If you’re a high school student trying to secure a place at your dream university, there’s more to it than just getting good grades. A Levels or Advanced Levels are a great starting point to deepen your understanding of core subjects that match your career interests and curiosity. 

In this article, we explain what A-levels are, how they work and the different factors you should consider before taking them. We also focus on helping you understand how many A-levels you should take. Your success won’t depend on how many you take, but on how they relate to your future career and the requirements of your chosen university.

What Are A-Levels? 

In the UK, students over the age of 16 can enrol for A-Levels. These are advanced levels of GCSE subjects that usually take 2 years to complete and provide further study, training and skills. 

As a student, you need to be aware that it’s up to you to decide which A-levels to take, but bear in mind that most universities require a minimum of three. That’s why the vast majority of students choose to take three or four in Year 12 and reduce the number by one in their second year.

While A-levels are a must if you want to study at a UK university, you also need to consider the time frame and commitment required to complete them.

How Do A-Levels Work?

A-levels are the gateway to the career and university of your choice, as well as a range of apprenticeships, employment opportunities and further education programmes.

While the way A-levels work varies from school to school, the general rule is that you will need to:

Submit your initial A-level choices (ideally three or more) before March of your Year 11. Most schools and sixth form colleges will require you to have at least 5 GSCEs at grades 9-4, the compulsory GCSEs in Maths and English, and at least a grade 6 in the specific A-level subject (or a related subject) before they will allow you to study that subject at A-level. 

It is possible to switch from one A-level to another during Year 12, but you don’t want to do this late in the year as you will need to catch up with class materials, assignments and tests.

As well as having a direct positive impact on your academic career, enrolling in these advanced courses is a good idea if you’re not sure what career you want to pursue and want to keep your options open. 

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Why Do Some People Make More or Fewer A-Levels?

The minimum required by most universities is 3 A-levels, so adding more to your profile is not essential to securing a place at your preferred university. However, failing to achieve this number may prevent you from being accepted. 

Instead of focusing on what your friends and schoolmates are doing, pay close attention to the requirements of your first-choice universities, your grades, your interests and your school’s A-level offer. You want to be better prepared for the next stage of your studies without overwhelming yourself with the workload. 

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How Many A-Levels Should You Take?

Every student must take at least three A-levels, as required by most UK universities. Keep in mind that most schools will allow you to take up to five, but you must bear in mind that this comes with a lot of information, deadlines and coursework to complete. Different authors agree that A-levels are even harder than university, as you try to balance different responsibilities including classroom teaching, independent study, exams and coursework.

Also, taking one or two extra A-levels does not necessarily mean you will get extra credit or an easier route into university. 

At Immerse Education, we recommend that you focus on what you need and make the most of them. Allow yourself enough time to study so that you can get the best grades, rather than getting mediocre grades in more A-levels than you need. That said, if you are fascinated by a fourth or fifth subject and genuinely believe that you can perform well in all areas, then go ahead!

Factors to Consider When Choosing Your A-Levels

The most important factor in choosing which A-levels to take is your ambitions for your future career. Even if you don’t know exactly what you want to do, having a list of careers that interest you will be the starting point for choosing your three A levels. Make sure that the 3 subjects are

  1. Relevant to your future studies and meeting university requirements. 
  2. Interesting enough for you to want to spend time on.
  3. Something you have previously excelled at. A-levels are considerably harder than GCSEs, so if you have excelled at them in the past, you will have a better chance of succeeding.

If you are not sure which career path you want to take, we strongly recommend that you take a combination of essay-based and technical subjects. For example, you could take English Literature, Maths and Physics. This will give you a range of skills that are applicable to a wide range of careers.

How Many A-Levels Should You Take for Oxford or Cambridge?

Both Oxford and Cambridge require applicants to have three A-levels for most of their careers. The subjects vary depending on the course you wish to take. For example:

Oxford requires biology students to have a biology A-level and either chemistry, physics or mathematics. For Economics, students must have As in Maths plus 2 other subjects. And for medicine, chemistry with either maths, further maths, biology or physics. To see a full table of careers and A-level requirements, please click here.

At Cambridge, most science courses usually require AAA, while arts courses may require A*AA. For science, applicants may need two A-levels in mathematics and science, while technical or mathematical subjects may require A-level mathematics plus one of biology, chemistry, physics or computing.

What A-Levels Are Commonly Taken Together?

Choosing the right combination of A-Level subjects is an important decision, as it can have a significant impact on your future academic and career path. The choice of subjects depends on three main factors: interests, aspirations and university requirements. We want to encourage you to make the decision based on what YOU need the most. 

However, here are some of the most popular combinations:

STEM combination: Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry. This option is very popular with students who want to go into engineering, physics, computer science or other STEM-related fields. 

Medical-Biological Sciences combination: Biology, mathematics or physics and chemistry. This option is highly recommended for those wishing to become doctors, biologists or other health-related careers.

Social sciences combination: English literature or history, psychology and sociology or philosophy. This combination offers a mix of subjects that help develop skills such as critical thinking and communication, which are highly valued in humanities and social sciences degrees.

Economics-Business combination: Mathematics, Economics and Business Studies or Further Mathematics. This is the ideal mix of subjects for students who wish to pursue a career in economics, finance, business or related fields.

Computer Science combination: Computer Science, Mathematics and Physics or Further Mathematics. This plan is highly valued by universities with computer science, software engineering or mathematics-related programmes.

Arts combination: Art and Design or Drama and Theatre Studies, English Literature or Media Studies, and Music or another creative subject. This plan provides a foundation for a degree in fine art, literature, media studies or performing arts.

Other Things You Can Do To Help with University Admission

 In addition to enrolling and succeeding in these courses, you need to consider additional resources such as

  • Work experience: Valuable for your university applications as it can give you a competitive edge and practical insight into your chosen field. It can also help you build relationships with professionals and mentors in your chosen industry, which can lead to advice, mentorship and future job opportunities.
  • EPQs: Extended Project Qualification is a standalone A-level qualification designed to extend and develop your skills beyond the A-level syllabus and prepare you for university or your future career. A top grade in your Extended EPQ is worth the equivalent of half an A-level (28 UCAS points), which can be invaluable when applying to university. As a student, you get to lead your own projects. You’ll be able to plan and conduct research on a topic of your choice that is not covered by your other qualifications. 
  • Research Projects: Gives you the opportunity to learn from expert academics from top universities and develop your own university-style academic research project.  Immerse Education is the only UK-accredited online research programme for high school students, offering exceptional opportunities for academic growth and university readiness.  
  • Summer programmes: College courses, volunteering, research, studying abroad, summer jobs, internships etc. all look great on your university application as they show commitment, dedication, passion and drive.

At Immerse Education we can help you to succeed in this last point. Our summer schools are open so you can experience university life and meet students from all over the world. Learn from expert tutors from leading universities while making lifelong memories and friends at our award-winning summer camps. Take action today and start working towards a successful university application.