The Hardest A-Levels: Can A Tutor Help?
Shutterstock
By Zayna Dar, Founder, Shuhari Tuition
Your teenager comes home from sixth form looking defeated again. They're spending hours at their desk each night, but their confidence in further maths or physics seems to be dropping rather than growing. As a parent, you're watching them struggle with concepts that feel completely beyond your comprehension. As a result, you both feel the pressure, and you seem to have more questions than answers.
At Shuhari Tuition, we hear from concerned parents when they reach out to tell us they're watching their bright, capable children hit a wall with certain A-level subjects. "I just don't know how to support them any more," is something we get regularly, along with "They're working so hard but still not getting the grades they need for their university choices."
The reality is that some A-level subjects are genuinely more challenging than others. Government statistics show that subjects like further maths only see around 60% of students achieving a grade C or above, while physics consistently has some of the most demanding grade boundaries and pass rates across all exam boards, making university admissions all the more challenging.
The jump from GCSEs to A-level is steep in any subject, but for the most challenging disciplines like chemistry, modern languages, and history, it can feel insurmountable. These subjects need advanced analytical thinking and complex problem-solving skills, which is particularly difficult under exam conditions.
But here's what we've learned from supporting many families through these challenges: the right A-level tutor can completely transform your child's experience with even the most difficult subjects. We've seen students go from barely passing to achieving the A* grades they need for their dream places in Russell Group universities simply because they finally had someone who could break down these complex concepts in a way that made sense to them.
In this blog, we’ll explore which A-levels are genuinely the most difficult, why students find them challenging, and most importantly, how an experienced A-level tutor can help your child excel in these demanding subjects.
The Top 6 Hardest A-Levels
Our tutors have identified six A-level subjects that consistently challenge even the most academically gifted students:
1. Further maths
A-level maths is hard enough, but further maths takes the demands of the subject to a whole new level. It introduces ideas like complex numbers, matrices, and differential equations. Students study advanced calculus, sequences and series, and other components of pure mathematics. The workload is intense, with students essentially covering two A-levels' worth of content. Success requires genuine mathematical intuition and excellent exam skills. Even students who were very successful in GCSE maths feel the pressure.
2. Physics
A-level physics combines complex mathematical skills with abstract conceptual thinking in a way that can feel impossible to master. Students must understand everything from quantum mechanics to thermodynamics. They also need to apply mathematical models to real-world situations and complete practical work.
Parents often tell us their child was doing well in GCSE physics, but the A-level version feels like a completely different subject. The practicals create an additional layer of difficulty, requiring students to understand complex theoretical concepts and apply them in hands-on experiments.
3. Chemistry
Many parents are surprised when their child struggles with A-level chemistry, especially if they found GCSE manageable. However, this subject demands both extensive memorisation and sophisticated application skills. Organic chemistry needs students to picture complex 3D molecular structures. They must also predict reaction mechanisms, skills which don’t come naturally to most teenagers.
A-level chemistry can feel like learning three subjects. Physical chemistry has a mathematical dimension. Organic chemistry requires pattern recognition. Inorganic chemistry has many facts. This combination can be overwhelming, particularly when exam questions require synthesising knowledge from all three areas.
4. Modern foreign languages
A-level modern foreign languages require far more than just vocabulary and grammar knowledge. Students need to engage with complex literature, understand cultural nuances, and express sophisticated ideas both in writing and speaking.
We often help students who feel confident having casual conversations. However, they feel lost when analysing 19th-century poetry or discussing complex social issues in their target language. The cultural knowledge component often catches students off guard because they need a deep understanding of the societies they're studying, not just the linguistic skills to talk about them.
5. History
A-level history requires students to learn many facts. They must also develop advanced analytical and evaluative skills. Perfecting your essay technique is also very difficult. Students must build complex arguments using specific historical evidence. They must also consider many interpretations and views.
Parents often worry when they see their child spending hours reading but still struggling to achieve the grades they need. Analysing sources adds more difficulty to the subject, as students must judge the reliability and usefulness of historical documents. They must also think about the context in which the documents were made.
6. English literature
"My child loves reading, but they're struggling with the analysis side," is another thing we hear from parents of A-level English literature students all too often. Many students arrive with strong comprehension skills and a real love for books. However, the subject requires careful critical analysis. Students must build complex literary arguments and deeply engage with advanced texts.
A-level English literature requires students to develop their own interpretative voice while engaging with established critical theories and multiple perspectives on the same text. The close reading skills needed to analyse poetry, drama, and prose at this level can feel overwhelming, especially when students are expected to make connections between a text and its historical and geographical context.
Need help with the toughest A-level subjects? All our tutors have received an A grade or higher in their chosen field. Contact us today.
How an A-Level Tutor Can Transform Your Child’s A-Level Results
As parents, you might be wondering whether investing in private tuition is worth it, especially for these challenging subjects. We understand this concern: tutoring is a financial as much as a time investment, and you want to know it will make a genuine difference to your child's academic outcomes. The reality is that the right A-level tutor can fundamentally change how your child approaches learning these demanding subjects.
At Shuhari Tuition, we begin with a personalised plan for each student, working with them to develop their subject knowledge, as well as their exam skills and confidence. We've developed methods that work in person and online, and we support students every step of the way, making sure they're exam-ready.
