A Level Pathway Checker
This tool helps you understand if your chosen A levels will meet university requirements for your intended career path. Select your career goal and A levels below to see if your choices align with what universities actually require.
Everyone talks about which A levels are the hardest. But fewer people admit the truth: some subjects are quietly looked down on - not because they’re easy, but because they’re misunderstood. If you’re taking Media Studies, Business Studies, or General Studies, you’ve probably heard the snickers. "That’s not a real subject," they say. "You’re just going to be a barista."
Why Some A Levels Get Disrespected
The stigma isn’t about the work. It’s about old ideas. In the 1980s, universities and employers started favoring what they called "facilitating subjects" - maths, physics, chemistry, biology, English, history, geography, and modern languages. These were seen as gateways to top degrees. Everything else? Treated like a backup plan.
Fast forward to 2025, and that mindset still lingers. A-level Media Studies gets called "just watching TV." Business Studies is dismissed as "common sense with a textbook." And General Studies? Many still think it’s a filler subject for students who couldn’t pick a real one.
But here’s the thing: those subjects don’t exist because they’re easy. They exist because they teach real skills. Media Studies isn’t about watching Netflix. It’s about analyzing power structures, understanding visual rhetoric, and learning how narratives shape public opinion. Business Studies isn’t about selling lemonade. It’s about financial literacy, risk assessment, and organizational behavior - all of which are critical in today’s economy.
The Subjects Most Often Dismissed
Let’s be clear: no A level is "bad." But some are consistently undervalued. Based on feedback from university admissions tutors, career advisors, and students themselves, these five are the most frequently looked down on:
- Media Studies - Often called "not academic enough," despite requiring critical analysis, research, and essay writing at a high level.
- Business Studies - Mistaken for "easy money-making," when it actually covers accounting, marketing, HR, and economic theory.
- General Studies - Once a standalone subject, now mostly phased out, but still remembered as the punchline of A level jokes.
- Psychology - Surprisingly, this is one of the most mocked. People think it’s "just reading about why people act weird." But it’s a science with stats, research methods, and neurobiology.
- Performing Arts - Drama, Music, and Dance get labeled "not serious" - even though they demand discipline, creativity, and performance under pressure.
These subjects are often the ones students choose because they’re passionate about them. And that’s exactly why they’re worth taking.
What Universities Actually Think
Here’s where the myth breaks down. Universities don’t blacklist these subjects - not anymore. A 2024 analysis by UCAS showed that students with A levels in Media Studies, Psychology, and Business Studies were accepted into top universities at nearly the same rate as those with traditional subjects - as long as they met the grade requirements.
At University College London, the admissions team openly states: "We don’t rank subjects. We look at grades, personal statements, and whether the applicant can think critically." At Manchester, they’ve published a guide saying: "A level Psychology is as valid as Biology for our neuroscience program."
Even Oxbridge - the usual suspects for elitism - now accept students with non-traditional A levels for a wide range of degrees. A student with A levels in Media Studies and Psychology got into Cambridge for Social Anthropology last year. Another with Business Studies and English Literature went to LSE for Economics.
The real barrier? Not the subject. It’s the grade. If you get a C in Media Studies, you’ll struggle. If you get an A*, you’ll open doors most people never even consider.
Why Employers Care Less Than You Think
Forget what your grandad says about "getting a proper degree." Today’s employers care about skills, not subject labels. A 2025 survey by the Confederation of British Industry found that 78% of hiring managers said they valued communication, problem-solving, and adaptability more than the specific A levels a candidate took.
Think about it. Who’s more likely to get hired in marketing? The person with an A in Business Studies who ran a school podcast and analyzed Instagram trends - or the one with an A in Physics who never wrote a single report?
Companies like Google, Deloitte, and even the NHS now use skills-based hiring. They ask: "What have you done? What can you fix? What did you learn?" Not: "What A levels did you take?"
What Happens When You Take a "Less Respected" Subject
Let’s say you take Media Studies. You’ll learn:
- How to analyze news bias and misinformation
- How to structure arguments with evidence
- How to use digital tools for content creation
- How to meet deadlines under pressure
That’s not fluffy. That’s career-ready.
Same with Psychology. You’ll learn how to design surveys, interpret data, understand human behavior under stress, and write structured reports. These are the exact skills needed in HR, UX design, education, and even law.
