What A Level subjects are the hardest?

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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 :smile:

thanks

Reply 21

Miracle Day

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.

Reply 22

tazarooni89

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.

(edited 11 years ago)

Reply 23

username779585

I'd go for:

English Literature
Philosophy
History

Further Maths
Chemistry

That would be my top 5 hardest.

Reply 24

hplj

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.

Reply 25

confusedexcited

Original post by Miracle Day

What? I find Psychology twice as hard as History.

Okay...what would you like me to say? :tongue:

I think psychology would be perceived by universities and most people as an easier A-level than History, though you may find it harder.

Reply 26

WillowSummers

Got to put languages on here.

Reply 27

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

Reply 28

Retro.spex

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....

Reply 29

justanotherposter

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.)

Reply 30

Doglamlico

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 :smile:

I don't mind if a made up list is posted as well :biggrin:

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**

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 :smile:

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.

(edited 11 years ago)

Reply 31

Table dust

chemistry or physics

as a bio/chem guy i hated the **** out of physics

Reply 32

zaliack

Original post by Yolofied

You'd stand 1% chance of getting an interview.

Reply 33

graceburch

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. :smile:

Reply 34

Obscenedilemma

No point in this, it's all subjective

Reply 35

chanchan

Original post by Obscenedilemma

No point in this, it's all subjective

I just about to write the same thing!!

Reply 36

Yolofied

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...

Reply 37

username941859

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.

Reply 38

generaljonny

Ancient Greek hands down.

Reply 39

cl_steele

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 -_-