Universities in backlash against 'soft' subjects now accounting for one in three of all A-levels

One in three A-levels is taken in a subject that top universities deem poor preparation for degree courses.

Statistics show that 246,675 out of 744,675 A-levels taken last year were in subjects seen as less valuable - 8,000 more than five years ago.

These subjects include media studies, business studies, general studies, art and design and ICT (information and communication technology).

The Tories said a "cruel trick" was being played on bright students aiming for the best universities but hamstrung by poor subject choices.

They believe exam league tables may be putting pressure on schools to steer students towards subjects seen as easier to pass.

Cambridge advises students that it considers 20 A-level subjects "less effective preparation" for courses.

It recommends that sixth-formers do no more than one subject on this list - posted on the university website - while general studies does not count towards a conditional offer.

The London School of Economics has a list of 14 "non-preferred" subjects and again advises students against applying with more than one.

Like Cambridge, general studies does not count towards a conditional offer.

At Oxford, senior don Professor Alan Ryan said the university accepts every "plausible" state school student.

But too many are ruled out because they have not taken traditional academic subjects, he warned.

Research from the Russell Group of 20 elite institutions has shown that 93 per cent of candidates for media studies are from non-selective state schools, responsible for a 74 per cent share of all A levels.

However in languages, science and maths, the picture is reversed.

Around a quarter of candidates for physics and chemistry and 35 per cent for further maths are from independent schools, even though the sector sits only 15 per cent of A-levels.

Leaders of the Russell Group have said other members increasingly give prospective students "a steer on preferred combinations of A-levels".

As exam season gets under way for around 250,000 A-level candidates, many GCSE students will already have chosen their A-level subjects for next year.

Cambridge insisted that A-levels on its less-preferred list were "perfectly good" and said they were valid for many degree courses.

But its tutors felt they did not provide enough subject knowledge for degrees offered by Cambridge, or that they placed too little emphasis on examinations.

According to the A-level figures, published by Schools Minister Jim Knight in response to a question from the Tories, 37,951 students took art and design last year, 29,248 business studies, while 23,313 took media, film or TV studies.

Law, singled out by LSE, was taken by 13,819. ICT, listed by both Cambridge and LSE, had 10,885 entrants, while 57,674 did general studies.

In all, 33 per cent of A-levels taken last year were in subjects on one or more of the non-preferred lists.

Research has already suggested pupils from comprehensives are most likely to be entered for subjects considered less valuable.

The findings will concern ministers who have pledged to boost recruitment of state- school students to elite universities.

Tory universities spokesman David Willetts said: "A cruel trick is being played on our teenagers. They are being encouraged to do A-levels that our universities don't value."