What are the hardest A levels?
There is no official league table of A-level difficulty. A subject can have high grades and still be exceptionally demanding, because the students who choose it are not a random sample. This guide separates the evidence from the folklore.
The answer in brief
A useful shortlist, with one important warning
Further Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and modern foreign languages are commonly experienced as demanding because they build cumulatively: a weak foundation makes the next topic harder. History and English Literature can be equally demanding in a different way, requiring sustained reading, interpretation and timed argument. Biology and Psychology combine a large knowledge load with precise application. Computer Science varies sharply with prior programming experience and the specification taught.
That is a map of different kinds of difficulty, not a universal top-ten ranking. The hardest A level for an individual student is usually the one whose thinking style, prior preparation and assessment format fit them least well.
Cumulative reasoning
Further Mathematics, Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry reward fluency across linked ideas. Missing one stage can obstruct several later topics.
Volume plus precision
Biology and Psychology require a substantial body of knowledge, but recall alone is insufficient: terminology, method, analysis and application matter.
Sustained judgement
History, English Literature and languages demand selection, interpretation and control under time pressure. Their difficulty is less visible than a long calculation, but no less real.
What the official 2026 data says
Scale and outcomes, not a difficulty ranking
Ofqual reports that 835,950 A-level results were issued in England in summer 2026 to 320,505 students. Across all subjects, 28.3% of results were grade A or above. The five subjects taken by the greatest numbers of students were Mathematics (107,300), Psychology (76,100), Biology (68,005), Chemistry (61,050) and Economics (45,915).
The same release shows that 63.9% of A-level students took three subjects. Among 18-year-olds taking three A levels, 2.2% achieved A* in all three. These figures describe outcomes and participation; they do not establish which subject is intrinsically hardest.
A-level results issued in England in summer 2026
of results across all subjects were grade A or above
of A-level students took three A levels
Why not rank subjects by the percentage of A* grades? Because cohorts select themselves. Students taking Further Mathematics, for example, are typically already strong and interested mathematicians. Course availability, school type, prior attainment, teaching time and assessment design also differ. Ofqual provides a useful interactive subject outcomes tool, but its tables should be read as outcomes for different cohorts, not a controlled experiment in difficulty.
A more honest subject-by-subject guide
| Subject or family | Why students find it hard | A strong fit usually looks like |
|---|---|---|
| Further Mathematics | Fast, cumulative abstraction; depends on secure ordinary Mathematics; small errors propagate. | You enjoy unfamiliar problems and can explain why a method works, not only reproduce it. |
| Physics | Links mathematical models to physical meaning; multi-step problems often hide the route to a solution. | You are comfortable rearranging equations, estimating and moving between diagrams, words and algebra. |
| Chemistry | Combines calculation, spatial models, mechanisms, practical reasoning and exact conventions. | You can connect microscopic explanations to observations and retain precision across many linked topics. |
| Mathematics | Skills accumulate over two years and require accurate, independent problem solving under time pressure. | You practise frequently, diagnose errors and are secure with algebra before the course accelerates. |
| Modern languages | Performance spans comprehension, grammar, spontaneous communication, cultural knowledge and extended writing. | You are willing to practise little and often, tolerate mistakes and engage with the language beyond lessons. |
| Biology | Large content volume, unfamiliar contexts, data interpretation and mark-scheme precision can collide. | You connect systems rather than memorising isolated facts and can apply knowledge to new experiments. |
| History | Wide reading must become selective evidence and a defensible judgement in tightly structured essays. | You enjoy comparing interpretations and can plan an argument before writing at speed. |
| English Literature | Close reading, context, comparison and independent interpretation must remain precise under exam conditions. | You read actively, notice language choices and are comfortable defending an interpretation with textual evidence. |
| Psychology | Breadth, research methods, statistics, evaluation and exact terminology create a high combined load. | You can move from remembering a study to evaluating its design and applying a concept to a scenario. |
| Computer Science | Abstract models, algorithms and programming require different modes of thought; prior access varies greatly. | You debug patiently, break problems into steps and practise writing code rather than only reading it. |
Specifications differ by exam board, so this table is a decision aid rather than a syllabus summary. Before choosing, read the current specification and specimen papers for the board your school teaches. Look at the actual questions, practical or coursework rules and mark allocation.
How to decide whether a hard subject is right for you
Start with any degree subject you may want. Check several current university course pages for required or recommended A levels before you finalise your choices.
Inspect your school's exact exam-board specification and two specimen papers. Highlight the tasks you find energising, unfamiliar and consistently difficult.
Compare the assessment fit: long essays, mathematical problem solving, practical work, speaking, coding, coursework or data analysis.
Check the prerequisite chain. Ask which GCSE skills the first term assumes and what bridging work the department recommends.
Estimate the whole combination, not each subject alone. Three individually attractive subjects may create a punishing mix of deadlines or very similar weaknesses.
Ask the teachers who know your work for concrete evidence: which tasks predict success, where your gaps are and how teachable those gaps appear.
Mistakes to avoid
- Choosing a subject because universities will supposedly be impressed by its difficulty. Universities publish course-specific requirements; there is no general bonus for suffering.
- Treating a high A* rate as proof that a subject is easy, or a low rate as proof that it is hard.
- Dropping a required subject in order to protect an imagined grade profile.
- Taking four A levels by default. Ofqual's 2026 data shows that most students took three; the right number depends on the course requirements and school context.
- Using one student's experience as a universal rule. Teacher expertise, timetable design, exam board and prior preparation materially change the experience.
Frequently asked questions
What is the hardest A level?
There is no objective single answer. Further Mathematics and Physics are frequent candidates because of cumulative abstraction and problem solving, but a strong mathematician may find a reading-heavy essay subject more difficult. Fit matters.
Are sciences harder than humanities?
They are hard in different ways. Sciences often have cumulative technical prerequisites; humanities require extensive reading, selection of evidence, interpretation and sustained judgement. Comparing one grade distribution does not isolate those demands.
Do universities prefer harder A levels?
Universities care first about published course requirements and the strength of the full application. Some courses require or recommend particular subjects. Check the current course page rather than relying on a generic preferred-subject list.
Should I take four A levels?
Not simply to appear more competitive. Most offers are based on three A levels, although particular combinations and Further Mathematics can change the advice for some courses. Check the universities and speak to your school.
Which A levels have the most content?
Students often report high content loads in Biology, Psychology and History, but specifications are not directly comparable. Read your board's specification and sample assessments before deciding.
Sources and method
The official figures above apply to England and were current when this page was reviewed on 10 September 2026. Subject-demand descriptions are analytical judgements based on recurring assessment features, not an official ranking. We will review the statistics after each annual results release.
- Ofqual, Qualification results in England: summer 2026 (published 13 August; updated 20 August 2026).
- Ofqual Analytics, A level outcomes in England, 2008–2026.
- UCAS, Entry requirements.
- UCAS, A levels and post-16 subject choices.