Most Common A Level Combinations

There are a lot of factors to take into consideration when selecting your combination of A Levels. Other than your areas of academic strength and interest, you need to factor in the number of “facilitating subjects” in your mix, as well as the number of “soft subjects”.

The choice you make can have implications on your workload, your eligibility for certain degree courses and your future careers. Although there are popular combinations, it does not mean that you have to follow them or be restricted by them. 

Key Takeaways

• The most common A-Level combination nationally is Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics. This combination is more than twice as popular as the second placed combination of Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics.

• Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) combinations dominate the most popular combinations and include Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics, and Biology, Chemistry and Psychology, which offer flexibility for science, healthcare and social-science degrees. 

• Students often gravitate towards combinations of “facilitating subjects”. These are viewed as being more academically rigorous or preferred by the top universities.

• While common combinations provide a helpful guide, the “best” mix depends on your individual strengths, interests, and aspirations.

Why A Level Subject Combinations Matter

Choosing the right mix of A-Level subjects is more than picking the subjects you did best in at GCSE. It can shape your whole academic future and impact your career flexibility. The combination you pick affects:

• University eligibility: Many degree courses (especially in sciences, medicine or engineering) require specific subjects

• Subject balance & workload: A combination of very similar subjects (e.g. three sciences) might double down on one skillset, while mixing humanities and sciences keeps options open and demonstrates a broader academic ability.

• Future flexibility: A carefully chosen trio can leave multiple doors open. This can be useful if you’re undecided on where your future lies and want to keep your options as open as possible. Selecting a narrow set of subjects, such as all sciences, may limit your choices later.

Most Popular A Level Combinations in the UK

According to the National Pupil Database (NPD) (opens in a new tab), these were the most popular A Level combinations in 2019: 

Commentary on Patterns

• Strong dominance of STEM: The top combinations feature subjects that are exclusively STEM. The first non-STEM subject to appear is Geography in the 7th most popular combination.

• STEM breadth: Combinations like Chemistry + Maths + Physics or Further Maths + Maths + Physics provide broad grounding across maths and physical sciences, giving flexibility for multiple STEM pathways.

• Life sciences & social science crossover: The presence of Biology + Chemistry + Psychology suggests that many students aim for interdisciplinary degrees — e.g. biomedical sciences, psychology with a biological focus, or health-related social sciences.

• Balanced mixes also exist: Though less frequent than STEM trios, combinations including humanities or social science subjects (e.g. English Lit, History, Psychology) still feature. These are often selected by students who want balance or are aiming for non-STEM degrees and want to retain their analytical and essay-writing skills.

Facilitating Subjects and Why They’re Popular

The term “facilitating subjects” has not been used by universities since 2019 but comes from guidance used by the Russell Group (opens in a new tab)of institutions. It is used to describe A Levels that are viewed by universities as being academically rigorous, widely regarded as core academic disciplines and accepted across a broad range of degree courses. 

The term stopped being used as students began interpreting the list of facilitating subjects as being exclusive. The misconception took hold that A Levels in non-facilitating - or ‘soft’ subjects - would not be valued by the top universities. 

Why students gravitate to them

• They are viewed as building strong academic foundations and give a good grounding in critical thinking, mathematical reasoning, scientific literacy

• They are perceived to be highly-valued by universities.

• They maximise flexibility and reduce the risk of locking yourself out of certain degrees.

Examples & Common Pairings

The core facilitating subjects are seen as: 

• Sciences: Biology, Chemistry, Physics

• Maths: Mathematics, Further Mathematics

• Humanities: English Literature, History, Geography

• Languages: Modern & Classical Languages 

Common facilitating-heavy combinations among students:

• Maths + Physics + Further Maths (great for engineering, maths, physics) 

• Chemistry + Maths + Biology (ideal for medicine, biomedical sciences) 

• History + English Literature + a third facilitating subject (e.g. a science or language) — often taken by humanities-oriented students seeking breadth. 

A Level Subject Combinations by Intended Degree or Career

If you have a certain career in mind, there are some highly recommended and commonly used A Level combinations.

Medicine

Common combination: Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics (or Physics)

• This combination matches the entry expectations of many medical and biomedical-type courses. The science grounding is obviously essential, while mathematics supports data analysis and critical thinking. 

• Some students substitute Physics for Maths or even take additional Physics. This can be helpful for medical courses with a strong chemistry/physics component.

Engineering

Common combination: Further Mathematics, Mathematics, Physics or Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics

• The Further Mathematics, Mathematics and Physics trio provides the mathematical reasoning, problem-solving and physical science knowledge that are fundamental to nearly all engineering disciplines. 

• Adding Chemistry broadens the base and is particularly useful for chemical engineering, materials science or general science-based engineering courses. 

