What A Level subjects are the hardest?

Discussion for A-Level students and for those choosing their A-Level subjects.

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  1. Yolofied's Avatar
    • Junior Member
    • Posts: 40
    (Original post by zaliack)
    It's just traditional subjects are usually listed as 'hard' without taking into account subjective feelings for the subject. For example, as I'm musically illiterate, taking music would be ten times harder than taking maths or sciences.
    Ok, I understand thanks
  2. Miracle Day's Avatar
    • Little Lion Man
    • Location: Cardiff
    Re: What A Level subjects are the hardest?
    (Original post by confusedexcited)
    In ascending order, I'd say

    1) Chemistry
    2) English Literature
    3) Further Maths
    4) Physics
    5)Maybe History, maybe Biology.

    I don't know really after that. It's basically the traditional A-levels. You'll find many people saying 'English is easy', but it is incredibly difficult to get top-marks in English Literature and requires an incredible amount of effort. Chemistry is just evil.
    What? I find Psychology twice as hard as History.
  3. tazarooni89's Avatar
    • TSR Legend
    Re: What A Level subjects are the hardest?
    If you're asking about the "hardest" A-Levels, it'll be different for each person. I myself did Maths, Further Maths, Physics, Chemistry and General Studies, and found General Studies to be the hardest (and got the lowest mark in it). But that's because I'm more of a "correct/incorrect answer" type of student rather than an "explain/discuss/what is your opinion on..." type.

    But if you're asking about "traditional" A-Levels, which are usually considered to be harder, more academically rigorous, more relevant to university studies etc. then I suppose the Trinity List is probably what you're looking for. Of the subjects on that list, I'd hazard a guess that Further Maths might be considered the "hardest" of the science subjects, while English Literature might be its Arts counterpart.
    Last edited by tazarooni89; 02-06-2012 at 19:09.
  4. CJM13's Avatar
    • Adored and Respected Member
    • Location: United Kingdom
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    Re: What A Level subjects are the hardest?
    I'd go for:

    English Literature
    Philosophy
    History

    Further Maths
    Chemistry

    That would be my top 5 hardest.
  5. hplj's Avatar
    • Full Member
    • Posts: 149
    Re: What A Level subjects are the hardest?

    Additional further maths has to be the hardest a level for two reasons: 1) To get the a-level in all all boards apart from MEI you have to study 6 A2 units most of which are at the top end of the difficulty spectrum.
    2) Everyone who does this qualification is already likely to be extremely competant at maths meaning that the grade boundaries are consequently very high, disproportionate to the difficulty of the exam.
  6. confusedexcited's Avatar
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    Re: What A Level subjects are the hardest?
    (Original post by Miracle Day)
    What? I find Psychology twice as hard as History.
    Okay...what would you like me to say? I think psychology would be perceived by universities and most people as an easier A-level than History, though you may find it harder.
  7. WillowSummers's Avatar
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    • Posts: 393
    Re: What A Level subjects are the hardest?
    Got to put languages on here.
  8. Yolofied's Avatar
    • Junior Member
    • Posts: 40
    Ok sorry if this sounds stupid but if you took 3 A levels from this list below would you stand a chance of getting into cambridge even if you got As and A*?
    LIST C
    A-levels Suitable Only As Fourth Subjects

    Accounting
    Applied Science
    Citizenship
    Communication Studies
    Critical Thinking
    Dance
    Environmental Science
    General Studies
    Health & Social Care
    Home Economics
    ICT
    Leisure Studies
    Music Technology
    Performance Studies
    Performing Arts
    Perspectives on Science
    Photography
    Physical Education
    Science
    Science for Public Understanding
    Sports Studies
    Travel & Tourism
    World Development
  9. Retro.spex's Avatar
    • Peer Of The TSR Realm
    • Location: LOST
    • Posts: 1,679
    Re: What A Level subjects are the hardest?
    History is definitely the hardest out of the three I do, which are History, Maths and French. Having said that I think there are elements of difficulty in all three, but History certainly requires a lot of dedication and time.

    Time which is being spent on tsr....
  10. justanotherposter's Avatar
    • Exalted and Worshipped Member
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    Re: What A Level subjects are the hardest?
    Personally I'd say Chemistry, in my AS year I took Double maths, Physics, Economics and Chemistry, I got an A in all of them except Chemistry, where I got a D, needless to say I dropped it. To be fair though our teacher left after about a month and we were left with some replacement guy who didn't have a clue (his only qualification seemed to be a degree in wine studies, whatever that is.)
  11. The Polymath's Avatar
    • TSR Demigod
    Re: What A Level subjects are the hardest?
    (Original post by Yolofied)
    Some people will find subjects hard that others will find easy and visa versa... I was wondering if there is an official list of subjects that are considered as hard
    If there is please reply
    I don't mind if a made up list is posted as well
    I'm just really curious
    Thanks!


