Which 'soft' A Levels are not accepted by universities.

A Levels in the following subjects are not taken into account by University of Cambridge and London School of Economics according to an article in The Times. Other universities may not accept them for entry into certain courses.

London School of Economics

• Accounting
• Art and Design
• Business Studies
• Communication Studies
• Design and Technology
• Drama/Theatre Studies
• Home Economics
• Information and Communication Technology
• Law
• Media Studies
• Music Technology
• Sports Studies
• Travel and Tourism

Cambridge

• Accounting
• Art and Design
• Business Studies
• Communication Studies
• Dance
• Design and Technology
• Drama/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
• Travel and Tourism

Discussions have taken place at Asperger syndrome support group meetings about soft A Levels and their value. Several students with Asperger syndrome are either studying or proposing to study a soft A Level and are concerned about future consequences. Not all young people with Asperger syndrome are maths and physics wizards as popular belief often portrays them to be. Questions have been raised about whether several of these soft A Levels are worthy courses that are relevant to the real world, but should be some other qualification rather than an A Level, resulting in A Levels being cut back to a narrow range of hard academic subjects? I believe that an accounting A Level is a pathway to becoming a chartered accountant WITHOUT having to hold a degree.

I see that information and communication technology (ICT) is blacklisted as a soft A Level but presumably computing is a hard A Level because it isn't on the list. I find it strange that business studies and law are considered to be soft A Levels. If a university business or law department perceives these A Level subjects as soft then why is it so?

My son has been verbally informed that he has two naff A Levels that nobody really asks for or accepts.