The easiest A-Levels, ranked

Calling an A-Level 'easy' is misleading. Every A-Level is harder than every GCSE, the workload steps up significantly in Year 13, and even the most accessible subjects punish students who do not engage. The honest framing is that some A-Levels are less demanding than others in specific ways: Less content, less mathematical reasoning, fewer technical skills, or more support from coursework.

This ranking pulls together the A-Levels most commonly described as easier by students, teachers, and admissions tutors. It uses JCQ attainment data as a partial signal, but with caveats: A* and A rates depend heavily on cohort strength, not just subject difficulty. The picks below are weighted towards subjects that consistently come up in 'which A-Level should I take to get a good grade' conversations.

A warning before you read on. Picking an easy A-Level can backfire. Russell Group universities sometimes flag certain subjects as less academically rigorous, and a combination made up entirely of easier subjects can limit your university options. Use this guide to understand the trade-offs, not to optimise for the path of least resistance.

Three signals went into this ranking. First, JCQ A* and A attainment rates: Subjects where a higher percentage of students reach the top grades are easier in attainment terms, with the caveat that cohort strength varies between subjects. Second, the consensus view from teachers, examiners, and tutors about which subjects require the least specialist prior knowledge or mathematical fluency. Third, the volume and depth of content relative to the typical A-Level workload.

The biggest caveat is what 'easy' actually means. An A-Level that is content-light might be 'easy' for a strong essay writer and brutal for someone who struggles to construct an argument. An A-Level that is mathematically simple might be 'easy' for someone with weak Maths and harder than expected for a student who relied on memorisation at GCSE.

This is an opinionated ranking. Use it as a prompt for your own research and a reality check against any combination that looks too narrow.

Religious Studies typically has relatively strong A* and A attainment rates and is widely considered one of the more accessible essay-based A-Levels. The content is largely about philosophical and ethical reasoning rather than memorising historical detail, and the essay structures are formulaic enough that strong technique can carry students a long way.

The subject is taken seriously by most Russell Group universities, particularly for Theology, Philosophy, and Religious Studies degrees, and is generally seen as a legitimate humanities option. Coursework is not part of the assessment, which simplifies the workload compared to subjects like English Literature.

The trap is content. Religious Studies looks light because the specification is shorter than History or English Lit, but the philosophical content (Plato, Aristotle, Kant, utilitarianism, virtue ethics) is intellectually demanding once you reach the higher mark bands. Students who underestimate the analytical depth and rely on summarising arguments without evaluating them tend to plateau at a B.

Sociology is among the more popular A-Levels in England and is generally viewed as more accessible than History, English Literature, or Politics. The content is structured, the key theorists and concepts repeat across topics, and the essay structures are taught explicitly. Strong students can score well with consistent revision rather than the wide reading that History demands.

The subject covers families and households, education, beliefs in society, and crime and deviance, depending on the board. Each topic uses similar analytical lenses (functionalism, Marxism, feminism, postmodernism), which means strong technique compounds across the specification. A student who masters the framework in one topic often picks up the rest quickly.

The trade-off is signalling. Sociology was on the old Russell Group 'soft subjects' list and is still occasionally flagged as less academically rigorous by admissions tutors at the most selective universities. The framing was officially dropped around 2019, but combinations made up entirely of Sociology-adjacent subjects (Sociology plus Psychology plus Health and Social Care, for example) can limit options. As one of three with a stronger anchor subject, Sociology is generally fine.

Media Studies has reasonable A* and A rates and is widely regarded as one of the more accessible A-Levels for students who write fluently and can engage with media texts critically. The content includes media theory, audience analysis, and the study of specific texts (films, magazines, video games, music videos, and so on) across different historical periods.

A significant portion of the grade comes from coursework, which gives students more control over their final mark than purely exam-based subjects. Strong students who plan early and work closely with their teacher on the coursework can secure a high mark before the exam papers even start.

The signalling concern is real. Media Studies has appeared on most 'soft subjects' lists historically and is one of the subjects most often flagged by Russell Group admissions tutors. Some specific courses (Journalism, Film, and Media at top universities) value the subject directly, but it works best as one of three with a more rigorous anchor for most other applications.

Film Studies sits in a similar position to Media Studies. The content is intellectually engaging for students who enjoy film, the workload is manageable, and coursework forms a meaningful portion of the grade. A* and A rates are competitive with most major A-Levels.

Where Film Studies works well is for students aiming at Film Production, Film Studies, or related creative degrees, where the subject directly demonstrates relevant skills and knowledge. Universities that offer these courses generally accept Film Studies as a legitimate preparation.

