AQA A-Level Politics Specification Overview
The AQA A-Level Politics specification equips students with a deep understanding of political systems, ideologies, and contemporary issues. Here’s a breakdown:
Subject Content:
- 3.1 Government and Politics of the UK: This covers the UK’s constitution, Parliament, the electoral system, political parties, pressure groups, devolution, and contemporary political issues.
- 3.2 Government and Politics of the USA and Comparative Politics: Students explore the US political system, comparing it to another democracy (often a European country).
- 3.3 Political Ideas: This delves into core ideologies like liberalism, conservatism, and socialism, analysing their key thinkers, principles, and applications.
Assessment:
There are three written exams, each worth 84 marks and 2 hours long:
- Paper 1: UK Government and Politics (focuses on AS content)
- Section A: Short answer questions on various UK political topics (AO1 & AO2)
- Section B: Compulsory essay based on unseen stimulus material (AO1, AO2 & AO3)
- Section C: Essay choice from two options on UK politics (AO1, AO2 & AO3)
- Paper 2: Government and Politics of the USA and Comparative Politics (similar structure to Paper 1)
- Paper 3: Political Ideas
- Section A: Essay choice from two options on core political ideas (AO1, AO2 & AO3)
- Section B: Essay choice from two options on a broader political idea theme (AO1, AO2 & AO3)
Exam Weightings:
All three papers contribute equally to the final A-Level grade (33.3% each).
Learning Outcomes:
- AO1: Knowledge and Understanding (of key concepts and political theories)
- AO2: Analysis and Evaluation (applying knowledge to analyse and evaluate political situations)
- AO3: Application (applying political concepts to current issues and debates)
Exam Papers and Resources:
AQA provides past paper resources and sample assessments on their website: https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/politics/a-level/politics-7152/assessment-resources
Finding the Full Specification:
For a comprehensive overview, including detailed learning objectives and topic breakdowns, you can access the full AQA A-Level Politics specification here
EDEXCEL A-Level Politics Specification Overview
The Edexcel A Level Politics specification equips students with a deep understanding of political concepts, UK government structures, and comparative politics. Here’s a breakdown of the key areas:
Coursework:
- Entirely exam-based in the final year.
Exams:
- Three papers taken at the end of the course.
Assessment Objectives (AOs):
- AO1: Knowledge and understanding of political concepts and theories.
- AO2: Analysis and evaluation of political information and arguments.
- AO3: Application of political knowledge and understanding to contemporary situations.
Paper Structure (all papers are externally examined):
- Paper 1: UK Politics and Core Political Ideas (37.5% of A-Level)
- Section A: Political Participation (2 x 30 mark questions) – Focuses on participation in UK politics, like voting behavior and the role of the media (AO1, AO2, AO3).
- Section B: Core Political Ideas (1 x 24 mark question) – Analyzes the core ideas of conservatism, liberalism, and socialism (AO1, AO2, AO3).
- Paper 2: UK Government and Non-Core Political Ideas (37.5% of A-Level)
- Section A: UK Government (2 x 30 mark questions) – Examines the structure and functions of the UK government (AO1, AO2, AO3).
- Section B: Non-Core Political Ideas (1 x 24 mark question) – Explores other political ideologies like feminism or nationalism (AO1, AO2, AO3).
- Paper 3: Comparative Politics (25% of A-Level)
- Option to choose between two political systems (e.g., USA or a global politics topic).
- Examines the chosen system’s government, parties, and political culture (AO1, AO2, AO3).
Further Resources:
For a more detailed look at the specification, including specific topics covered within each section, you can refer to the official Edexcel website
This website also offers sample assessment materials to help you understand the question format and expectations.