Guide to A Level Philosophy
What to revise for Philosophy?
As with any A Level subject, the most effective way to begin your revision is to split up the content into smaller chunks and decide where your attention is best devoted. Then you can decide which kinds of revision activities are most effective for you. If visual learning is most effective for you then consider making mind-maps or posters to help you remember key concepts. Or if you find you are more of an auditory learner, then find interesting and relevant podcasts to listen to and record yourself and/or a family member going through flashcards which you can then listen to on the bus, for example, or whilst brushing your teeth.
How many sections does A Level Philosophy include?
Philosophy A Level is neatly split into four sections: Epistemology, moral philosophy (ethics), the metaphysics of God (theology), and the metaphysics of mind. Don’t be put off by the terminology here, words such as ‘epistemological’ can seem scary at first but learning definitions such as this (Epistemology: the theory of knowledge) can be a great way to start your revision because, by nailing the vocab, you will be able to write essays that clearly demonstrate your understanding. The course is assessed in the following modules:
- AO1: Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of the core concepts and methods of philosophy, including the use of philosophical analysis.
- AO2: Demonstrates the ability to analyse and evaluate philosophical arguments to form reasoned judgements. (Source AQA)
How to get the best grade in A Level Philosophy?
Unfortunately, there is no miraculous method to get the best grade in A Level Philosophy. Only consistency, dedication, and well managed revision will ensure that you perform well in the exam. It is recommended that students devote 4.5 hours a week to revising the subject outside of class. This is very achievable – less than an hour a day! And if you keep this up then exam season will be a whole lot less stressful and you’ll be able to walk into the exam hall confidently.
Philosophy can be a challenging subject with many difficult concepts to wrap your head around, so resilience is also key. We provide an array of experienced tutors who can help you to manage your revision effectively throughout the two-year course and ensure that you don’t get left behind or stuck on tricky concepts.
Grade boundaries for A Level Philosophy
Specific grade boundaries change each year depending on the averages of the cohort. Furthermore, as the format of the exams for each exam board differs, so do their grade boundaries – but no one exam board provides an “easier” course than any of the others, they are all equally as challenging. However, please note that AQA is currently the only exam board that offers straight philosophy as an A-level subject, others may offer ‘Religious Studies’ which includes similar topics. Usually, students wanting the top grade for the AQA papers will have to achieve over 70% of the total marks available, whilst 40% is usually sufficient to achieve a C. Click on the link below to see the full AQA grade boundary report for the 2024 exams.
Combination with other subjects
You may have heard people list ‘philosophy, religion and ethics’ to describe this subject, but don’t worry, this doesn’t mean you’ll have triple the workload. Religion and ethics are intricately intertwined with the study of philosophy – in the metaphysics of God topic (which covers arguments for and against the existence of God as perceived by the three main monotheistic religions), and the moral philosophy topic, which leans into the subject of ethics, what is considered right or wrong and, crucially, why that is so. However, all of this will link back to your initial study of epistemology (the theory of knowledge) so concepts and theories from all of these aspects can and should be used interchangeably in your essays.
How to write an essay for A Level Philosophy
Philosophy presents us with many beefy essay questions for which astute logic and a fierce ability to put forward a clear point are needed. The first thing to remember with writing essays for philosophy is to continuously refer back to your argument. Begin this process in the introduction.
A good introduction will succinctly lay out the key points you will make in the essay and clearly explain what your main point is and why. Do not get too bogged down over explaining concepts in this section – leave that until later on.
In the body of your essay you will be able to demonstrate your understanding by plainly setting out key theories or concepts that either support or go against your point (note, if they go against your point then you should have something to add as a counterpoint or change your argument). Make sure to correctly state the name of the philosopher with a brief description such as “Enlightenment philosopher, Immanuel Kant stated that…” In this example, the term “Enlightenment” primes the ensuing description of Kant’s empiricism and immediately shows the examiner that you have grasped the content within its context, which, providing you follow up with a clear and accurate description of the theory itself will contribute AO1 – “Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the core concepts and methods of philosophy, including through the use of philosophical analysis.”. Once you have given a core concept, you can give an example to further show your understanding. For example, to demonstrate your understanding of utilitarianism, you might give an example stating that the act of diverting a train to save four people, killing one on the other track instead is better than doing nothing. Supporting your description of theories with these examples is a great way of demonstrating AO1.
Make sure that you prioritise quality over quantity and only expand on one idea per paragraph, this will make your overall argument clearer – demonstrate your mastery of AO2: “Analyse and evaluate philosophical arguments to form reasoned judgements.”. The “reasoned judgements” part of this comes from the clarity of your argument which is particularly important to show in your conclusion. The conclusion is a crucial way of driving home your point using all the information you have given over the course of the essay, using both AO1 and AO2. If you demonstrate your understanding of the core concepts (AO1) and link these to a sustained argument throughout your essay (AO2), you will stand a good chance of scoring highly.
For more information on the learning objectives and exam technique in A Level Philosophy, see here for guidance from the AQA website.
Different exam boards
At present, AQA is the only exam board that offers A Level Philosophy.
The OCR Religious Studies course include an overlap in philosophical content. See here for the specification.
Reading Lists
Is Philosophy A level respected and what can you do with it?
Philosophy is a highly respected A Level to obtain and due to its keen focus on written argument and logical debate, it is very versatile when applying for higher education. Those who have studied this subject go onto work in a wide variety of careers such as social work, publishing, civil service, law, academia and education, journalism, management, charity work as well as healthcare and medical ethics.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Philosophy a hard A Level?
Philosophy is a challenging A-level which requires logical thought, memorisation and a strong ability to put forward a written argument.
What does A Level Philosophy consist of?
A Level Philosophy comprises four main topics: epistemology, moral philosophy, metaphysics of God and metaphysics of the mind. For a full list of the specification, follow the link to the AQA website here.
Is it hard to get an A in Philosophy?
In previous years, an A grade has required students to obtain over 60% of marks available. This may seem low, however, do not underestimate the complexity of concepts and demands of the course. To achieve an A, students must maintain focus throughout the two year course and ensure that they have a good understanding of the content throughout so as not to get left behind. The way in which the content overlaps means that complacency can make things harder down the line.
Do universities like Philosophy A Level?
Yes. Philosophy is a respected humanity and doing well in this subject will demonstrate your ability to logically put forward an argument which, especially if you are applying to a humanities subject, will make your application more competitive.
What jobs can Philosophy A Level get you?
A Level Philosophy can open doors to many career paths such as journalism, civil service, education and law (just to name a few)! It’s a great subject for developing critical thinking and problem-solving—skills that employers love. However, it is wise to move onto further education for more lucrative and rewarding job roles because without a degree, your job options are more limited.
What A Levels go well with Philosophy?
Philosophy is ultimately the study of knowledge in all it’s forms. As a result, it can be applied to any subject. However, it compliments humanities subjects such as History, Sociology, English Literature and Geography particularly well. However, don’t just take a subject because it goes well with Philosophy. An A Level is a time consuming endeavour so it is important that you love every subject you take in its own right. If you are intending on going to university, it is also worth considering taking a selection of subjects that demonstrate versatility so a language or a science can also be valuable too.
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