Universities reject ‘soft’ A-levels

The choice of what A-levels you take may be just as important as the grades you get, new plans from Cambridge and the London School of Economics suggest.

The top universities have drawn up lists of ‘soft’ A-levels that will be less valuable in university applications.

It suggests that students taking more than one subject included in the lists will be unlikely to receive places.

These plans will come as a blow to the government, which is trying to increase university participation among state school students. The course identified by the universities have grown massively in recent years, predominately among the state school population.

Schools minister Jim Knight said: "We simply don't recognise the label 'soft' or 'hard' A-levels - all subjects are rigorously measured against each other to maintain standards.”
But some universities clearly do not agree.

Cambridge’s list totaled 20 subjects. These were: Accounting, Art and design, Business studies, Communication studies, Dance, Design and technology, Drama and theatre studies, Film studies, Health and social care, Home economics, Information and communication technology, Leisure studies, Media studies, Music technology, Performance studies, Performing arts, Photography, Physical education, Sports studies and Travel and tourism.

Dr Wendy Piatt, director general of the Russell Gorup, commented: “Students must not disadvantage themselves by choosing a combination of subjects at A-level which will not equip them as well as other subjects to excel on their chosen course, or which do not demonstrate as effectively as others their aptitude for a particular subject.

“Clearly if pupils from certain state schools are increasingly taking a combination of subjects which put them at a disadvantage in competing for a course at a Russell Group university, the task of widening participation in our universities becomes even more difficult”.