Law

Common combination: English Literature, History, and one facilitating subject such as Mathematics, a language, or a science)

• Humanities-heavy combinations like History + English Literature build strengths in writing, analysis and critical thinking. These are skills that are highly valued in law. Many also add a third subject, such as Maths or a language, to demonstrate their versatility of intellect and to provide flexibility if they decide on a change of direction.

• Some students decide to mix in a social science or Economics if they are interested in commercial law or broader social policy contexts.

Psychology

Common combination: Biology, Chemistry, Psychology  or Psychology, Mathematics, Biology.

• Psychology as a third subject alongside sciences from the facilitating subject list can support applications to clinical psychology, neuroscience or health-adjacent social science courses. Combinations like Biology + Chemistry + Psychology reflect this interdisciplinary interest. 

• Alternatively, pairing Psychology with Maths and Biology (or another facilitating subject) offers both scientific underpinning and analytical rigour. 

Business or Economics

Common combination: Mathematics, Economics, and third subject such as Business Studies, Psychology, History or a language

• A Level Mathematics is viewed as essential for economics/business courses. When combined with Economics and a humanities/social-science subject, this offers quantitative strength plus contextual understanding. 

• Some students opt for Mathematics, Physics, Economics or Business to keep doors open for more technical degrees such as data science.

Humanities or Arts

Common combination: English Literature, History, Geography (or a language, a social science, or a science)

• For arts/humanities degrees, mixing essay-based subjects such as History and English Literature with another facilitating subject like Mathematics, a science or a language gives a blend of analytical, writing and general academic skills. At the same time, it preserves flexibility and doesn’t put all your eggs in one basket. 

• Some institutions favour a balanced approach: two broadly “academic” A Levels plus a third in a contrasting area to show breadth. 

Combinations to Approach with Caution

While many subject combinations are popular for good reason, some may inadvertently limit future options or be overly narrow.

These include:

• Three closely related humanities/social-science subjects — e.g. History, Sociology, Psychology. This choice might prevent you from accessing science, engineering or maths-heavy degree courses if you decide to switch later.

• Three niche or highly specialist subjects — e.g. Art & Design, Drama, Media Studies: these may lack the facilitating-subjects that universities appreciate and offer less flexibility for switching to different degree fields.

• Lack of balance between skills — Combining only sciences without any humanities/social science means that only STEM-only degrees will be available to you.

• Similarly, combining only soft/social subjects may mean the doors to STEM or data-driven degrees are closed to you.

What to Do If You’re Still Unsure

• Talk to teachers or a careers advisor. They can help you map your interests, strengths and ambitions to realistic subject combinations and potential university courses.

• Prioritise subjects you enjoy and excel in. Passion for and aptitude in a subject matter more than following what’s “popular.” It’s easier to perform well in a subject you engage with and enjoy.

• Think about future flexibility, not just a single goal. If you’re unsure what you might want to study or do later, choose a combination that keeps as many doors open as possible.

• Read our guide on choosing your A Level subjects.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do universities prefer certain A Level combinations?

Many universities, especially Russell Group (opens in a new tab) universities, favour applicants with facilitating subjects. 

The facilitating subjects are Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics) Maths (Mathematics, Further Mathematics), Humanities (English Literature, History, Geography) and Languages (Modern & Classical). They favour these subjects because they believe they demonstrate academic rigour and versatility. 

However, there's no universal “preferred” combination — and students who excel in non-standard trios can still be accepted, especially if their chosen subjects suit their intended degree. 

Is it okay to mix sciences and humanities?

Yes. In fact, mixing sciences and humanities or social sciences is often done as a strategic choice. It gives breadth, shows versatility, and keeps open different kinds of university courses (both STEM and non-STEM). Many students successfully combine a science with a humanities or social-science subject. 

Can I take three ‘soft’ subjects?

Soft subjects is the label sometimes given to subjects that include Media Studies, Film Studies, Drama, Theatre Studies, Business Studies, Accounting, Health and Social Care, Leisure Studies, Psychology, Sociology, Criminology, Art & Design, Photography, Music Technology and ICT (Information & Communication Technology). 

Many people do not like the term “soft” as it implies they are easier, which is not true.

There is nothing to stop you taking three A Levels that are not in the facilitating subjects category. If you’re sure you want a humanities or arts degree, that might be a good choice, but if you think you might want to switch to a STEM-based degree, having at least one “facilitating” subject can keep more doors open.

Final Thoughts

The National Pupil Database (opens in a new tab)shows that many students lean towards STEM-heavy A Level combinations. Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics are especially popular, possibly because these provide a safe, well-trodden path to medicine, sciences or engineering. But the “most common” choices are not inherently the “best” for every student.

The real “right” combination is the one that aligns with your goals, strengths and passions — while also leaving enough flexibility for your interests to grow and change. Use the popular combinations as a starting point, not a rulebook. With careful thought, balancing ambition and breadth, you can choose A Levels that keep your future as open and promising as possible.

References

The National Pupil Database (opens in a new tab)

Russell Group (opens in a new tab)