    This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App
    **Trinity College, Cambridge, Suitable A-level combinations page**


    Code:
    LIST A1 
    Generally Suitable Science A-levels 
    Biology 
    Chemistry 
    Mathematics 
    Further Mathematics 
    Physics 
    
    
    LIST A2 
    Generally Suitable Arts A-levels 
    Art History 
    Chinese 
    Classical Civilisation 
    Economics 
    English Literature 
    French 
    Geography 
    German 
    Greek 
    History 
    Irish 
    Italian 
    Japanese 
    Latin 
    Music 
    Philosophy 
    Religious Studies 
    Russian 
    Spanish 
    Welsh 
    
    
    LIST B 
    A-levels of More Limited Suitability 
    Archaeology (Arch & Anth) 
    Art & Design (Arts) 
    Business Studies (Economics) 
    Computing (Computer Science) 
    Design & Technology (Architecture) 
    Drama/Theatre Studies (Arts) 
    Electronics (Engineering) 
    English Language (Arts) 
    Film Studies (Arts) 
    Government & Politics (Arts) 
    Law (Land Economy & Law) 
    Media Studies (Arts) 
    Psychology (Arts) 
    Sociology (Arts) 
    
    
    LIST C 
    A-levels Suitable Only As Fourth Subjects 
    Accounting 
    Applied Science 
    Citizenship 
    Communication Studies 
    Critical Thinking 
    Dance 
    Environmental Science 
    General Studies 
    Health & Social Care 
    Home Economics 
    ICT 
    Leisure Studies 
    Music Technology 
    Performance Studies 
    Performing Arts 
    Perspectives on Science 
    Photography 
    Physical Education 
    Science 
    Science for Public Understanding 
    Sports Studies 
    Travel & Tourism 
    World Development

    Don't take up any controversial inclusions with me, I'm just the messenger

    My personal view:
    When we say something is "hard", that's very subjective. Some people are not very good at Maths, for example, and for them Maths is hard, but for Mathmos it's easy. However, many subjects can be revised for, and I'd say with effort and consistent work, you can achieve A grades in most subjects regardless of ability. Maths, for example, can be revised; methods can be memorised etc.

    The only subjects for which I would say this does not hold true is languages (particularly German, as that's the only one I do). You can work really hard, you can revise loads, you can memorise vocab, but it takes genuine talent to shine in exams.
    Last edited by The Polymath; 02-06-2012 at 19:39.
  12. Table dust's Avatar
    • Exalted Member
    • Posts: 298
    Re: What A Level subjects are the hardest?
    chemistry or physics

    as a bio/chem guy i hated the **** out of physics
  13. zaliack's Avatar
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    • Overlord in Training
    • Location: Basingstoke
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    Re: What A Level subjects are the hardest?
    (Original post by Yolofied)
    Ok sorry if this sounds stupid but if you took 3 A levels from this list below would you stand a chance of getting into cambridge even if you got As and A*?
    LIST C
    A-levels Suitable Only As Fourth Subjects

    Accounting
    Applied Science
    Citizenship
    Communication Studies
    Critical Thinking
    Dance
    Environmental Science
    General Studies
    Health & Social Care
    Home Economics
    ICT
    Leisure Studies
    Music Technology
    Performance Studies
    Performing Arts
    Perspectives on Science
    Photography
    Physical Education
    Science
    Science for Public Understanding
    Sports Studies
    Travel & Tourism
    World Development
    You'd stand 1% chance of getting an interview.
  14. graceburch's Avatar
    • New Member
    • Posts: 19
    Re: What A Level subjects are the hardest?
    I guess it's pretty subjective as to what constitutes a 'hard' A level, as what an indavidual finds hard is usually dependant on what skills they do/don't have and how much work they put into something. For example, I personally find English Literature quite easy, but there is no way I could attempt doing Maths at A level. In general many people do cite subjects such a maths, the sciences, philosophy, law etc as the hardest subjects in contrast to subjects such as religious studies, sociology and history where some argue that picking up marks is easier, although all of those subjects require a lot of revision and memorising things so as I said, it really does depend on where your skills lie.
  15. Obscenedilemma's Avatar
    • Adored and Respected Member
    • Location: London
    • Posts: 551
    Re: What A Level subjects are the hardest?
    No point in this, it's all subjective
  16. chanchan's Avatar
    • Exalted Member
    Re: What A Level subjects are the hardest?
    (Original post by Obscenedilemma)
    No point in this, it's all subjective
    I just about to write the same thing!!
  17. Yolofied's Avatar
    • Junior Member
    • Posts: 40
    Re: What A Level subjects are the hardest?
    (Original post by Obscenedilemma)
    No point in this, it's all subjective
    Whatever, I was just tryna see if there was actually an official list and see what other ppl think...
  18. Calllu-m's Avatar
    • Exalted and Worshipped Member
    • Posts: 1,049
    Re: What A Level subjects are the hardest?
    (Original post by swbp)
    Agreed. Most would say english literature was harder than geography, yet I have to puts weeks of revision in to my geography exams, whereas i don't with english lit. Each to their own I guess.
    Wow, someone else who finds English Lit easier than Geography. I breezed IGCSE Geography but now i find it really hard, yet English really easy. Woooo.
  19. generaljonny's Avatar
    • Junior Member
    • Posts: 54
    Re: What A Level subjects are the hardest?
    Ancient Greek hands down.
  20. cl_steele's Avatar
    • Banned
    • Location: Wellington
    • Warning points: 10
    Re: What A Level subjects are the hardest?
    (Original post by Yolofied)
    Oooooo what stuff do you have to learn in classics? xD




    This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App
    well the one im doing in AS we did the odyysey and tragedy and in A2 art&architecture and the iliad/aeniad

    theyre harder than they sound with the art one we had to know about 30 statues, 30 pots, 30 free standing statues and numerous santuries and their associated temples, metopes, treasuries etc. etc. off by heart ... was horrible -_-
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