Breaking down complex concepts into manageable steps
One of the biggest challenges with the hardest A-levels is that concepts build on each other rapidly, and if your child misses one of the foundational building blocks, everything that follows becomes more difficult.
An experienced A-level tutor can identify exactly where those knowledge gaps are and help to fill them. Instead of your child struggling through entire topics and feeling lost, the tutor will break down complex ideas into smaller, digestible parts. In physics, this might mean ensuring your child truly understands vectors before moving on to mechanics. In chemistry, it could mean mastering electron configuration before tackling chemical bonding.
Developing subject-specific study strategies
What works for GCSE revision simply won't cut it for these challenging A-levels. Students and parents frequently tell us they're putting in the hours but not seeing the results, and this is often because they're using ineffective study methods for these advanced subjects.
A specialist A-level tutor can teach your child how to approach complex mathematical proofs. They can show your child how to structure analytical essays for the best effect. The right tutor will teach powerful revision methods like active recall and spaced repetition, recommend A-level past papers or subject-specific study guides, draw from exam board resources, and share reading lists.
One parent said: "I worried my daughter spent too much time on chemistry. Her tutor showed her how to study better. Now she covers more material in less time and understands it better."
Mastering exam technique and time management
Even students who understand the content can struggle with A-level exams due to poor technique or time management. The hardest A-levels often have particularly demanding exam formats that require specific strategies to succeed.
Our A-level tutors work extensively on study techniques because we know that understanding the content is only half the battle. Our tutors teach students how to read questions carefully, plan their responses effectively, and manage their time across different question types. For subjects like English literature, this might involve learning how to structure comparative essays under time pressure. For the sciences, it could mean mastering the art of showing working out clearly for maximum marks.
Parents often notice a dramatic improvement in their child's mock exam results once they've developed these crucial skills. "His grades jumped from D to B in just one term, and the only thing that changed was learning how to approach the exams properly," one parent told us.
Building confidence and reducing anxiety
Perhaps most importantly, the right A-level tutor helps rebuild your child's confidence in subjects where they may have started to doubt their abilities. Ongoing feedback is one of the most powerful motivators. Our tutors show students exactly where they’re improving and where to focus next. This builds a sense of progress, which is crucial when tackling the most demanding A-levels. It also helps to break the cycle of stress and self-doubt.
Choosing the Right A-Level Tutor for Hard Subjects
Here are the qualities we think matter the most:
Subject expertise
For the most challenging A-levels, you need someone who has achieved excellent grades themselves. That’s the starting point. Your tutor should have deep, specialist knowledge of the subject to be able to explain complex concepts in multiple ways until they find the approach that works for your child.
Proven teaching methods for complex subjects
Our tutors use evidence-based teaching strategies specifically designed for advanced subjects. They know when to use visual aids for complex chemistry concepts, how to scaffold difficult mathematical proofs, and how to craft full-mark essays in English. Most importantly, they adapt their approach based on how your child learns best.
Experience with the curriculum and exam boards
Our A-level tutors have extensive experience with all major exam boards: AQA, Edexcel, OCR, and WJEC. They understand the subtle differences in how questions are worded, what examiners are looking for, and how to maximise marks. This insider knowledge can make the difference between a B and an A*, particularly in subjects where grade boundaries are tight.
Your Next Step: Find the right A-Level Tutor
Ready to see your child achieve their full potential in even the hardest A-level subjects? Contact us today. Our expert-led instruction helps students achieve their target university entry requirements, whether that’s Oxbridge, medical school, or a competitive Russell Group university.
Summary: The Hardest A-Levels & How Tutoring Can Help
Some of the most difficult A-level subjects include further maths, physics, chemistry, modern foreign languages, history, and English literature.
Further maths is especially demanding because it covers two A-levels’ worth of content, including topics like matrices, differential equations, and complex numbers, requiring both mathematical intuition and strong exam technique.
A-level physics is tough due to its combination of abstract theoretical ideas and applied mathematics, with topics ranging from quantum mechanics to thermodynamics. There’s also a challenging practical component to the course.
Many students struggle with A-level chemistry because it involves a large volume of content and a blend of physical, organic, and inorganic chemistry, each with its own demands and exam formats.
Modern foreign languages at A-level go far beyond vocabulary and grammar, requiring students to analyse literature, discuss social issues, and demonstrate deep cultural understanding in their chosen language.
A-level history is difficult because students need to memorise vast amounts of content, build analytical essays, and evaluate historical sources with reference to context and reliability.
English literature A-level can be overwhelming, even for students who enjoy reading, as it demands critical thinking, structured literary arguments, and the ability to compare texts across different genres and time periods.
These A-levels are challenging because they require higher-order thinking, analytical writing, and complex problem-solving, all under timed conditions and with a much steeper learning curve than GCSEs.
A qualified A-level tutor can significantly improve a student’s performance by identifying knowledge gaps, simplifying difficult topics, and helping students develop effective revision strategies tailored to your child’s learning style.
Tutors also play a key role in helping students master exam technique, manage their time, and approach exams with confidence. These skills are especially important in content-heavy and writing-intensive subjects.
Parents may want to consider tuition if their child is working hard but not seeing results, feels overwhelmed by their subjects, or is losing confidence despite their effort.
The most effective A-level tutors bring deep subject knowledge, teaching strategies proven to be effective, and familiarity with major exam boards such as AQA, Edexcel, OCR, and WJEC.