And Business Studies? You’ll understand cash flow, profit margins, customer segmentation, and supply chains. You’ll know how to read a balance sheet. That’s more useful than memorizing the periodic table if you ever want to start a business - or even just manage your own finances.
These subjects don’t make you less smart. They make you differently smart.
When the Stigma Actually Matters
Let’s not pretend the stigma doesn’t exist. It does. Some teachers still say, "You should’ve taken History instead." Some parents still worry about "what people will think." And yes, a few universities - especially for highly competitive courses like Medicine or Engineering - still prefer traditional science or maths backgrounds.
If you’re aiming for Medicine, you need Chemistry and Biology. No way around it. If you want to study Engineering, you need Maths and Physics. That’s not bias - it’s requirement.
But if you want to study Psychology, Sociology, Law, Journalism, Marketing, or even Computer Science? Your A level in Media Studies or Business Studies won’t hold you back. In fact, it might make your application stand out.
What to Do If You’re Taking a "Less Respected" Subject
If you’re taking one of these subjects, here’s how to turn perception into power:
- Own it. Don’t apologize for your choices. Say: "I chose this because I’m interested in how media shapes culture," or "I want to understand how businesses actually work."
- Connect it to your future. In your personal statement, explain how your subject helped you develop skills. "My Media Studies project on misinformation taught me how to verify sources - a skill I’ve used in my school newspaper."
- Build a portfolio. If you’re into Media Studies, make a short film or podcast. If it’s Business Studies, run a small online shop or analyze a local brand. Show, don’t just tell.
- Pair it wisely. Don’t take three "non-traditional" subjects if you’re applying to a STEM degree. Mix one with a strong academic subject. For example: Psychology + Biology + Maths opens more doors than Psychology + Media + General Studies.
- Ignore the noise. People who judge your A levels usually haven’t taken them. Their opinions are based on stereotypes, not facts.
The Bigger Picture
The real problem isn’t the subjects. It’s the idea that only certain types of thinking are valuable. A-levels were never meant to be a hierarchy. They were meant to let students explore what they care about - and build skills that last a lifetime.
Some of the most successful people in tech, media, and social change didn’t take the "right" A levels. They took the ones that made them curious. And that curiosity led them to places no textbook ever could.
If you’re choosing your A levels right now, don’t pick based on what’s respected. Pick based on what you’re willing to work hard at. Because the only subject that truly matters is the one you’ll give your best to.
Are General Studies A levels still available?
General Studies is no longer offered as a standalone A level by major exam boards like AQA, Edexcel, or OCR. It was phased out between 2017 and 2020 because it was seen as lacking academic depth. Some schools still offer it as an AS level or as an enrichment course, but it doesn’t count toward university entry requirements anymore.
Can I get into university with only non-traditional A levels?
Yes - but it depends on the course. For degrees like Psychology, Law, Media, or Business, three non-traditional A levels (e.g., Media Studies, Psychology, Business) are perfectly acceptable. For STEM or medical courses, you’ll need at least two traditional subjects like Maths and Science. Always check the specific entry requirements for your chosen university and course.
Do employers care if I took Business Studies instead of Economics?
Most don’t. Employers care more about your skills, experience, and attitude. Business Studies teaches practical skills like budgeting, marketing, and teamwork - all highly relevant to entry-level roles. Economics is more theoretical and often preferred for finance or research roles. But for 90% of jobs, the difference doesn’t matter.
Is Psychology an easy A level?
No. Psychology is one of the most demanding A levels in terms of essay writing and data analysis. You need to memorize studies, evaluate research methods, and write structured arguments. It’s not about "reading about behavior" - it’s about applying scientific principles to human actions. Its pass rate is similar to Biology and Chemistry.
Should I drop a "less respected" subject if I’m struggling?
Only if you’re consistently failing and it’s dragging your grades down. If you’re getting a B or above, keep it. A strong grade in a subject you care about is more valuable than a mediocre grade in a "respected" one. Universities look at your overall profile - passion and performance matter more than labels.
If you’re choosing your A levels, remember: the most respected thing you can do isn’t picking a subject everyone thinks is smart. It’s picking one that makes you curious enough to work hard - and then proving, through your results, that it was worth it.