Picking your A Level subjects is a big academic decision. While your GCSE options are important, A Levels are the time you think about the fields you'd like to study in higher education and possibly as a career. An important consideration is the difficulty of the subject, including its workload, advanced content, or exam structure. Difficulty is subjective and varies between students, but there are clear patterns in pass marks to help you make your decision.
This guide looks at pass rates for A Level subjects from summer 2025, using data from the Joint Council for Qualifications. This includes how many students failed and the percentage of students who received top grades. With this in mind, we list our top 10 hardest A Level subjects. We also consider the differences between exam boards and whether some set harder papers than others.
If you already have certain subjects in mind and think you'll need support, TeachTutti has qualified tutors who can teach you in person or online. Follow the link to learn how tuition works with TeachTutti.
A-Level Exam Statistics (2025) - Hardest A-Levels
The table below shows the statistics on A Level subjects across the UK. We have listed the top 38 subjects with the highest fail rate, meaning students who received a U grade. This is based on results from summer 2025, using data from the Joint Council for Qualifications.
The table also shows the number of students who took the subject and the percentage who received a top grade (A - A), a lower pass grade (A - C), and the pass rate overall (A* - E).
We have listed a broad range of subjects. This includes core subjects (Maths, English, and Science), popular options (including History and Geography), the languages, arts, humanities, and social sciences. We have omitted A Level alternatives, including vocational qualifications like T Levels and BTECs.
| Rank | Subject | Entries | A*-A % | A*-C % | Pass Rate (A*-E %) | Fail Rate (U %) |
| 1 | Accounting | 2,361 | 13.64 | 60.57 | 93.77 | 6.23% |
| 2 | Environmental Science | 2,392 | 14.05 | 62.88 | 96.01 | 3.99% |
| 3 | Physics | 44,957 | 32.10 | 71.72 | 95.41 | 4.59% |
| 4 | Chemistry | 63,538 | 32.56 | 73.93 | 95.72 | 4.28% |
| 5 | Computing | 19,796 | 25.15 | 70.19 | 95.73 | 4.27% |
| 6 | Biology | 71,400 | 27.99 | 71.82 | 95.92 | 4.08% |
| 7 | Law | 14,973 | 17.02 | 64.61 | 96.18 | 3.82% |
| 8 | Mathematics | 112,138 | 41.70 | 78.23 | 96.47 | 3.53% |
| 9 | Other Sciences | 2,447 | 24.23 | 70.09 | 96.51 | 3.49% |
| 10 | Physical Education | 13,494 | 18.65 | 70.96 | 96.94 | 3.06% |
| 11 | Psychology | 75,943 | 19.40 | 72.44 | 97.03 | 2.97% |
| 12 | Design & Technology | 10,576 | 19.25 | 71.90 | 97.06 | 2.94% |
| 13 | Digital Technology | 959 | 25.03 | 76.33 | 97.18 | 2.82% |
| 14 | Welsh Second Language | 187 | 23.53 | 71.12 | 97.33 | 2.67% |
| 15 | Philosophy | 3,814 | 22.21 | 74.15 | 97.41 | 2.59% |
| 16 | Business Studies | 45,235 | 16.58 | 76.92 | 97.92 | 2.08% |
| 17 | Political Studies (Gov & Politics) | 22,185 | 27.95 | 75.33 | 97.99 | 2.01% |
| 18 | Sociology | 43,875 | 19.25 | 72.90 | 98.03 | 1.97% |
| 19 | Geography | 34,336 | 24.44 | 79.79 | 98.64 | 1.36% |
| 20 | Religious Studies | 16,439 | 25.49 | 78.68 | 98.52 | 1.48% |
| 21 | French | 6,858 | 39.12 | 84.69 | 98.72 | 1.28% |
| 22 | Spanish | 8,325 | 36.05 | 85.47 | 98.93 | 1.07% |
| 23 | Other Modern Languages | 6,672 | 70.27 | 93.41 | 99.06 | 0.94% |
| 24 | History | 44,717 | 24.92 | 83.88 | 99.03 | 0.97% |
| 25 | Classical Subjects | 6,422 | 34.09 | 85.76 | 99.05 | 0.95% |
| 26 | English Language | 12,734 | 12.77 | 78.61 | 99.08 | 0.92% |
| 27 | Media / Film / TV | 23,320 | 14.75 | 78.76 | 99.05 | 0.95% |
| 28 | English Literature | 37,931 | 24.63 | 81.66 | 99.26 | 0.74% |
| 29 | Art and Design | 43,124 | 35.36 | 88.48 | 99.35 | 0.65% |
| 30 | English Lang & Lit | 7,274 | 15.03 | 81.83 | 99.27 | 0.73% |
| 31 | Drama | 8,038 | 22.92 | 89.05 | 99.35 | 0.65% |
| 32 | German | 2,224 | 47.75 | 90.06 | 99.27 | 0.73% |
| 33 | Music | 5,418 | 24.71 | 77.25 | 99.06 | 0.94% |
