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How to Choose A-Level Subjects: A Guide for Expat Parents
November 14, 2026 · by Top A Level Tutors
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Choosing A-Level subjects is one of the first big academic decisions a secondary school student makes. For expat families, the choice can feel even bigger: A-Levels may be new to you, and the subjects your child picks at 16 will shape their university options in the UK, Thailand and beyond.
A note from BKK Families: in Bangkok, most British-curriculum international schools take students through IGCSE at 16 and then A-Levels in the final two years, though some, Bangkok Patana among them, offer the IB Diploma instead. Our guide to British curriculum schools in Bangkok shows which route each school follows.
Start with where your child wants to end up. The most useful starting point is not “which subjects are easiest” but “which subjects keep the right doors open”. Many degree courses name required A-Level subjects, and the requirements vary by university and course. For example, current UCAS listings show medicine degrees commonly require Chemistry, and many also require Biology or another science or Maths, while engineering degrees commonly require Maths and Physics. If your child has a degree or career in mind, look up the current entry requirements for a few real courses now, not in the final year. UCAS course pages list them, and the Russell Group’s Informed Choices website lets you check which degrees different A-Level subjects lead to.
If they do not know yet, that is normal. Rather than any fixed list of “approved” subjects (the Russell Group retired its old list some years ago), the practical advice is to keep a balanced combination of subjects your child is genuinely good at and enjoys, and to check that the combination does not close off the broad areas they might want.
Play to genuine strengths. A-Levels go into real depth, so interest matters as much as grades. A student who enjoys a subject is more likely to sustain the independent study it demands. Look at which GCSE or IGCSE subjects your child actually engages with, not just the ones they score well in.
Three strong subjects beat four stretched ones. Most universities make offers on three A-Levels. It is also worth checking that the combination tells a coherent story for the courses your child might target, for example Maths and Physics alongside Computer Science for technical degrees.
Understand the exam boards. International schools may follow different exam boards, such as Cambridge International, Edexcel International or Oxford AQA, and the content and assessment style differ between them. Knowing which board your child sits helps with everything from textbooks to past papers.
Get support early. The step up from IGCSE to A-Level is bigger than many students expect. If your child is finding the pace difficult, it is worth acting early in the course rather than waiting for the final exams.
About Top A Level Tutors: Top A Level Tutors provides online one-to-one tutoring for A-Level, AS, GCSE and IGCSE students in the UK and worldwide, covering UK and international exam boards. Learn more at www.topaleveltutors.com.