Can I Get into Harvard with A-Levels?

Thinking about Harvard but your high school track is A-levels, not AP or IB? You're not alone. Loads of students from outside the US wonder if A-levels are enough to get through the Ivy gates. The short answer: yes, Harvard accepts A-levels. But there’s way more to the story than tossing in your grades and hoping for the best.

Harvard loves seeing academic rigor. A-levels tick that box, but not all A-levels are created equal. Admissions officers want to see strong results—think A or A* grades in tough, traditional subjects like math, sciences, or literature. Soft subjects? They don’t carry the same weight, and can actually weaken your case if you’re aiming for something competitive.

That’s just the academic side. Harvard’s also looking for personality, curiosity, and drive. If you’re packing standout grades but your personal story is bland, you’re probably getting lost in the crowd. If you’ve got heaps of questions about which A-levels work or how to stand out, the good news is you’re already asking the right stuff. Stick around—I’m going to spell out everything you need to know to put your best foot forward, A-levels and all.

• How Harvard Views A-Levels
• Required Grades and Subjects
• Course Choices that Impress
• Beyond Grades: What Else Matters?
• Common Pitfalls and Mistakes
• Tips to Boost Your Application

How Harvard Views A-Levels

Here's the blunt truth: Harvard doesn’t just accept A-levels, they actually know and respect them. For students outside the US, A-levels are one of the main methods to show academic readiness. Harvard’s admissions website directly says they consider A-levels on par with APs or IBs in the American system.

If you’ve got A-levels, your results will show up in their big stack of international applications. They know what an A* means, and they know the difference between math, physics, or art. They don’t add random hurdles just because your country uses a different testing system.

One thing’s certain: Harvard looks for students who push themselves. A-levels, by design, let you go deep into subjects. That’s a plus for Harvard—they like seeing that kind of focus and depth. They’ll pay attention to:

• How many A-levels you’re taking (most applicants have at least three)
• Your predicted and achieved grades (A and A* are ideal)
• The difficulty of your subject choices (sciences, math, English literature hold more weight than film studies or media)

You won’t get automatic credit (advanced standing) for high A-level marks, but they give strong points for admission. A recent admissions report even listed A-levels among the top qualifications seen from accepted students outside North America.

Bottom line: You can totally apply and get in with A-levels. If you pick subjects Harvard likes, and get the top grades, you won’t be at a disadvantage next to American or IB students. You’ll just need to show why your unique combination makes you stand out.

Required Grades and Subjects

Harvard doesn’t publish an official A-level cutoff, but if you’re aiming for a spot, you’ll need straight-A grades. Most applicants who get in with A-levels show three or four full A-level subjects, most at A* or A. A single B—even in a tricky subject—makes things much tougher, so target the top marks.

Harvard admissions folks know the difference between strong and soft subjects. They look for what they call “rigorous” choices—sciences like Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and hard maths (not just Statistics or Core Maths). Literature, History, and foreign languages also score well for showing academic depth. If you stack your application with easier A-levels like Media Studies or General Studies, the admissions team might see your course list as less demanding—especially compared to applicants who tackled the tough stuff.

• For science applicants: You should have Maths and at least one science (ideally two or more—think Chemistry and Physics or Biology).
• For arts or humanities: Go for Literature, History, or languages, but at least one subject showing analytical skills (like Maths or Economics) is a plus.

Here’s a quick overview of what makes a competitive A-level set for Harvard:

Another detail: Harvard isn’t super impressed by AS-levels alone. If you want to show off those skills, go for the full A-level. And if your school only offers a limited number of A-levels, Harvard will take that into account, so explain it in your application.

Course Choices that Impress

Not all A-levels send the same message to Harvard admissions. Here’s the deal—Harvard’s admissions team likes to see you tackle the toughest academic challenge your school offers. That means picking what they call “traditional” subjects, the ones considered demanding and evidence of real academic firepower.

If you’re thinking about which A-level subjects will actually impress, aim for:

• Maths (especially Further Maths if you want to stand out)
• Physics, Chemistry, Biology
• English Literature
• History, Economics
• Modern or classical languages (like French or Latin)

It’s not that other subjects (think media studies or business) are bad, but Harvard doesn’t view them as rigorous. If you’re using these as your main A-levels, it can drag your application down. Honestly, admissions stats and interviews with former officers confirm: most successful international admits took three or four "hard" subjects.

Mixing sciences and humanities looks especially strong. Harvard’s keen on well-rounded applicants. For example, Maths, Chemistry, and English Literature shows both logic and communication skills. But if you’re applying to study engineering or science, stick with double science plus maths; if it’s history or English, put a focus on essay-based subjects.

Here’s a snapshot from a recent year’s intake of international students at top US schools:

Another key point: taking four A-levels (if your school allows it) can show extra drive, but don’t load up if your grades will suffer. Three top A* grades usually look better than four with a few Bs mixed in.

Beyond Grades: What Else Matters?