| 34 | Welsh First Language | 708 | 26.41 | 78.53 | 99.29 | 0.71% |
| 35 | Further Mathematics | 19,390 | 58.22 | 88.48 | 99.25 | 0.75% |
| 36 | Irish | 456 | 34.21 | 82.46 | 99.45 | 0.55% |
| 37 | Performing Arts | 1,706 | 14.30 | 78.95 | 99.19 | 0.81% |
| 38 | Chinese | 4,322 | 79.65 | 95.57 | 99.55 | 0.45% |
Hardest A-Level subjects - Interpreting the Data
Our rankings are based on the 2025 summer exam results published by JCQ. They focus on the fail rate for each subject, as this also reflects the percentage of students who passed and what passing grade they received.
We have omitted subjects with small entry numbers, such as Accounting. This is because the small numbers can distort the statistics. It's also less likely to be relevant to readers due to the uptake in the subject. Instead, we have focused on popular A-Levels, where the entries are high enough to accurately reflect difficulty.
1. Physics
Physics is statistically the hardest A-Level compared to other subjects. 4.59% of students failed the subject by not achieving at least a grade E. It is a step up from GCSE level and has the highest fail rate for a mainstream subject with high entry numbers, 44,957 taking the subject in 2025. 32.10% got an A or A star.
Why it's hard
Students have to apply abstract theory, applied mathematics, and practical science. The topics don't often relate to everyday experiences, making them hard to visualise and understand. This includes electric fields, quantum behaviour, wave-particle duality and nuclear processes.
There is a strong mathematical element. This includes manipulating equations, modelling physical systems, interpreting graphs and experimental data, and applying calculus-based reasoning. Questions will often require knowledge of multiple topics to find the answer.
Unfamiliar scenarios are often presented in physics papers. For example, a question could describe a spacecraft releasing a probe into orbit, asking students to calculate changes in velocity or gravitational potential energy. These situations test understanding rather than memorising. Even students who are strong in science say that problem-solving in Physics is time-pressured and mentally demanding.
You will need to draw on practical skills, such as recognising uncertainties, analysing results, and justifying experimental conclusions.
If you are considering this subject, Teachtutti has qualified A Level Physics tutors who can help you explore the syllabus and give greater insight into whether this subject is a good fit.
2. Chemistry
63,538 students took Chemistry in 2025, with a 4.28% fail rate. It is a big jump from GCSE to A Level, and it sits just below Physics in difficulty, combining quantitative problem-solving, theoretical understanding, and practical application. 32.56% received top marks.
Why it's hard
There are three core areas of A Level Chemistry: physical, organic, and inorganic:
- Physical chemistry - You need a solid grasp of maths, especially algebraic manipulation and multi-step calculations. This includes enthalpy calculations, equilibrium constants, rate equations, pH and logarithms, and exponential decay
- Organic chemistry - Students need to understand unfamiliar molecules to accurately apply reaction mechanisms, functional groups, stereochemistry, and synthetic pathways. This area is particularly hard to visualise and to predict reaction outcomes
- Inorganic chemistry - This is a broad topic, which includes periodicity, ligand behaviour, transition metals, and redox systems
The exam style is challenging. You may need to:
- Explain your reasoning using scientific principles
- Combine different topics in Chemistry
- Interpret graphs, data tables, and experimental results
It can be easy to lose marks through incomplete reasoning or using the wrong chemical jargon. You're also expected to understand chemistry from a practical perspective. For example, questions will assume you are familiar with titrations, calorimetry, equilibria experiments, qualitative tests, and chromatography.
