The Student Room Group

Most Respected And Least Respected A-Levels

Just of interest wondering what people thought the 5 most respected A-Levels are and what the least respected 5 A-Levels are?

Scroll to see replies

Reply 1
I think most respected: English Lit, History, Chemistry and Maths
Least respected (though unfairly) Product design, Business studies, Sociology, General Studies and PE
(edited 13 years ago)
Philosophy is not one of the most respected academic A-levels!
Reply 3
I don't think you can specify five most respected a-levels, but traditional subjects like the sciences, maths, history, english and languages will probably be the most respected. On the other hand, newer subjects like media studies, business studies, law and sociology may be taken with less regard when applying to traditional universities for traditional subjects. However, all A-Levels have their purpose - for example, doing a business studies A-Level is going to place you in good stead when applying for a business related course, and my media studies a-level has come in surprisingly useful for my history and politics course!
Reply 4
angel_flo
I don't think you can specify five most respected a-levels, but traditional subjects like the sciences, maths, history, english and languages will probably be the most respected. On the other hand, newer subjects like media studies, business studies, law and sociology may be taken with less regard when applying to traditional universities for traditional subjects. However, all A-Levels have their purpose - for example, doing a business studies A-Level is going to place you in good stead when applying for a business related course, and my media studies a-level has come in surprisingly useful for my history and politics course!
This is not strictly the case, as Economics is regarded as "business related" but having Business Studies along with Economics at A-Level is a bad move. I have discovered this all too late.
Reply 5
Most respected: Biology, chemistry, physics, latin, maths, further maths...

Least respected: some designing course,
Reply 6
I would say Chemistry, Physics, Maths, History, languages and English Lit are among those most, but of course there are others that are definitely traditional and respected. The least are probably those on the LSE blacklist.
Reply 7
because I'm rather sciencey.... I would say Chemistry, Biology, Maths, Physics and Further Maths are the hardest subjects, I think statistically Chem, human bio and maths are all at the top end.
Obviously it's all very personal and what one person may find hard another may find a walk in the park.
Personally, I see the sociology, health and social care, media, film as being easy. BUT it's personal, and I don't mean to offend anyone.
People who do further maths are usually (shown by statistics) gay.
Reply 9
I don't know about everyone but the 5 I respect the most are:

1. A Foreign language
2. Chemistry
3. Maths or Further Maths!
4. Art
5. Drama or Theatre


I think the only A level I least respect is General Studies.
Reply 10
I would say:
1) Chemistry
2) Further Maths
3) Physics
4) Maths
5) Biology

and:
1) Pointless Studies
2) Media Studies
3) Design
Reply 11
Personally, I think any A level is hard (apart from maybe General Studies) and a lot of work. Hmmmm, actually, science you only need a good memory for though.

But, generally, I think people don't respect anything ending in 'studies'. Which is harsh, becaue Theatre Studies is my hardest subject!

Joe
Most respected - Chemistry, Further Maths, Physics, English Lit, a language
At my school I get the whole 'ooh' and 'aah' and strange looks as I do German, French AND English Literature (ok, the last isn't a language but people seem to just bung it in with it). I'd say Geography is neither a most respected nor a least respected subject...
IMO maths, physics and chemistry are well respected.
most respected:
maths and further maths, chemistry ( i think are the hardest), as well as foreign languages, and poss physics.

least respected:
media studies, psychology, business studies, general studies, PE
Most respected:

History
English Literature
Further Maths
Physics
Chemistry

Least respected:

[Insert word] Studies

I don't understand why people are saying that languages or maths are the most respected though.
shauniemac
Just of interest wondering what people thought the 5 most respected A-Levels are and what the least respected 5 A-Levels are?

most/least respected BY WHO?

asking in here you're only going to get a peer assessment - the opinions of people who are about to take/are taking or have recently taken A levels...the people you really should ask are admissions tutors at universities, A level teachers, staff recruiters for large companies/CBI etc etc etc - not many of those people actually post on TSR...
Reply 17
Most respected: Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Languages, History or English Lit
Least respected: Dance, General Studies, Health and Social Care, Leisure Studies, Travel and Tourism
Languages are flippin hard! Not only do you have to endure the torture of speaking exams :O but you also have to know sooooooooooooooo much about the country/ies that speak that language, hence including loads of history, politics etc, you have to learn loads of grammar, words that you've never even heard of in english let alone the foreign language, and you're expected to read around the subject loads.

Plus the people who do them tend to be either fluent or really clever so the grade boundries are higher.

(To that person earlier: yeah i do french, german and english combined, i just don't understand why people go ewwwwwwwwwwww, i mean what's with the whole bio, chem, phys, maths and further maths thing - nightmare!!!)

But yeah, languages are the best anyway :P
ange de la nuit
Languages are flippin hard! Not only do you have to endure the torture of speaking exams :O but you also have to know sooooooooooooooo much about the country/ies that speak that language, hence including loads of history, politics etc, you have to learn loads of grammar, words that you've never even heard of in english let alone the foreign language, and you're expected to read around the subject loads.

Not really.

Quick Reply