The Ultimate Guide to A-Levels: Subject Strategy, IBDP Comparison, and Choosing Your 3 Life-Defining Subjects

For students finishing Year 11 (IGCSE) at British-style international schools or UK boarding schools, and for their parents, choosing a path for Year 12 is a major turning point.

• IBDP (International Baccalaureate): A holistic approach with six subjects plus core requirements.
• A-Level (British System): Specialize and master just 3-4 subjects.

Because university admission is determined by just three subjects, A-Levels can be the most powerful pathway for students who want to "build on their strengths" or "already know their future career path."

However, this freedom also means that a "mistake in subject selection (a poor subject combination)" can often be detrimental.

In this article, we'll explain the A-Level system, compare it with the IBDP, and outline "winning subject strategies" for aiming at medical school or top universities, based on the latest admissions data.

1. The Basic Structure of A-Levels: Becoming a "Specialist" at 16

A-Levels (Advanced Level) are the UK's university entrance qualification exams. They are typically studied over two years in Year 12 and 13.

A Two-Stage Examination Structure (AS / A2)

A-Levels are composed of two parts.

1. AS Level (Year 12): The first-year content. Students typically choose and are examined on four subjects.
2. A2 Level (Year 13): The second-year content (more advanced). Students narrow down to three subjects from their AS choices and take final exams.

   *The final A-Level grade (A* to E) is determined by the combined score of AS and A2.

The Difference Between "Linear" and "Modular" Systems

This is a crucial point.

• UK Domestic A-Levels (Linear): Students take one final set of exams at the end of the two-year course.
• International A-Levels (Modular): Common in international schools. Students are examined on individual units and can retake them multiple times.

The modular system offers the advantage of allowing students to improve their scores until they are satisfied, making it strategically easier to aim for high grades (A*) if used effectively.

2. IBDP vs. A-Level: Which is the Right Fit for You?

This is a choice many families struggle with. It's not about which is better or worse, but a matter of "fit" or "student type."

Conclusion: For a student who is a math genius but struggles greatly with literature or history, the IBDP can be a nightmare. With A-Levels, however, they could potentially get into Oxford with a powerful combination of Maths, Physics, and Chemistry.

3. The "Life-Defining" Subject Selection Strategy (Subject Combinations)

The biggest pitfall of A-Levels is "choosing subjects you love, only to find you don't meet university entry requirements."

Especially if you're aiming for top universities (the Russell Group), it's a golden rule to choose what they call "facilitating subjects."

Winning Subject Combinations by University Major

"Soft Subjects" to Avoid

Subjects like Media Studies, Business Studies, Photography, and Drama are considered "academically less rigorous" (or "soft") by some traditional universities, and there's a risk they won't be valued as highly, even with an A* grade.

It's fine to take one as a fourth subject for interest, but it's safer to ensure your main three subjects are "facilitating subjects" (e.g., Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, History, Geography, English Literature, Languages).

4. A Surprising Advantage for US and Japanese University Applications

Do you think A-Levels are only for UK universities? In fact, they are highly respected globally.

• United States: Top universities like Harvard and MIT hold A-Levels in high regard. Furthermore, some A-Level subjects can be recognized as university credits, offering the benefit of early graduation or advanced standing.
• Japan: A-Level scores (e.g., AAA or higher) are accepted as application qualifications for returnee student admissions at universities like the University of Tokyo, Kyoto University, and medical schools. The deep subject knowledge from A-Levels is particularly welcomed in science and engineering faculties as it directly applies to university-level studies.

5. Conclusion: Get Expert Support to Achieve an A* (90%+)

Because there are fewer subjects in A-Levels, the difficulty and required level of mastery for each subject are even higher than in the IBDP.

To achieve an "A* (90% or above)," the benchmark for top university offers, there is no room for minor calculation errors or flaws in written arguments.

• "I can't understand the difficult Further Maths problems with just my school lessons."
• "I don't know what the examiners are looking for to get an A grade in my Economics essays."

These are challenges that general tutors or English conversation schools cannot address.

ELT | The Strengths of Our Specialist A-Level Tutoring

Founded in London with nearly 40 years of history, ELT is an online school specializing in the British curriculum.

• Tutor Quality: One-on-one instruction from experienced, native British tutors, including graduates from Oxford and Cambridge.
• Specialist Subject Coverage: We cover specialized subjects like Further Maths, Psychology, and Economics, for which expert tutors can be hard to find.
• Exam Board Preparation: We provide targeted past-paper practice tailored to your child's specific exam board, such as CIE or Edexcel (including retake strategies for the modular system).

ELT provides the strategy and academic support to help you open doors to the world with your "three best subjects."