TeachTutti has top Chemistry A Level tutors who can teach you in person or online. They can help you to prepare in advance if you have decided to take this subject.
3. Computing
4.27% of students failed Computing. The candidates were significantly lower than in Physics and Chemistry, with 19,796 taking the subject. The main difficulty is mastering both programming and theoretical computer science. This requires different skill sets and logical thinking. You also need to understand and apply coding languages, such as Python. 25.15% achieved the top grades (A - A*).
Why it's hard
The majority of students will have little prior coding experience. This makes the first term particularly challenging, as programming means thinking in a way that differs from other subjects.
A large proportion of students enter Computing without strong coding experience. This makes the first term especially challenging, as students learn a new way of thinking that is expected for programming. This includes problem decomposition, algorithmic reasoning, debugging strategies, and efficient coding practices.
The following topics are introduced, which are often abstract and require an applied understanding rather than just memorisation:
- Algorithms
- Computational complexity
- Data structures
- Logic gates
- Boolean algebra
- Computer architecture
- Memory management
- Networking
- Databases
- Cybersecurity
As with Physics, exam questions will present unfamiliar problems. Students may need to design algorithms, trace logics, or evaluate solutions. Exam papers are less predictable, so you can't rely on rote learning or on set question types.
There is a Non-Exam Assessment (NEA) for Computing. Students have to design and develop a programming project during the academic year. It is easy to understand the workload and have your project affected by poor planning.
4. Biology
Biology is very popular, with 71,400 candidates in 2025. 4.08% didn't pass the subject, while 27.99% achieved top grades. There is a strong mathematical focus and a significant amount of content to learn, as well as precise answers expected in exam conditions.
Why it's hard
It is content-heavy compared to other subjects on this list. This can be particularly overwhelming as new topics build on previous units. You need to learn and retain the following topics:
- Cell biology and microscopy
- Biochemistry and respiration
- Genetics, inheritance, and evolution
- Neurobiology and homeostasis
- Ecosystems, energy transfers, and population dynamics
Questions in exams are often application-based, putting the student in an unfamiliar scenario. This means students can't just memorise facts and will need to show applied understanding. You will need to accurately apply biological concepts, such as experimental results, scientific contexts, graphs, or case studies.
Marks can be lost if the biology terminology is incorrect. This is particularly true when describing mechanisms or processes. As mentioned above, you need to have a strong grasp of Maths, albeit less than in Chemistry or Physics. This includes statistics, probability, graph interpretation, and data handling.
5. Law
There were 14,973 candidates for Law in 2025. The fail rate was 3.82% and 17.02% received top grades. Part of the difficulty lies in expectation. Students often expect Law to be discussion-based. It is a rigorous course where you need to show exact knowledge, build structured arguments, and write analytically. It is among the hardest humanities subjects because of its technical content.
Why it's hard
Students need to be extremely accurate in Law. You must have a thorough understanding of the following topics, including how they combine, so you can apply them to new scenarios:
- Statutes
- Legal principles
- Case names
- Judicial reasoning
- Precedent systems
The format for all exam boards for A Levels is problem-question. You'll be given a fictional scenario that involves crimes, torts, or disputes. To reach a justified conclusion, you need to find the relevant legal principles, explain and apply them. Students often lose marks by finding the correct law, but not applying it accurately to the facts in the problem.
Students need an analytical approach to essay writing, showing depth and evaluation. This includes critiquing legal concepts, assessing their effectiveness, discussing reforms, and delivering a balanced argument.
Legal reasoning is abstract and can be hard for students to understand. You need to carefully interpret liability, mens rea, duty of care, the separation of powers, the role of precedent, and others. You also need to be able to look at the picture and understand why the law operates the way it does, and how it evolves through judicial decisions and parliamentary reform.
Perhaps the hardest aspect of this course is that students will have no prior experience. There is a big learning curve in the first term, particularly learning legal vocabulary and case structures.
6. Maths
Maths A Level is the most popular A Level, with 112,138 taking the subject in 2025. It has a fail rate of 3.53% and 41.70% received a top A or A star grading. Despite it being a core subject, there is a big jump in abstraction and the speed of the course, even for students who excelled in GCSE.
