How to Choose Your A-Level Subjects

Typing "how to choose A-level subjects" into Google usually means one thing: you're stuck, and it feels more stressful than it should. That pressure is normal. Getting it right matters, but so does knowing where to actually start.

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Choosing your A-level subjects doesn't come down to picking the most popular ones, or the ones your classmates are picking. The strongest approach checks three things: which subjects your target course requires, which keeps your options open, and which you're likely to do well in.

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In this guide, we'll cover which A-levels are most picked in 2026, what facilitating subjects mean today, which combinations to avoid, and how to check course requirements early before you commit.

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Let's start with this year's numbers.

Key takeaways

• Mathematics is the most picked A-level in 2026, with 115,380 entries, the only subject to pass 100,000, followed by Psychology (79,201) and Biology (73,925).
• The Russell Group's original eight facilitating subjects were Maths and Further Maths, English Literature, Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Geography, History, and modern or classical languages, though the label itself was retired in May 2019 in favour of the Informed Choices tool.
• Choosing your A-levels means checking three things: what your target course requires, what keeps your options open, and what you're likely to do well in.
• Pass rate and top grade rate are two different measures, not a single "easiest" ranking: Drama, Art and Design, and Film Studies have the highest pass rates, while Other Modern Languages, Latin, and Further Maths have the highest A/A* rates.
• Combinations like Economics and Business Studies, or Maths and Further Maths paired with another overlapping subject, are worth checking against your target universities' preferences rather than avoiding by default. 
• Many degrees have named A-level requirements, such as Chemistry for Medicine or Maths and Physics for Engineering, so confirming these on UCAS or university pages early matters more than general guidance.

What is the most picked A-level subject?

Mathematics is the most picked A-level subject in 2026, holding the top spot as the only subject with over 100,000 entries, followed by Psychology and Biology in second and third place.

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Here are the seven most-entered A-levels this year, based on JCQ's 2026 national results.

This table shows what students are choosing, not what you should choose. Subjects like Computer Science and Classics carry strong academic reputations despite smaller cohorts, so a low entry count doesn't mean a subject is a weak choice.

What are facilitating subjects?

Facilitating subjects were a Russell Group list of eight A-level subjects that were seen as keeping the widest range of degree options open.

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Here are the eight subjects that made up the original list.

• Mathematics and Further Mathematics
• English Literature
• Physics
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Geography
• History
• Modern and classical languages

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The Russell Group formally retired the facilitating subjects label in May 2019 after students and teachers increasingly misread it as a strict rule, replacing it with Informed Choices, an interactive tool that shows the specific subjects each degree course requires or recommends rather than one blanket list for every course.

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The formal label is gone, but several of these subjects still turn up as required or preferred subjects for particular degrees, so the smarter move now is checking the specific course rather than relying on the old list. 

What are the best A-level subjects to take?

There's no single list of "best" A-level subjects, because best depends on what you're optimising for. The strongest approach means asking three different questions, not one.

• Which subjects does your target course actually require? Named requirements override every other consideration, since a missing subject can rule you out regardless of your grades elsewhere.
• Which subjects keep your options open? If you haven't settled on a degree yet, subjects like Maths and the sciences preserve a wide range of STEM options, though they won't broaden humanities or social science routes the same way. 
• Which subjects are you likely to do well in? A subject you're genuinely strong in will usually outperform one chosen purely for its reputation, since top grades matter more to most admissions decisions than the subject label alone.

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None of these questions has a universal answer, and that's the point. A student set on Medicine, a student choosing between two humanities they enjoy, and a student who hasn't picked a course yet should all reach different "best" subjects, and each answer is still correct for that student.

What are the 10 easiest A-levels?

"Easiest" isn't something exam data can measure directly. What it can show is which subjects have the highest pass rates and which have the highest proportion of top grades, and these are two different rankings, not the same thing. Neither list tells you which subject is objectively easiest, only which one the most entrants passed, or scored highly in. 

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Here are the top 10 A-levels by both measures in 2026, based on Ofqual's 2026 results data.

The top grades table needs more caution. Maths, Further Maths and German aren't inherently easier to score top marks in. These figures are heavily influenced by who chooses each subject, students who take Further Maths, for example, typically already have a strong track record in Maths, so they shouldn't be read as a measure of inherent difficulty. 

Subject combinations to check carefully 

Some subject combinations look sensible on paper but are worth checking carefully. Universities vary in how they view overlapping subjects, so what works for one applicant may raise questions for another.

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Economics and Business Studies is a common example worth checking against your target universities' preferences. The same applies to Maths and Further Maths if your third subject also overlaps heavily with them, since stacking three closely related subjects together narrows your profile more than pairing two with something distinct. Neither combination is forbidden, so the goal is confirming your courses don't flag it, not ruling it out by default.

Checking course requirements early

Named subject requirements override every other consideration when choosing your A-levels. Many degrees specify at least one required subject, and competitive courses often require two or three, so checking this before finalising your choices matters more than any general guidance.

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Here are three examples of degrees with specific A-level requirements.

• Medicine. Chemistry is required, usually alongside Biology.
• Veterinary Science. Chemistry and Biology are both typically required.
• Engineering. Maths and Physics are both typically required.

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These three are only a starting point, and requirements vary by course and university even within the same subject area. Confirm the specifics on UCAS course search or the university's own page, or start with our A-Level requirements by degree guide. 

How to choose your A-level subjects: a 4-step process

Bringing everything above together, here's the order to work through it in.

1. Check degree requirements first. Named subjects override every other consideration, so confirm this before anything else.
2. Identify subjects you perform well in. Strong grades usually matter more to admissions than a subject's reputation.
3. Check your combinations. Confirm your target universities don't have specific views on overlapping subjects like Economics and Business Studies.
4. Check workload and enjoyment. Two years is a long time to study something you don't enjoy or can't sustain alongside your other subjects.

FAQs

What is the most picked A-level subject?

Mathematics is the most picked A-level subject in 2026, with 115,380 entries, the only subject to pass 100,000. Psychology and Biology follow in second and third place.

What are facilitating subjects?

Facilitating subjects were a Russell Group list of eight A-levels seen as keeping the widest range of degree options open. The Russell Group retired the label in 2019 in favour of its Informed Choices tool.

What are the best A-level subjects to do?

There's no single "best" A-level. The right choice depends on what your course requires, what keeps your options open, and what you're likely to do well in.

What are the 10 easiest A-levels?

It depends on the measure. Drama, Art and Design, and Film Studies lead by pass rate, while Other Modern Languages, Latin, and Further Maths lead by top grades achieved.

What subject combinations should I avoid?

None outright. Economics and Business Studies, and Maths and Further Maths paired with another overlapping subject, are worth checking against your target universities' preferences rather than avoiding by default. 

How many A-levels should I take?

Most students take three A-levels, though some take four depending on their target course, school offering, and workload capacity. Our how many A-levels should you take guide breaks this down in more detail. 

Conclusion: choosing subjects that fit you

Popular, best and easiest are three separate questions, and no single answer works for every student.

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The right choice checks three things: what your course requires, what keeps options open, and what you're genuinely strong in.

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There's no universal best A-level, and the strongest combinations are the ones built around your goals, not someone else's.

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Still unsure which subjects fit you? Our Pre-University Summer School lets you test a subject firsthand, alongside expert tutors, before you commit two years to it.

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