Guide to A Level Politics
If you are interested in the development of political structures and the changing nature of the relationship between political ideas then A Level Politics is for you. Read on to discover exactly what you will cover, how to revise and where this qualification can lead you.
Begin your revision early by going through the specification for your exam board (linked below) and highlight areas that you struggle with or that you missed in class. Doing this will ensure that you cover the content that is a priority first. If you know that you are a visual learner, then making colourful revision resources such as posters, mind maps or revision cards can be a productive way of recapping information. However, make sure that you set a time limit on each topic and do not spend too long dwelling on areas that you enjoy more than others – this can be an easy mistake to fall into, but don’t be tempted!
Once you have recapped key information, begin to familiarise yourself with the exam format and start the process of reviewing past papers, exam reports and exemplar answers. The best students will walk into the exam equipped with not only a comprehensive knowledge of the content, but also an idea of what the questions will look like and how long they are able to spend on each question.
Finally, set aside some time to carry out extra reading, this will really make your work stand out from the crowd. This is because hopefully it will increase the passion that you have for the subject which in turn will translate onto the page. You can also pull in extra information that you’ve learnt from your reading that can practically enhance your arguments and catch the examiners eye.
How hard is A Level Politics?
A Level Politics will challenge you, there is no donut about that. However, if you are willing to put in the work, it can be really rewarding – its focus on ideologies at the heart of governance and the political systems that make up Europe and America is inherently applicable to our everyday lives.
How to get the best grade in A Level Politics?
Consistency is key when it comes to scoring highly in your A Level exams. Make sure that you keep up with content covered in class and set aside at least five hours a week to consolidate everything you’ve learnt at home. Some good activities to do include completing tasks and answering questions set in textbooks, making revision resources such as posters or flashcards or further reading. Get into the habit of staying on top of current affairs. Try to read a range of publications, both left and right leaning, such as The Guardian (left), The Spectator (conservative), The Times (centre-right), The Telegraph (right-leaning) and The New Statesman (left-leaning).
Grade boundaries for A Level Politics
Grade boundaries change each year depending on the difficulty of the papers you are given and the subsequent performers of the rest of your cohort. See here for a link to the grade boundaries for 2024. This will give you some idea of what mark you need to achieve to score the highest grades. However, you should not focus too much on the figures here because, as mentioned, these are subject to change. Just focus on your revision tasks and doing your personal best.
Different exam boards
The only exam board that offers dedicated A Level Politics is Edexcel (Pearson). OCR and AQA used to offer A Level Politics and Government but have both discontinued it in recent years. Nevertheless, Edexcel’s A Level Politics will not leave you disappointed. It offers an in depth analysis of UK politics and governance and gives students the option to study either US or global politics for comparative work.
Learning Resources
Is Politics a respected A Level and what can you do with it?
A-Level Politics is ideal for those interested in law, government, or journalism, fostering critical thinking, debate, and analytical skills. Highly regarded by universities, it complements subjects like History and Economics and can lead to careers in law, media, and public affairs. If you enjoy discussing current affairs and political theory, it’s a strong, intellectually rewarding choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do you learn in A Level Politics?
A level politics covers a range of political ideologies such as liberalism, socialism and conservatism. It not only delves into the history of political thought but also asks crucial questions that concern UK governance today, such as House of Lords reform and the influence of the media on voting behaviour. As well as this, A Level Politics will take a comparative look at either US or Global politics to give you a broader view on how systems work and the ways in which they are expected to serve the people.
Is A Level Politics harder than History?
History and Politics are unique subjects that come with their own challenges. Both require strong essay writing skills; however, history demands more memorisation and is often considered to be more content dense. On the other hand, Politics also requires students to have a strong analytical skill set and very much have their finger on the pulse of current affairs.
Is Politics a good A Level for Law?
Yes. Politics will help you to hone in on debate and evaluation skills as well as encourage you to be analytical. These are essential to the study of Law. In addition, you will learn how to write essays with sophistication and flair which will be invaluable should you wish to enter into higher education.
What jobs can you get with A Level Politics?
Many who study A Level Politics go on to be solicitors, journalists, political advisors, civil servants, or work in government, business, and international organisations like the UN. It is an incredibly versatile subject and will be useful in anything you choose to do.
How Simply Learning Tuition can help
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