Why it's hard
The topic is far more complex than GCSE. New branches of Maths are introduced. This includes:
- Calculus
- Advanced trigonometry
- Exponentials and logarithms
- Binomial expansions
- Series
- Sophisticated approaches to algebra and functions
Problem-solving and applied thinking are prioritised over procedure in exam questions. You will need to show mult-step reasoning and find the correct method to answer the problem. Small mistakes can have a big effect on your marks, such as an algebraic error affecting the final answer.
A particularly challenging topic is "Mechanics and Statistics". For the former, you need to apply mathematical reasoning to a physical system. For statistics, meanwhile, you need to have a solid grasp of the new topics of distributions, hypothesis testing, data interpretation, and probability.
If you are set on Maths, TeachTutti has experienced Maths A Level tutors who can help you navigate the course. Tuition can be in person or online, and every tutor has an enhanced DBS check.
7. Physical Education
Physical Education (PE) is often underestimated as an A Level. This is because people disregard the practical component. There was a lower take-up of 13,494, with 3.06% failing PE. 18.65% got a top mark for the subject. The difficulty lies in the amount of theory students need to learn, as well as the standard of academic writing, which can be underestimated by candidates.
Why it's hard
Physical Education combines scientific study and written work. Some of the topics resemble Biology and can be demanding if the student doesn't have a strong background in science. This includes:
- Anatomy
- Physiology
- Biomechanics
- Energy systems
- Muscle contraction
- Motion analysis
- Cardiovascular and respiratory responses
Sports psychology and skill acquisition are explored in detail, including theories on motivation, arousal, information processing, feedback, and motor learning. These abstract concepts need to be applied to sporting scenarios, using the correct jargon with structured arguments.
The amount of essay writing can be a surprise. Students have to give detailed answers in exam questions, leaning into theoretical understanding and sporting examples.
There is a performance assessment and evaluative analysis task (NEA). You have to perform in one sport and show performance analysis that's backed up by physiological and psychological theory.
8. Psychology
Psychology is a popular course, with 75,943 candidates. 2.97% failed the subject in 2025, while 19.4% received top marks. It combines science, statistical understanding, and a strong focus on essay writing.
Why it's hard
There is a significant volume of content to learn. There are numerous studies, theories and approaches for each topic, which have to be recalled in detail, including the findings, procedures, sample characteristics and limitations. These topics include:
- Social influence
- Memory
- Psychopathology
- Biopsychology
- Attachment
- Research methods
There is a strong science focus, which may surprise some. For example, the biopsychology unit introduces neural structures, brain functions, synaptic transmissions, and hormonal systems. The research methods need to show an understanding of experimental design, controls, reliability, validity, ethics, and data handling. The same is true of statistics, which includes an understanding of measures of central tendency and dispersion, correlations, and inferential tests.
There is a strong focus on essay writing and evaluation in exams. Answers need to be well-structured, including explanations, evidence, critiques, and reasoned conclusions. To get high marks, you need to recall information and apply it to scenarios with critical thinking.
As with other subjects on this list, students enter Psychology with no previous study. This means there is a steep learning curve in the first term.
9. Design & Technology (D&T)
This is a creative-based subject with 10,576 candidates in 2025. There was a failure rate of 2.94% and 19.25% received an A or A* grade. Students tend to underestimate the subject, which includes technical theory and requires analytical thinking alongside the extensive coursework project.
Why it's hard
The technical content covers engineering principles and design techniques. This includes:
- Material properties
- Manufacturing processes
- Mechanical systems
- Environmental impact
- Ergonomics
- CAD/CAM technologies
- Design evaluation
There is a significant design-and-make NEA project. Students need to find a real-world problem, develop prototypes, justify materials and manufacturing decisions, and test their solution. Finally, they have to compile a portfolio that documents the entire design process. It is very time-intensive and runs throughout the course.
The written exams expect the students to display technical knowledge when analysing unfamiliar designs. They may need to recognise the needs of the user, evaluate the product, or suggest design solutions.
