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Further education

You'll find discussions about A Levels and universities on our Further Education forum.

Original poster

How hard is philosophy A level?

30 replies

Toomanyminifigs · 18/10/2025 10:08

DS is trying to decide on A levels. He has autism (and an EHCP) so he does need more guidance and support than perhaps a NT teen might need at 16.

He is considered academically able (mainly 8's and 9's in mocks). He's drawn to philosophy as he loves 'big questions' but my concern is that I've heard it's a very difficult/challenging A level (not that any A level is easy).

He has a good work ethic and is strong in subjects like English and History so is used to researching and writing essays (but obviously only at a GCSE level at this stage).

I wonder if I should try and steer him to something like Sociology or Government and Politics instead?

Has anyone's DC taken philosophy A level? If so did they regret it? Enjoy it?

I'm assuming universities regard philosophy A level quite highly but I also imagine that the most important thing is the grade...

Thank you for reading.

OP posts:
BrumCurryHouse · 18/10/2025 14:08

My autistic son loves his A Level Philosophy. Like your DS, he is into the big questions. DS’s GCSE results were 4-7, RE was 6. He’s had in depth input about how to write essays and the teacher thinks he will do really well in his exams next year.

clary · 18/10/2025 11:54

Phil and ethics (so RS with a slightly different slant) was a popular choice in my DD's year and her peers got good grades. I have never heard that it is any harder than any other A level tbh. No easier or harder than sociology or gov/pol.

Obvs for some students all of those would be a challenge – while art or maths would be to others. But if it plays to your DS's strengths then all good.

Look at the syllabus covered by the school and see if that appeals.

Unis are fine with it too – it's no better or worse than the other options you mention. No uni course requires phil or sociology or gov pol as A levels but that's not to say there is anything against taking them. If he'll get a good grade then it's a better option than biology or French (just for example) for sure.

Idstillratherbepaddleboarding · 18/10/2025 10:22

DS has just started Religion, Ethics and Philosophy (with History and Politics so all essay based subjects) and he’s loving it. He got a B on his first essay which was marked to A level standard so I was really impressed! He got 6s and 7s at GCSE so solid but not incredible results and he’s dyslexic.

JustAnotherDayWorkingAtHome · 18/10/2025 10:19

My DD has just switched off philosophy to geography in year 12. There was too much religious content for her but a diff exam board might be different.

IndiaAutumn · 18/10/2025 10:17

DD absolutely loved her philosophy a level and went on to do it for her degree.

Thete are lots of very approachable books on philosophy- has he read any of those to see whether it’s his sort of thing? I think you need two qualities to enjoy it- an interest in the questions and an interest in logic- learning how to build an argument, etc. He should also consider that most a level philosophy courses spend quite a lot of time on arguments for and against the existence of God (Descartes etc) - dd wasn’t particularly interested in that as a subject matter but it’s a great introduction to how to think in the right way.