The process of selecting which subjects you want to study at A-Level can be one of the most important and nerve-wracking decisions in your life. Your A-Levels make up the basis of your university education and future pursuits, and you want to make sure you’re choosing the subjects which you are both passionate about and tend to perform well in. 

Choosing your A-Levels is a subjective experience, and you’ll know which subjects you believe are best suited to your natural ability and interests. This doesn’t mean that any A-Levels are ‘easy.’ In fact all A-Levels are much harder when compared to their GCSE counterparts. They’re are deigned to push your abilities and test your academic limits. These subjects have been selected based on their high pass rates and number of students achieving top grades.

10. Geography

Geography is a popular subject for students to take at A-Level, thanks to its high pass rates (98.7%), ability to complement a range of different subjects, and engaging content. When you’re learning a subject that you find interesting, it’s often much easier to engage in your learning and absorb the information.

Assessment usually consists of two written exams as well as a field data assessment. Although this non-examination part may require some basic knowledge of data analysis and Mathematics, the equations you need to use are fairly easy to understand and apply - often leading to lots of easy pass marks.

9. Law

Coming in at position number 9 on our list of easiest A-Levels is Law. With a pass rate a little over 96%, it definitely isn’t as simple as breezing through. But even still, on paper, it seems to be one of the subjects that most students tend to pass.

According to previous students, the course content itself isn’t too difficult to understand, but it is heavy going in terms of requiring students to commit to memory for the exams. As such, those who tend to find it an ‘easy’ subject tend to have good memory retention strategies and are willing to dedicate time to learning that content off by heart.

In terms of the assessment involved with A-Level Law, it’s all exam-based, which is great news for those who tend to thrive under the pressure of the examination hall. These exams offer lots of multiple choice and short answer questions, as well as a few extended writing questions. 

8. Archaeology

With a pass rate at nearly 98%, Archaeology is considered to be one of the easiest A-Level subjects. However, it’s also a subject which isn’t available at all schools, meaning it’s also one of the least popular subjects for students to pursue at A-Level. 

It offers the opportunity to conduct lots of independent research, diving into the archives to learn more about the period or people that you are studying. This is for those who thrive at completing research project-style work, examiners look for a variety of sources, analysis, and knowledge of your topic within a wider context. As long as you have a passion for examining and writing about a variety of sources - you’ll likely excel at Archaeology A-Level.

7. Media Studies

Another subject which often features on lists of easiest A-Levels is Media Studies, thanks to its continued relevance in daily society and opportunity for creative exploration and expression. 

For those with a passion for creativity, Media Studies can be a fantastic A-Level option. Around a quarter of your final grading will be based on a single piece of media that you’ve produced. You’ll be asked to analyse and assess your own work, you will be able to offer lots of detail and insight into why you made the creative choices you did. 

On top of this, Media Studies can be a highly engaging course to study, from learning about advertising, social media, and production; it’s likely that you are already very engaged with the materials you’ll be learning about which could help you achieve higher grades.

 

6. Sociology

Sociology has a pass rate of 98% and like its counterpart Psychology, you are required to memorise lots of Sociology-specific terminology and studies. So, this would be a great choice for you if you are good at memorising specific vocabulary, definitions, names, and figures. 

You will learn how to master the art of essay writing and spend a lot of time independently revising the core concepts and terminology during your A-Level in Sociology .

5. Classical Civilisation

A rarer, although highly-rated subject on our list of easiest A-Levels is Classical Civilisation. Students with a particular interest in the classical, as well as a preference for subjects which require a more subjective approach often thrive at Classical Civilisation, as it’s both engaging and assessed on your own interpretations. 

The subject involves the study of ancient Greek and Roman Civilisation, encompassing a large variety of disciplines including Literature, History, Archaeology, and Art History. In fact, as long as you have a passion for observing and analysing artefacts, text, and images, it’s quite possible that you will excel at this subject. A lot of the assessment revolves around understanding and learning the stories behind some of these disciplines, which can be easy to wrap your head around. 

4. Information Technology (IT)

Much of the content you need to know is around the ‘fundamentals’ of the subject, including programming, data structures, and the systems themselves. However, knowledge of programming and data are limited at IT level, as more of this content is covered in Computer Science A-Levels. Therefore, make sure you research both IT and Computer Science A-Level to see which content interests you the most.

Part of your assessment will also focus on looking at IT in the wider context of how it’s used. For example, popular modules on A-Level syllabi include; the consequences of using computing, how it affects our communication and networking, and how computing can be used to problem solve.

3. Religious Studies

With a pass rate of around 99%, it’s clear why Religious Studies is considered to be one of the easier A-Levels. It’s also one of the most popular A-Levels for students to uptake, mainly due to the wide range of transferable skills you can develop from it, thanks to its essay-based assessment format.

Students are required to study different aspects of religious beliefs, testing, values and practices of around five religions, usually including: Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism. Assessments are largely opinion-based, backed by your ability to write them in a clear and concise manner. As long as you can master the art of the essay and form a balanced argument, you’ll be well on your way to securing a great grade.

2. Food Studies

Taking us into our top two easiest A-Levels is Food Studies, which is mainly down to its practical assessments and application - which is favoured by students who tend to struggle with essay writing and other lengthy assignments. 

Fortunately, the practical aspect of the assessment can also be rehearsed too, allowing students to enter the exam being as prepared as possible. Unlike other subjects where you revise lots of content and hope that your favourite topics come up in the exam, Food Studies really does test you on what you know. You’ll have the opportunity to rehearse how to correctly prepare food in a safe and hygienic way, which your examiner will assess you on.

There is also a written paper. Topics you’ll likely cover include handling food safely, creating healthy and nutritional meals, as well as the fundamentals of the food industry. This will mean some memorising of facts such as the appropriate temperatures to store food at safely, but facts which are often quite easy to remember with enough practice. 

1. Film Studies

So, now we’ve reached position number 1, it’s time to announce: What is statistically the easiest A-Level?

Many argue that Film Studies is the easiest A-Level to study, especially if you already are already a film buff. Much of your studies will include analysing what are considered to be some of the greatest films in history.

Now, before you dart off and start researching where you can study Film Studies A-Level, it’s worth noting that your classes won’t just revolve around watching and talking about films. In fact, there’s a lot more that goes into it. 

During your course, you’re typically asked to watch a handful of films from different eras, analysing the themes, characters, camera work, and all the other interesting thinking behind why the creative teams made the decisions they did.

Of course, for movie lovers, course content like this can be deeply engaging, and therefore feel like less of a ‘chore’ to learn. You’ll look at the films as a product of the context of their time; what social, political, and creative movements have influenced the directors, and what the wider reaction was to the film then and as it has aged throughout the decades. 

For those looking for an extra creative challenge, some course providers many even give you the opportunity to create your own project; a short film or screenplay, which you will have carefully plotted and established storyboards for. You’ll be asked to write an evaluation of your work, which many find easier than traditional essay writing; you’ll be dissecting your own work, drawing on your own influences to explain why you’ve created the piece you have.

Summary

It goes without saying that A-Levels are not easy academic pursuits. By nature, they are challenging; designed to test your academic abilities and prepare you for further study at university. But with that being said, there are some subjects which generally have high pass rates and rumoured by students to be ‘easier’ than sothers. 

In any sense, when choosing your A-Levels, you really need to assess the subjects in accordance to your own learning style and interests. As long as you choose subjects which you enjoy, can support your university studies, and are on target to perform well in at GCSE, you should be well on your way to making the right decision.

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