Perhaps the overall difficulty is the balance between creativity and technical accuracy. Students who thrive creatively may struggle with the scientific aspects, and vice versa. Having a balanced set of skills, typically requiring the student to "level up" one aspect of their skill-set, is crucial to a high mark in D&T.
10. Business Studies
45,235 candidates took Business Studies in 2025. There is a perception that the subject is more accessible than traditional academic subjects, with 16.58% of candidates achieving top marks. However, there were also 2.08% students who failed the subject.
Why it's hard
Students need to display a wide range of business functions, each with its own models, terminology, calculations and frameworks. This includes:
- Marketing
- Finance
- Operations
- Human resources
- Strategic decision-making
Exams require you to apply information rather than memorise. Questions are typically case studies, where you need to analyse scenarios, evaluate decisions and make recommendations.
There is a strong maths focus in financial documents. Students have to calculate ratios, assess investment decisions, and analyse costs and revenues. You need to show clear reasoning and attention to detail.
Extended writing is required in the assessment. Student answers need to show balanced evaluation, with a consideration of different viewpoints in evidence-based conclusions.
The failure rate of this subject is partly due to students taking the subject for different reasons. Some will be looking for an academic subject, while others intend to pursue business at university and as a possible career.
What is the hardest A Level exam board?
It's important to bear in mind that every exam board follows the same national subject specifications. However, each board will have differences in how they assess you, including the exam structure, how questions are phrased, or the amount of practical and extended-response work. These differences can affect the student, depending on their strengths and weaknesses.
We haven't given an official ranking for the exam boards. Instead, we have given an overview of each, focusing on their reputation from student feedback and teacher experience.
AQA
This is the most widely used exam board. It has a clear layout and accessible wording.
Particular notes:
- Longer questions that are more applied. This is particularly true in the sciences and social sciences
- A focus on extended responses
- Biology and psychology papers are data-heavy
- These exams often need an exact interpretation of unfamiliar scenarios. This is instead of asking for memorised content, which makes top grades harder to achieve
Edexcel
This is one of the hardest exam boards for STEM subjects, particularly Maths and Further Maths.
Particular notes:
- Problems are often multi-step, linking several topics in one question
- Problem-solving is prioritised over routine practice
- There is a greater focus on and reward for algebraic manipulation
- The Science papers tend to be more formula-driven and quantitative
OCR
OCR is considered conceptually demanding by students and teachers.
Particular notes:
- It asks abstract questions that are less predictable
- Applied contexts are often used, requiring flexible thinking
- The wording for questions is considered "trickier" than other exam boards
- Philosophy and Ethics papers, in particular, require sophisticated arguments and evaluation
Eduqas / WJEC
In England, this exam board is called Eduqas, while it is known as WJEC in Wales. It is seen as fair and well-structured. The difficulty level varies by subject.
Particular notes:
- The English exams for Eduqas (England) are usually broad, interpretive essay prompts. Some students may find this open-ended and demanding
- Science subjects for WJEC papers (Wales) can require more factual answers. This may benefit some students over others, depending on their memory retention for key facts and figures
CAIE (Cambridge International)
The Cambridge International board isn't used in most UK state schools. It is more commonly used in independent schools and international colleges.
Particular notes:
- A thorough, traditional assessment style
- The practical questions in Science subjects are demanding
- Humanities subjects have longer, essay-focused exams
- CAIE papers are considered the hardest exams internationally due to their focus on depth rather than breadth
Conclusion - Hardest A Level subjects
Ranking the difficulty of A-Levels is subjective and varies depending on the individual. However, national exam data and long-term subject trends show that certain courses are considered more challenging generally to students. This can be for a variety of factors, such as requiring stronger analytical skills or heavier workloads. Science subjects, including Physics and Chemistry, and quantitative subjects, like Maths and Computing, are consistently at the top of the difficulty rankings. Meanwhile, Creative subjects present their own unique challenges, such as technical performances that are a key assessment in Music, or the critical arguments in Politics.
The difficulty ranking in this article is not intended to dissuade students, but to advise and prepare them when making an informed decision. Meanwhile, exam boards have a difference in style and emphasis, but it should not be a decisive factor when choosing a subject. Success will ultimately come from effort and, crucially, a strong interest in the course, regardless of the difficulty.
