Politics

AQA

Due to the essay-based writing nature of Politics A-level, students require a minimum of a grade 6 in English Language to demonstrate necessary writing proficiency. Completion of a GCSE in History is also recommended, but not essential.

Politics A-level is assessed through examination only – there is no coursework. You will complete three exams in total. These are:

1. Government and Politics of the UK – 2 hours, 33.3% of the total A-level
2. Government and Politics of the USA – 2 hours, 33.3% of the total A-level
3. Political Ideas – 2 hours, 33.3% of the total A-level

All exams contain a mix of medium length ‘explain’ questions, and longer essay style questions.

Politics is an incredibly important subject. It influences every aspect of our lives, directly shaping laws and making decisions that affect everyone. Having an understanding of the Political system here in the UK, but also of Political ideas more generally, provides you with the context need to analyse key policy changes, and ultimately, to assess their impact.

Politics is a subject which is valued by employers, and is also respected by universities as a rigorous A- level. Through this course you will develop skills in analysis, essay writing, evaluation and discussion. You will also understand the context behind current affairs and policy decisions, and will be able to critically engage with source material – skills which are valued by a variety of educational and employment opportunities.

Lastly, through an understanding of Politics you should develop a desire to not just understand the world around us, but also to impact and change it. Few subjects empower people in the way that Politics does to make real, lasting change. There is no better time to study Politics.

Through the course you will complete three topics and each will be examined. The three units you will study are:

1. Government and Politics of the UK
2. Government and Politics of the USA and Comparative Politics
3. Political Ideas

Government and Politics of the UK

In this unit you will develop an understanding of the political system in the UK. You will cover a variety of topics, including: the British Constitution, the structure and role of Parliament, Elections and referendums and political parties to name a few.

Government and Politics of the USA

In this unit you will develop an understanding of the political system in the USA. You will cover a variety of topics, including: the constitution of the USA, the branches of US government, elections, political parties and civil rights to name a few.

Political Ideas

In this unit you will develop an understanding of the main political ideologies that lay the foundation of almost all political decisions made across the globe. You will study three ‘core’ ideologies, of: Liberalism, Conservativism and Socialism, and one ‘other’ ideology from: Nationalism, Feminism, Multiculturalism, Anarchism and Ecologism (which ‘other’ ideology is studied will be chosen in advance by the class teacher.)

Politics A-level is regarded as being a highly academic and rigorous subject that is valued by universities and employers alike. Some of the key skills you will develop in this course are:

• Analytical skills
• Critical evaluation
• Essay writing
• Discussion and debate
• Understanding and contextualising events in current affairs
• Interpreting policy decisions
• Presentational skills

Politics A-level opens the door to many employment and educational opportunities. Politics is highly regarded by many universities, and is commonly studied by students with an interest in the humanities alongside subjects such as History, English Language and Literature, Law, Sociology, Philosophy, Religious Studies and Geography.

Key areas of employment and future possible careers include, but are not limited to:

• Political representative
• Law
• Education
• Civil Service
• Business
• Armed forces
• Medical profession
• Journalism