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: https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/politics/a-level/politics-7152/specification-at-a-glance
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: https://qualifications.pearson.com/content/dam/pdf/A%20Level/Politics/2017/Specification%20and%20sample%20assessments/A-level-Politics-Specification.pdf
This website also offers sample assessment materials to help you understand the question format and expectations.