Easiest A-Level Subjects (Based on Pass Rates & Students Reviews)

A-levels can be one of the most challenging experiences in secondary school, and that’s why many students seek the easiest ones to play it safe and guarantee themselves a pass. Let’s see what are A-levels that most students find easier to pass and how to fast-track them.

What are the easiest A-Levels to do?

Sociology

One of the easiest subjects is Sociology. Although the Sociology exam includes a variety of subjects that might sometimes be difficult to understand at first glance, its syllabus topics are highly connected and cumulative. This means that one topic leads to another, making memorisation easier and the learning process smooth.

Applied Science

Many students decide to study a set of science subjects, such as Biology, Physics and Chemistry in their different examination alternatives, as they are all somewhat related and studying them all at once can be beneficial to understand one another more easily. However, some students prefer sitting for these three subjects within a single exam: Applied Science. This exam is considered to be easier because it does not require students to dive deep into every subject, but knowing the basic and most important concepts of each one.

Religious Studies

Because of the way this subject is evaluated, it is considered one of the easiest subjects to pass. Students are required to study Christianity, Buddhism, Islam and Judaism, among other religions, and their knowledge on the topic is evaluated through opinion essays, in which students need to focus on expressing their ideas clearly. For this reason, having a good written expression accounts for a large percentage of the final grade achieved, as students are encouraged to elaborate on the characteristics of different religions and how they compare. Additionally, this methodology can help develop one’s writing skills for other subjects and one’s future career.

Food Studies

This subject not only has an interesting evaluation methodology, but can even be fun to prepare for. The food Studies exam consists of two sections, with theoretical and practical assessment. The theoretical part includes questions about the food industry, nutrition and safe food handling, while the practical part focuses on cooking your own dish! For this reason, this exam is quite easy to pass, as you can plan on what dish you will elaborate and repeat the preparation as many times as necessary to perfect the process before the day of the exam.

Information Technologies

Even though IT sounds like a difficult subject to take, the truth is that it is among the top 10 easiest! This is because the topics included are related to the social impact of technology, which students can experience in their everyday lives, making the exam quite intuitive for them. It also includes some programming, information systems and data structures, but only on a basic level that is not difficult to understand. Also as technology is such an integral part of the life of digital natives and a lot of the content is intuitive, at least to some degree.

Film Studies

Although Film Studies implies studying artistic movements, filmography elements and literary representations, many students consider it an easy alternative because much of the subject content consists of watching films. If you are already a cinephile, you can do this part of the preparation on your own and find it an enjoyable experience.

Why are these A-levels considered easier?

Personal Preference and Experience

The most common reason why one subject is considered easier than others is the students’ personal experience. However, this way of measuring is too subjective and not representative enough, as students can only sit for an average of 9 subjects, while there are more than 60 options to choose from. For this reason, other statistics, such as the pass rate, are also analysed.

Pass rate

The ranking of the easiest subjects is determined based on statistics collected by the examination boards on the number of students passing each subject and the likelihood of getting high marks. In this way, we can know how easy students find every subject with a more representative measure, using hard data and thus drawing objective conclusions.

Evaluation methodology

At the same time, we can try to understand not only which subjects are easier but why. For instance, we can look at the way each subject is assessed. As already mentioned, some subjects include a series of easy-to-connect topics, while others allow students to prepare their answers in advance. In this way, these innovative methods make it easier for students to pass them and achieve excellent results.

Skills & Aptitudes

Related to the previous point, different examinations evaluate knowledge, but also different types of skills, which may be easier for some students. For example, subjects including Maths are typically considered harder by some students, while subjects with more theoretical content, which include essay writing, tend to be easier, as students have probably practised their ability to write essays for different subjects throughout their school life and have already developed this skill by the time they take A-levels.

How do fast-track A-Levels work?

While the traditional way to take A-levels is studying at school or college, many students choose independent academies for their alternative methods and flexibility. One of the main benefits of studying with CloudLearn is the fast-tracking option, which allows students to study at their own pace, thus reducing study time. In fact, with traditional schools, students need to attend courses for over 2 years, for a total 360 hours per subject.

By studying online, students can distribute these 360 hours at their convenience, shortening the normal 2-year period to less than one year. Nevertheless, keep in mind that A-level exams can only be taken once a year in June, which limits the time available. By studying intensively (80 hours per month) you could prepare for the A-Level exam in 4.5 months - we often have students start courses in January to go ahead and take the exam in June for university entry in September.

Are fast-track A-Levels hard?

The difficulty of fast-tracking A-levels depends on every student and how they manage to fit studying into their schedule. The topics included and the exam are the same as in traditional courses, so they present the same difficulty. Keep on reading to find out how to make the most out of the fast-tracking method.

Tips & Recommendations

Create a study plan

Once you have chosen the exam date and how many subjects you are taking, calculate how much time you have left until exam day and distribute the total 360 hours per subject. Based on this, set up a chronogram assigning dates for the topics in the syllabus to make sure you have covered them all before the exam.

Keep a realistic schedule

When creating your timetable and calculating the time you will dedicate to each subject, also keep in mind other aspects of your life: holidays, weekends, events, sick days. All these situations can reduce the time you have for studying, so consider some spare time, just in case. Also, don’t try too hard: although some students may be able to dedicate more than 8 hours a day to studying, it could be difficult for most people. That’s why we recommend being honest with yourself and calculating your study time based on your own time-management skills.

Revise often

Include revision time within your schedule. We recommend devoting one day per month to revising previous topics and avoid forgetting the first things you learned as you advance through the syllabus.

Conclusion

Although determining which are the easiest A-levels to sit for depends mostly on a personal perspective, statistics can serve as a guide for a more objective analysis. However, students can find their own ways to make any subject easier to study by choosing academies that enable more flexibility. CloudLearn allows students to study at their own pace, fast-tracking topics and contact their tutors whenever they need it. Check the list of our available courses here.

FAQs

Do universities accept fast-track A-Levels?

Yes. What universities keep in consideration is the final qualification you obtain after sitting the exam. Fast-tracking only determines the way in which you organise and distribute topics in preparation courses.

Can I do an A-Level in 6 months?

Although it is hard, you may be able to sit for a single A-level in 6 months. Keep in mind that the recommended study time per subject is 360 hours. Considering that you are likely to study 4 hours a day on weekdays, you can do it with even some spare time for emergencies and extra revision.

Can you do an online A-Level in 1 year?

Yes! While students at traditional schools take two years to prepare for A-levels, students who choose online courses can shorten this span, distributing the total 360 hours per subject as they see fit.

Which A-level course is the hardest?

Based on pass rates and statements by students and lecturers, the most difficult subjects are Further Maths, Physics and Chemistry. However, many students agree that since all these subjects involve applied Maths, they may be easier for students with good mathematical skills. Additionally, taking CloudLearn’s courses makes it easier, as you can fast-track and study at your own pace with easy-to-follow material.

What is the easiest science A level to take?

Based on passing rates, the easiest science A-level is Biology, as it is one of the subjects with more theoretical content while Physics and Chemistry have a big practical component, which many students find difficult.

Were 2023 A levels harder?

For some students, the 2022 and 2023 A-levels were more difficult, not because there were any changes in the exams, but because they felt that the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdown affected how they prepared for exams and the time they had to study.