Is History-Gov&Pol-Maths-Art a good A-Level combo?

I currently have selected Bio-Chem-History-GovPol but i don’t think i’ll be studying Medicine or something like that anymore.

I’m interested in studying either Economics, Finance or Law at university. (I don’t particularly want to study further maths :/)

(i’m also picking art because i enjoy creating stuff, also kinda interested in it at uni like fine arts and architecture)

Reply 1

DerDracologe

Study Forum Helper

I would strongly recommend that if you do art you only take 3 subjects because art takes up a lot of time. The exception to this is if everyone in your school does 4.
If youre getting at least a 7 in maths and have confidence with the forces stuff in physics then you should be fine for a level maths.

Reply 2

Thala10

Original post

by SRAriusae

I currently have selected Bio-Chem-History-GovPol but i don’t think i’ll be studying Medicine or something like that anymore.
I’m interested in studying either Economics, Finance or Law at university. (I don’t particularly want to study further maths :/)
(i’m also picking art because i enjoy creating stuff, also kinda interested in it at uni like fine arts and architecture)

yh if you're doing art then you might as well drop govpol and do only maths history art. But surely if you want to do econ at uni you'd need econ alevel no?

Reply 3

DerDracologe

Study Forum Helper

Original post

by Thala10

yh if you're doing art then you might as well drop govpol and do only maths history art. But surely if you want to do econ at uni you'd need econ alevel no?

Its not a requirements to do a level econ to do econ at uni (mostly because some schools dont offer it) but it is a great way to get an intro to the subject which provides background knowledge and could give the OP valuable insight into whether they actually enjoy the subject 🙂

Reply 4

Uni of Southampton Students

Official Rep

Original post

by SRAriusae

I currently have selected Bio-Chem-History-GovPol but i don’t think i’ll be studying Medicine or something like that anymore.
I’m interested in studying either Economics, Finance or Law at university. (I don’t particularly want to study further maths :/)
(i’m also picking art because i enjoy creating stuff, also kinda interested in it at uni like fine arts and architecture)

yes, History-Gov & Politics-Maths-Art is a strong and coherent A-level combination for what you’re interested in.
Here’s why it works well:

•

For Economics / Finance: Maths is the key requirement, and you’ve got that covered. History and Gov & Pol are both highly respected, essay-heavy subjects that show analytical thinking, evaluation, and argument building — all things economics and finance courses value. Further Maths is helpful at the very top end, but it’s not essential for many good Econ/Finance courses.

•

For Law: History + Gov & Pol is actually an excellent pairing. Law schools care far more about critical reading, structured writing, and forming arguments than specific subject content. Maths doesn’t hurt at all, and Art won’t disadvantage you.

•

Art choice: Universities are generally fine with one creative subject, especially when it’s alongside three strong academic ones. It also keeps the door open to fine art, architecture (though check maths/physics requirements), or design-related routes, and shows breadth and genuine interest.

Compared to Bio-Chem, your new combo is more aligned with Econ/Finance/Law and avoids subjects you’re less motivated by, which matters a lot for A-level performance.
Overall: balanced, respected, and flexible. Just make sure your Maths grade is strong 👍
Anusha
Final year Marketing Student

Reply 5

UniofLawStudent6

Official Rep

Original post

by SRAriusae

I currently have selected Bio-Chem-History-GovPol but i don’t think i’ll be studying Medicine or something like that anymore.
I’m interested in studying either Economics, Finance or Law at university. (I don’t particularly want to study further maths :/)
(i’m also picking art because i enjoy creating stuff, also kinda interested in it at uni like fine arts and architecture)

Hi @SRAriusae ,

Just wanted to expand on Anusha's advice from a law student's perspective 😊

History and Gov & Pol are certainly strong options here if you're seeking to do Law. The critical analysis skills you'll develop from writing essays will be highly valuable both at a degree level and in a legal career; I'd certainly recommend having at least one essay-based A-level subject to keep the door open to Law (for example, I did English Literature, History and Geology).

When combined with a science (like Biology or Chemistry), this will demonstrate a fantastic level of versatility, showing you can master the nuanced, persuasive writing required for legal arguments alongside the logical, evidence-based reasoning needed for complex problem-solving. While you'll need to doublecheck each university's website, the reality is that most law degrees don't have specific subject requirements. Lots of students currently doing a law degree have never even studied law before, so what's important is that you pick A-levels that you enjoy, can foster valuable skills, and that you'll perform well in (as you'll need to meet the grade requirements at the end of the day!). This may mean limiting your options to 3, rather than 4 A-levels, but only you will know whether you're capable of balancing these.

As someone who also loves art, I'm certainly not recommending you scrap this A-level - creative thinking is also a key skill for law and a unique background like this may set you apart in future job applications (especially if you're interested in art or real estate law!). However, as I have explained, 4 A-levels may be difficult to balance and could affect your overall performance - make sure to take the time to consider whether you really need qualifications in each of these subjects, or whether one can be set aside (you could always leave art as a hobby, for example, but you'll probably need a Maths A-level for Economics/Finance).

I'll end by noting that you don't actually need to study law at an undergraduate level to become a lawyer. You could always try a Economics/Finance degree first and then, if you're still interested in becoming a lawyer, you could take the postgraduate conversion course. For example, I studied Archaeology & Anthropology for my degree and am now doing the PGDL at ULaw - there are many more routes into law than you might think!

Hope this helps and let me know if you have any other questions.

Holly - PGDL Student
University of Law

Reply 6

artful_lounger

Clearing and Applications Advisor, Universities Forum Helper

Original post

by SRAriusae

I agree with the above posters, art is very work intensive, and also maths requires a lot of "ongoing" work to keep on top of things. Doing a fourth with that pair I think is too much. I'd recommend sticking with maths and art then pick your favourite out of history or politics :smile: