A level subject requirements

GCSE Minimum Grade Requirements 2025  

We stipulate grades 8/7/6 in particular GCSE / IGCSE subjects, at least the average score for your best (full) eight GCSE/IGCSE/IB subjects (including English Language and Mathematics) as follows:
 
  • For three A levels: 6.0
  • For four A levels: 7.5
(A* = 8, A = 7, B = 6, etc.)
 
Note that only full GCSE/IGCSE/IB courses count towards the average score, not other types of qualification.
 
These are minimum requirements.
 
We do not guarantee to offer a place to students who meet these criteria.
 
 A breakdown of additional grades required for each subject are described below.
 
Further detail can be found in the course pages of this website. All requirements are subject to amendment, and requirements issued at the time of offer are final.
 
ART
 
5 in Maths required
5 in English Language required
6 in Art required (if taken at GCSE)

NB. Electronic portfolio of work required to judge suitability if Art not being taken at GCSE. Click on this link to view the Art Observational Drawing Guidelines Art Observational Drawing Guidelines (woodhouse.ac.uk)
 
BIOLOGY
 
6 in Maths required
6 in English Language OR 6 English Literature required
7 + 6 in Science Combined Trilogy required (if Biology is the only science subject being studied at A level)
7 + 7 in Science Combined Trilogy required (if Biology is being studied alongside another A level science subject)
OR 7 Biology + 6 Chemistry + 6 Physics required
 
BUSINESS
 
6 in Maths required
6 in English Language required
6 in Business required (if taken at GCSE)
 
CHEMISTRY
 
6 in Maths required
5 in English Language required
7 + 6 in Science Combined Trilogy required (if Chemistry is the only science subject being studied at A level)
7 + 7 in Science Combined Trilogy required (if Chemistry is being studied alongside another A level science subject)
OR 7 Chemistry + 6 Biology + 6 Physics required
 
CLASSICAL CIVILISATION
 
6 in Maths required
6 in English Language required
6 in English Literature required
 
COMPUTER SCIENCE
 
7 in Maths required
5 in English Language required
7 in Computer Science required (if taken at GCSE)
6 in any science subject required if computer science not taken at GCSE
 
DRAMA & THEATRE
 
5 in Maths required
6 in English Language required
6 in English Literature required
6 in Drama required (if taken at GCSE)
 
ECONOMICS
 
6 in Maths required
6 in English Language required
6 in Economics required (if taken at GCSE)
 
ENGLISH LITERATURE
 
5 in Maths required
6 in English Language required
6 in English Literature required
6 in an essay writing subject required if english literature not taken at GCSE (e.g. history, geography etc.) 
 
ENGLISH LANGUAGE
 
5 in Maths required
6 in English Language required
6 in English Literature required
 
FRENCH
 
5 in Maths required
6 in English Language required
6 in French required
 
FURTHER MATHS
 
8 in Maths required
5 in English Language required
Further Mathematics can only be applied for as part of a 4 A level programme at this stage and by definition it is in combination with A level Mathematics
 
NB. August Enrolment: Students who achieve grade 9 GCSE Mathematics, will be permitted to study Further Mathematics as part of a 3 A level programme which includes A level Mathematics.
 
GEOGRAPHY
 
5 in Maths required
6 in English Language required
6 in Geography required (if taken at GCSE)
6 in any science subject required if geography not taken at GCSE
 
GERMAN
 
5 in Maths required
6 in English Language required
6 in German required
 
HISTORY
 
5 in Maths required
6 in English Language required
6 in History required (if taken at GCSE)
6 in an essay writing subject required if history not taken at GCSE  (e.g. Eng. literature, geography)
 
LAW
 
5 in Maths required
6 in English Language required
6 in Law required (if taken at GCSE) 
6 in an essay writing subject required if law not taken at GCSE  (e.g. eng. literature, history, geography, law)
 
MATHEMATICS
 
7 in Maths required
5 in English Language required
 
MUSIC
 
5 in Maths required
6 in English Language required
6 in Music required
Grade 5 Practical OR Performance required
Grade 5 Music Theory required
 
MUSIC TECHNOLOGY
 
6 in Maths required
6 in English Language required
5 in Science required
6 in Music required
 
PHILOSOPHY
 
5 in Maths required
6 in English Language required
6 in English Literature required
 
NB. Cannot be taken in combination with religious studies
 
PHYSICS
 
7 in Maths required
5 in English Language required
7 + 6 in Science Combined Trilogy required (if Physics is the only science subject being studied at A level)
7 + 7 in Science Combined Trilogy required (if Physics is being studied alongside another A level science subject)
OR 7 physics + 6 biology + 6 chemistry required
 
POLITICS
 
5 in Maths required
6 in English Language required
6 in History or Geography required
6 in English Literature required if history or geography not taken at GCSE
6 in an essay writing subject required if english literature not taken at GCSE (e.g. religious studies) 
 
PSYCHOLOGY
 
6 in Maths required
6 in English Language required
6 in Science required
 
RELIGIOUS STUDIES
 
5 in Maths required
6 in English Language required
6 in Religious Studies required (if taken at GCSE)
6 in an essay writing subject required if religious studies not taken at GCSE (e.g. Eng. literature, history, geography)
 
NB. Cannot be taken in combination with philosophy
 
SOCIOLOGY
 
5 in Maths required
6 in English Language required
6 in Sociology required (if taken at GCSE)
6 in an essay writing subject required if sociology not taken at GCSE  (e.g. Eng. literature, history or geography)
 
SPANISH
 
5 in Maths required
6 in English Language required
6 in Spanish required