Getting top marks on your A-levels is a solid start, but Harvard wants more than a bunch of letters on a transcript. They’re after people who shape their schools and make an impact, not just number crunchers and essay writers. So, what’s actually important besides grades?

Let’s talk extracurriculars. Harvard doesn’t expect you to do everything under the sun. They want to see deep involvement and real achievement. For example, if you love robotics, stick with it—maybe even lead a club or win a competition. The admissions team looks for students who take initiative and show passion over just collecting random clubs on their CV.

Leadership pops up everywhere in their ideal applicant. This doesn’t mean you have to be school president, but they do want to see you stepping up. Did you organize a community fundraiser? Mentor younger students? Even launching a podcast or blog on topics you care about shows the kind of drive they like.

Harvard also values impact. Maybe you started a tutoring group or did meaningful volunteer work. The key is to prove you made a difference, not just showed up. They want to read genuine stories about how you influenced others or solved problems, not generic tales you cooked up the week before applying.

Now, about recommendations and essays—they matter a ton. Your teachers and mentors should know you well and describe specifics about your growth and character, not just say you’re a good student. When it comes to essays, be real. The admissions folks are good at spotting what’s authentic. Share something only you could write, like a story or moment that changed you or ties into your bigger goals.

Standardized tests do come into play too. SATs or ACTs are technically optional for international applicants, but if your scores are excellent, send them. It just adds another plus.

So, while grades open the door, your story, your hustle, and how you make others’ lives better is what gets you noticed, especially as an international student applying with A-levels.

Common Pitfalls and Mistakes

So you feel ready to send off your Harvard application, armed with your A-levels. Before you click 'submit,' let’s talk about the hurdles that trip up even smart, prepared students. A misstep here can sink your shot—no matter how shiny your grades look.

One big mistake is picking "easy" A-levels instead of the core academic ones. Harvard expects at least three solid A-levels in subjects like Physics, Chemistry, Math, Biology, English, or History. If you choose softer or less academic topics, it could seriously hurt your chances. According to Harvard Admissions, "Most successful applicants will have taken A-levels in core academic subjects that demonstrate their readiness for rigorous college coursework."

A lot of students forget that Harvard looks beyond just scores. Another common pitfall is focusing too much on grades and ignoring the rest of your application. The admissions team wants to see extracurricular activities, leadership, and passion projects. If your application reads like a robot's transcript, you’re making it easy for them to say no.

Timing matters, too. Sometimes students send incomplete predicted grades or fail to send their final A-level results on time. Missed deadlines can mean your application gets tossed. Not fun after all that hard work.

• Choosing non-academic A-levels (like General Studies or Media Studies as main subjects)
• Missing proof of English proficiency if it’s needed (Harvard usually needs a TOEFL or IELTS score unless English is your native language)
• Overlooking standardized tests. SAT or ACT scores are optional as of 2025, but strong scores still help if you include them
• Leaving out extra info that shows you’re more than your grades—like sports, volunteering, or creative projects
• Underestimating the importance of recommendation letters and essays. Harvard reads these closely

Think you’re in the clear? Look at this example—it’s more common than you think:

One former admissions officer summed it up well:

"We’re looking for students who challenge themselves and can bring something special to our campus—not just a stack of good test scores."

So, when you build your application, check that you’re not falling into these traps. Make every piece count, and prove you’re ready for everything Harvard has to throw at you.

Tips to Boost Your Application

So you’ve got strong A-levels, but you want to really give your Harvard application a fighting chance? You’ll need to do more than just check all the boxes. Here’s what actually gets attention from the admissions team.

• Choose Rigorous A-level Subjects: Go for core subjects like maths, further maths, sciences, English literature, economics, or history. Harvard usually expects three solid A-levels, but four can show extra grit—especially if they’re not easy or overlapping subjects.
• Go Beyond Predicted Grades: If possible, sit some of your A-levels early, so you can submit real results. Strong actual grades carry more weight than predicted grades.
• Tell Your Story Well: U.S. applications want to know who you are, not just what grades you got. Make your essays memorable. Connect your interests, values, and ambitions to what you’ve done in and out of school. No copy-pasting generic lines—they notice, trust me.
• Pile Up on Extracurriculars: Harvard likes diverse, interesting people. Lead a club, start a project, volunteer, play sports, or get creative outside the classroom. Quality matters more than quantity—they’d rather see real impact in one area than a laundry list of half-baked clubs.
• Prep for Standardized Tests: U.S. schools sometimes still ask for SAT or ACT scores. Even though Harvard’s test-optional for now, high scores can only help if you send them in. If your A-level grades are a bit lower than you’d like, strong test scores can balance things out.
• Track Application Deadlines: U.S. college applications are a whole separate beast. Start early—way earlier than you think. Gather references, sit for any needed exams, and polish your essays ahead of time.

Here’s what current Harvard freshmen entered with for context:

Finally, if you’re applying from a country where A-levels are standard, say exactly how your school works on your application—context matters. The more clear you are, the easier it is for admissions to see how you stand out in your unique pool.