The trade-off is the same as Media Studies. Outside of film and media-specific courses, the subject is sometimes flagged as less academically rigorous by admissions tutors at competitive universities. It is a perfectly viable A-Level as one of three with a stronger anchor, but a combination of Film Studies plus Media Studies plus Photography would close more doors than most sixteen-year-olds realise.

Photography is a creative A-Level with most of the grade based on coursework (typically a portfolio plus an externally set assignment). Students who can produce and present strong visual work consistently score well, and the lack of long written exams suits students who find traditional academic subjects exhausting.

The subject is genuinely respected for creative degree applications, particularly Photography, Visual Arts, Fine Art, and some Architecture courses where portfolio evidence matters more than academic subject mix. For these specific paths, Photography is not just easy, it is the right choice.

The trade-off, predictably, is breadth. Photography on its own does not signal academic rigour to admissions tutors outside the creative arts. A combination of Photography plus another creative subject plus Media Studies is the classic example of a closed-door combination. Pair Photography with at least one rigorous anchor (English Literature, History, or Maths) and the doors stay open.

Business Studies is widely considered one of the more accessible A-Levels, with manageable content volume and assessment structures that reward clear writing and case-study analysis. The maths content is real but limited (mostly ratios, basic financial analysis, and break-even calculations) and does not require A-Level Maths to handle.

The subject is popular with students aiming at Business, Management, Marketing, and Finance degrees at most universities. It is generally accepted, although for the most competitive Economics or Finance courses, A-Level Economics is preferred and Maths is often required separately.

The overlap risk is the main concern. Business Studies plus Economics plus Accounting (or Business plus Sociology plus Psychology) is the kind of combination that some admissions tutors flag. As one of three with a different second subject, Business Studies is fine. Doubling up on related quantitative-light subjects is the trap.

The easiest A-Level for one student is genuinely difficult for another. Religious Studies is content-light, but it punishes students who cannot construct philosophical arguments. Sociology has strong attainment rates, but only for students who can apply theoretical frameworks consistently. Even Photography, with its coursework-heavy assessment, is hard for students who do not have a strong visual eye.

The more useful framing is fit. Look at your GCSE grades and ask which subjects you scored well in with the least effort. Those are the closest predictors of which A-Levels will feel easier for you specifically. Compare that against the subjects you genuinely enjoy, because two years of disengaged study almost always produces a weaker grade than two years on a subject you care about.

Finally, sanity-check against your target degree. If the courses you want require specific subjects, picking 'easier' alternatives can close doors you did not realise were closing. The right framework is not 'what is the easiest A-Level' but 'what is the easiest A-Level that still meets my goals and matches my strengths'.

Russell Group universities phased out the 'facilitating subjects' list around 2019 and replaced it with the Informed Choices website. The new framing is course-specific: Different degrees have different preferred subjects, and there is no universal list of 'good' or 'bad' A-Levels.

That said, the underlying preference for academically rigorous subjects still shapes admissions reading. A combination of three subjects from the old soft list, with no Maths, science, History, English Literature, or modern language, can read as less academically ambitious to admissions tutors at the most competitive universities. The risk is greatest for Oxbridge, the rest of the Russell Group, and competitive courses like Law and Economics.

The practical rule of thumb is to include at least one traditionally rigorous subject in your three. Beyond that, easier subjects are generally fine as long as the grades are strong. A combination like Maths plus Religious Studies plus Sociology, for example, is much more flexible than a combination of three subjects from the old soft list.

There are several situations where picking an easier A-Level is the right strategic move. The first is balance. If two of your three subjects are heavy (Further Maths plus Chemistry, for example, or History plus English Literature), adding an easier third subject can protect your overall grade average without weakening the application.

The second is alignment with goals. If your target degree is in a creative or social-science area where the easier subject is directly relevant (Photography for a Visual Arts degree, Sociology for Social Policy, Media Studies for Journalism), the 'easier' label becomes irrelevant. The subject is the right fit.

The third is genuine interest. If you are passionate about a subject that happens to be on the easier list, the engagement will lift your grade above what you would have achieved with a 'harder' subject you did not enjoy. Two years is a long time to study a subject you find boring.

The wrong call is picking three easier subjects together without a clear plan, on the assumption that the route of least resistance will produce the best results. The maths of competitive university applications does not work that way. Admissions tutors look at the combination, not just the grades, and three easy subjects can read as a narrow profile.

The other wrong call is picking an easier subject to dodge a required one. Medicine requires Chemistry. Engineering and most top Maths courses require Maths. Top Economics courses prefer Maths. Swapping out a required subject for an easier one closes the door on the target course, full stop. If you do not want Chemistry, do not aim at Medicine, but do not assume you can get into Medicine without it.

Finally, do not pick an easier subject you have no interest in just because the average grade is higher. Engagement matters. Students who hate their subject often score lower than students who picked a 'harder' subject they cared about.