Choosing three (or four) A-Levels is the first big decision of sixth form. Get it right and you set yourself up for the degree you want. Get it wrong and you're either stuck on a subject you don't enjoy for two years or scrambling to change in Year 12.
This is a guide to the main A-Level subjects taught in England, drawn from the Department for Education's approved subject content and cross-checked against what AQA, Pearson Edexcel, OCR and WJEC Eduqas really offer. It's the reference to bookmark before making your choices or before writing a personal statement that leans on a specific combination of subjects.
Key things to know: 57 A-Level subjects were awarded across all boards in summer 2026 (Ofqual). The five most-entered A-Levels were Mathematics, Psychology, Biology, Chemistry and Economics. Availability varies significantly by school and sixth-form college.
Core academic A-Levels
These are the subjects that anchor most students' choices: the traditional academic core that Russell Group universities look for, offered by most sixth forms.
Mathematics
The most-entered A-Level in 2026. Required for maths, physics, engineering and most economics degrees, and useful for many other STEM courses. Offered by all major boards.
Further Mathematics
Taken alongside Mathematics, typically by students targeting maths, physics or engineering at Russell Group universities. OCR offers two pathways: OCR A and OCR MEI.
Biology
Third most-entered A-Level. Required or strongly preferred for many medicine, dentistry and veterinary courses, and central to biosciences. Available from AQA, OCR (A and B), Edexcel.
Chemistry
Fourth most-entered A-Level. Required or strongly preferred by most medical schools, and essential for chemistry and chemical engineering degrees. Available from AQA, OCR (A and B), Edexcel.
Physics
Essential for physics, engineering and most physical science degrees. Available from AQA, OCR (A and B, where B is Advancing Physics), Edexcel. Our AQA A-Level Physics guide covers the full specification breakdown.
English Literature
Study of literary texts across poetry, drama and prose from Shakespeare through to the twenty-first century. Available from all major boards.
English Language
Study of how English works: linguistic analysis, language change, sociolinguistics, child language acquisition.
English Language and Literature
A combined course sitting between the two, blending literary study with linguistic analysis.
Humanities A-Levels
History
Coursework and exam content varies significantly by option combination. Available from all major boards. Our AQA A-Level History guide covers the full specification breakdown.
Geography
Physical and human geography plus fieldwork. Available from all major boards.
Religious Studies
Philosophy of religion, ethics, and the study of specific religious traditions.
Philosophy
A-Level Philosophy, distinct from Religious Studies. AQA is the main provider.
Classical Civilisation
Ancient Greek and Roman literature, art, history and thought, taught in translation (no Greek or Latin required).
Ancient History
Focused specifically on Greek and Roman history, with source analysis.
History of Art
Reinstated by Pearson Edexcel after AQA dropped it. Covers movements, artists and works across periods and cultures.
Modern and classical languages
French
Available from AQA, Pearson Edexcel, WJEC Eduqas.
German
Available from AQA, Pearson Edexcel, WJEC Eduqas.
Spanish
Available from AQA, Pearson Edexcel, WJEC Eduqas.
Italian
Available from Pearson Edexcel.
Mandarin Chinese
Available from Pearson Edexcel.
Russian
Available from Pearson Edexcel.
Latin
Classical language A-Level, offered by OCR.
Ancient Greek
Classical language A-Level, offered by OCR.
Other languages
Smaller-cohort languages such as Arabic, Bengali, Gujarati, Japanese, Modern Greek, Modern Hebrew, Panjabi, Persian, Polish, Portuguese, Turkish and Urdu are offered by AQA or Pearson Edexcel, depending on the language.
Arts A-Levels
Art and Design
Multiple pathways: fine art, textile design, three-dimensional design, graphic communication, photography, art, craft and design. Portfolio-based assessment.
Drama and Theatre
Practical performance work plus written analysis of set texts and productions.
Music
Performance, composition and analysis of set works.
Music Technology
A separate A-Level covering recording, mixing, sequencing, and the history and analysis of production techniques.
Dance
Performance, choreography and critical analysis of dance works.
Film Studies
Analysis of films and film movements, plus practical coursework.
Media Studies
Analysis of media forms, industries and audiences across print, broadcast and digital media.
Social sciences
Psychology
Second most-entered A-Level in 2026. Covers cognitive, biological, social, developmental and clinical psychology. Available from AQA, OCR, Edexcel, WJEC Eduqas.
