What Subjects Go Well With A-Level Economics?

If you are choosing your A-Levels, you may be wondering what other subjects go well with Economics.

The short answer is: quite a lot of them.

Economics can work well alongside Maths, sciences, humanities, languages and other social sciences. Your three A-Levels do not need to form a perfectly matched set.

What matters more is whether you enjoy the subjects, are likely to do well in them and need any particular subjects for something you may want to study later.

There is no magic A-Level combination with Economics.

Do Your A-Levels Need to Fit Together?

Not particularly.

Economics, Maths and History might look like an obvious combination because the subjects develop different but complementary skills.

But Economics, Maths and Chemistry can make just as much sense for someone who enjoys science. So can Economics, Geography and Biology, or Economics, French and Maths.

Your other subjects do not all have to be about governments, money or markets.

In fact, there can be an advantage in studying subjects that make you think in different ways.

Economics and Maths

Maths is probably the subject most often associated with Economics.

The two complement one another well. A-Level Economics involves data, percentages, graphs and calculations, while Maths develops confidence with numbers and logical reasoning.

But there is an important distinction:

You do not need A-Level Maths simply to study A-Level Economics.

The maths within the Economics course itself is generally manageable for someone reasonably comfortable with GCSE Maths.

University Economics is a separate question. Some Economics degrees require A-Level Maths and others do not, so if studying Economics at university is a serious possibility, check a selection of actual course requirements before deciding against Maths.

The name of the degree is not enough to tell you. Requirements vary between universities and courses.

If you are wondering what the maths within A-Level Economics itself actually looks like, What Maths Do You Actually Need for A-Level Economics? gives some simple examples.

What About Further Maths?

Further Maths can be a sensible choice for somebody who is very strong at maths, enjoys it and is already considering particularly mathematical university courses.

For most students taking A-Level Economics, though, it is certainly not something you need simply because you have chosen Economics.

Take Further Maths because it suits you and your future plans, not because you think there is a standard Economics combination that everyone should follow.

Economics With History, Politics or Geography

These subjects all combine naturally with Economics, although in slightly different ways.

History develops evidence-based argument and judgement. It also provides useful context for questions about economic change, living standards and government policy.

Politics connects with many of the issues economists study, including taxation, inequality, trade and government intervention. The difference is that Politics is particularly concerned with institutions, power and political ideas, while Economics tends to focus more on incentives, choices and consequences.

Geography has links with development, globalisation, trade, migration, population and environmental issues. It also involves interpreting data and constructing written arguments.

None is necessary for Economics. They simply work well for students who enjoy those kinds of questions.

Economics With Sciences or Computer Science

There is nothing strange about combining Economics with Physics, Chemistry, Biology or Computer Science.

Sciences develop analytical thinking, accuracy and problem-solving. Economics adds another kind of reasoning, involving behaviour, incentives, evidence and judgement.

For some students, that variety is one of the attractions.

Computer Science can also combine well with Economics, particularly for somebody interested in technology, data or the ways automation and artificial intelligence are changing businesses and economies.

Your subjects do not need to look similar on paper to make a sensible combination.

Economics With English or Languages

English develops skills that are extremely useful in Economics: explaining ideas clearly, constructing an argument and using evidence carefully.

Languages offer something different again.

There may be connections with international trade, business or working abroad, but there does not need to be an economic justification for taking a language.

If you love French, Spanish or German and are good at it, that is already a perfectly sensible reason to consider it alongside Economics.

Economics and Business

Economics and Business are related, but they are not the same subject.

Business focuses more directly on organisations and the decisions they make. Economics looks more broadly at consumers, firms, markets and economies and tries to explain why they behave as they do.

Taking both can therefore make sense, particularly if you are genuinely interested in both subjects.

There is some overlap, however. Some selective universities may take this into account when considering your overall subject combination, so if you already have a particular degree or university in mind, check its admissions guidance before choosing both.

For example, LSE currently gives Economics and Business as an example of subjects that may be regarded as overlapping in some applications. That is not a rule followed by every university, but it illustrates why checking the actual requirements is more useful than relying on general advice.

If you are deciding between the two, Economics or Business A-Level: Which Should You Choose? looks at the difference in more detail.

Should You Try to Balance Different Types of Subjects?

It is worth thinking about, but I wouldn’t turn this into another rule.

Some students like having a mixture of subjects: perhaps one involving a lot of maths, another involving extended writing and another involving practical or scientific work.

Others are perfectly happy taking three subjects that require similar skills.

Think about what studying the combination will actually feel like during a normal week. If you dislike extended writing, for example, choosing three heavily essay-based subjects simply because they look good together may not be particularly sensible.

The same applies to taking several highly mathematical subjects if that is not where your strengths lie.

The combination has to work for you, not just look tidy on an application form.

What If You Want to Study Economics at University?

If university Economics is something you are seriously considering, this is the point where I would stop relying on general advice and look at some real university courses.

You do not normally need to have studied A-Level Economics to apply for an Economics degree.

Maths, however, is required by some courses, particularly more quantitative ones. Other Economics degrees have different requirements.

Spend half an hour looking at perhaps five or six courses that might interest you. You are not choosing your university at 16. You are simply finding out whether any subject you are about to drop could close an option that matters to you.

Do the same for any other degree you are seriously considering. Engineering, Medicine and some science courses, for example, have their own subject requirements.

That is a much better basis for choosing A-Levels than somebody’s list of the “best subjects”.

Some Perfectly Sensible Combinations

These are examples, not recommendations or rankings.

Economics + Maths + History
Could suit someone who enjoys numbers as well as argument, evidence and writing.

Economics + Maths + Physics
Could suit someone who particularly enjoys mathematical and analytical problem-solving.

Economics + History + Politics
Could suit someone interested in current affairs, government, society and written argument.

Economics + Maths + Geography
Could suit someone who likes quantitative work alongside questions about development, trade and the environment.

Economics + Biology + Geography
Could suit someone interested in science as well as environmental, development or social questions.

Economics + Maths + French
Could suit someone who enjoys numerical work but also wants to continue studying a language.

Economics + Psychology + English
Could suit someone particularly interested in behaviour, evidence, argument and communication.

There are many other perfectly sensible combinations. The point is not to find yours on somebody else’s list.

How Should You Actually Choose?

I would use three checks.

Start with what you actually enjoy

Look beyond the subject title. Have a look at the A-Level course outline, a textbook or even a sample paper.

Ask yourself whether you would genuinely like to spend several hours a week studying the material.

Look at where your strengths are

Your GCSE results are useful evidence, although they are not a perfect measure of what you will be capable of at A-Level.

Teacher feedback can be useful too. Think about whether you tend to enjoy and succeed at numerical work, extended writing, scientific problem-solving, languages or some mixture of them.

Check anything you may need later

If there is a university course or career path you are seriously considering, look at the actual entry requirements.

You do not need your life mapped out at 16.

You just want to avoid closing a door unnecessarily.

Once you have done those three things, I would worry much less about whether your subjects form somebody else’s idea of the perfect combination.

There is no single best set of A-Levels to take with Economics.

Your A-Levels do not need to tell one perfectly neat story. At 16, keeping several good stories possible may be much more useful.