies is growing in popularity. Much like Sociology and English Literature, the key to passing the A-level Religious Studies course is being able to make and defend a rational argument.
Religious Studies overlaps with subjects like Philosophy, dealing with moral issues. You’ll look at religious traditions from around the world while analysing key topics. What does it mean to be good? How should we treat other people? With these and similar questions, the A-level Religious Studies course content will test your critical thinking.
A-level Religious Studies exams have a remarkable pass rate. Just under half of all students got grades A or A* in 2021, a huge number compared to other subjects. Likewise, only a tiny proportion – 0.3 per cent – failed to pass.
Classical Civilisation
Fourth on our list, A-level Classical Civilisation, is one of the less well-known subjects. It is, however, incredibly interesting. In it, you’ll learn all about the classical world, from Greece to Rome and Egypt, overlapping with subjects such as History and Art.
The A-level Classical Civilisation course content will immerse you in information from ancient times. You’ll study Homer, Virgil, and the origins of democracy. For your assessment, you’ll take written exams featuring questions where you’ll interpret and defend your opinions.
Classical Civilisation A-Level grades show that 60 per cent of students got grades A or A*, almost double other subjects. If you want a subject with the best chance of top marks, Classical Civilisation might be it.
Geography
Geography is consistently one of the more popular subjects due to its engaging topics and high pass rates. In the A-level Geography course, you’ll learn all about the world around you – from rivers and mountains to volcanoes and earthquakes.
In particular, the A-level Geography course content will explore how humans are impacting the earth through population, migration and climate change. It’s a fascinating subject that universities hold in high regard due to its well-rounded learning.
Geography also gives you a good chance of a high A-Level grade. In 2021, 42 per cent of students achieved grade A or A*, while only 10 per cent got below grade C. Above all, a massive 99.7 per cent of students got a passing grade.
Make the Grade
No A-level is easy – but some are easier than others. And while there are various good reasons for choosing to study a subject, you might want to consider one that gives you a great chance of high grades. With Oxbridge, you can study many different A-levels from home, in your own time. To get started, take a look at our online A-level courses or get in contact.