Sociology
Study of society, social structures, institutions and inequality. Available from AQA, OCR, WJEC Eduqas.
Politics
UK, US and comparative politics plus political theory. Available from AQA, Edexcel.
Law
English legal system, criminal law, tort law and contract law. Available from AQA, OCR, Eduqas.
Economics
Fifth most-entered A-Level in 2026. Covers microeconomics, macroeconomics and applied economics. Edexcel offers two versions: Economics A and Economics B.
Business
Business functions, strategy, finance and operations. Available from AQA, OCR, Edexcel.
Accounting
Financial accounting, management accounting and control. A smaller-cohort A-Level.
STEM specialisms
Computer Science
Programming, algorithms, computer systems and theory. Available from AQA, OCR.
Electronics
Analogue and digital electronics, systems and applications. A smaller-cohort A-Level.
Environmental Science
Interdisciplinary study of environmental systems, sustainability and human impact.
Geology
Earth structure, materials, processes and history. A smaller-cohort A-Level.
Statistics
A standalone A-Level distinct from Mathematics, focusing on probability and inference. Available from Pearson Edexcel.
Design, technology and applied A-Levels
Design and Technology
Multiple endorsements: product design, fashion and textiles, and design engineering. Involves both theoretical study and a substantial coursework component.
Physical Education
Sports science, anatomy, physiology, biomechanics and skill acquisition, plus practical performance assessment.
Food Science and Nutrition
Available at Level 3 through applied qualifications rather than as a straight A-Level, but often studied alongside A-Levels.
How boards differ: AQA vs Pearson Edexcel vs OCR vs WJEC Eduqas
The four main boards teaching A-Levels in England (AQA, Pearson Edexcel, OCR and WJEC Eduqas) offer overlapping but not identical menus. In practice, most schools use whichever board they've built resources around, so students rarely have a choice at the individual subject level.
AQA is the largest board. It offers most of the mainstream academic subjects, but dropped History of Art and Archaeology in 2016. Pearson Edexcel now offers History of Art.
Pearson Edexcel offers a similar core plus some of the reinstated subjects like History of Art. It also offers two versions of Economics (A and B) and multiple language options.
OCR is distinctive for its dual pathways in Mathematics (OCR A and OCR MEI), Further Mathematics (A and MEI), Biology (A and B for Advancing Biology) and Physics (A and B for Advancing Physics). B specifications tend to have a more applied or contextualised approach.
WJEC Eduqas is Wales's board but its Eduqas brand is used by schools in England for several A-Levels including Media Studies, Film Studies, Drama and some languages.
The Russell Group retired its "facilitating subjects" list in 2019. It now points applicants to its Informed Choices tool, which gives subject-specific recommendations rather than a single approved list. Don't rely on old "facilitating subjects" advice.
Ready to boost your grades?
Join 1M+ students who have used Cognito to ace their exams.
Get started for free!
The Extended Project Qualification (EPQ)
EPQ isn't an A-Level, but it comes up in every A-Level conversation because it's graded on the same A*-E scale, carries UCAS tariff points (28 for an A*, so half an A-Level), and some universities factor it into offers. Students design and complete a research project of their own choosing, typically alongside their A-Levels in Year 13. Worth mentioning here so you don't confuse it with the A-Levels themselves.
Choosing your combination
A few practical rules of thumb. Take three A-Levels unless there's a strong reason to take four, which for most students only makes sense if Further Maths is one of them. Check the entry requirements for any degree you're seriously considering, some subjects (medicine, engineering, law at competitive universities) require specific A-Levels or grade combinations. And read the specification, not just the syllabus title. AQA A-Level History and OCR A-Level History look similar on paper but assess quite differently.
If you're weighing Maths against Further Maths, our comparison of A-Level Maths vs Further Maths is a good starting point.
Once you've chosen, Cognito's AQA A-Level Biology notes and equivalents cover the specification content and past-paper style questions across most mainstream A-Levels.
Wales and Northern Ireland
This guide covers A-Levels in England. Wales and Northern Ireland run their own qualifications frameworks.
WJEC delivers A-Levels for the Welsh curriculum, which retains a modular AS plus A2 structure for some subjects. Students in Wales sit AS in Year 12 and A2 in Year 13, and both count toward the final A-Level.
CCEA is the Northern Ireland regulator and awarding body, and also retains modular structures for many of its A-Levels. If you're outside England, check the specific board and specification your student is entered for.
