Politics

2020 A-Level Examinations Dates

Paper 1: UK Politics & Core Political Ideas

• TBC.

Paper 2: UK Government & Non-Core Political Ideas

• TBC.

Paper 3: Comparative Politics - The Government & Politics of the USA

• TBC.

Building Better Learners: Independent Study

• A-Level Politics Questions
• Making Your Mind Up: Key Debates in A-Level Politics
• Read & Research Like A Political Scientist
• Write Like A Political Scientist

Examining Body

• The examining body is Pearson-Edexcel.

Examinations

Examinations Overiew

• You will sit 3 examinations at the end of Year 13 - each paper is 2 hours long:
• Paper 1: UK Politics & Core Political Ideas.
• Paper 2: UK Government & Non-Core Political Ideas.
• Paper 3: Comparative Politics - The Government & Politics of the USA.

Paper 1: UK Politics & Core Political Ideas

• Question 1a or 1b - 30 marks - source question. You should spend 45 minutes on this question.
• Question 2a or 2b - 30 marks - essay question on a UK Politics topic. You should spend 45 minutes on this question.
• Question 3a or 3b - 24 marks - essay question on a core ideology. You should spend 30 minutes on this question.

Paper 2: UK Government & Non-Core Political Ideas

• Question 1a or 1b - 30 marks - source question. You should spend 45 minutes on this question.
• Question 2a or 2b - 30 marks - essay question on a UK Government topic requring some synopsis. You should spend 45 minutes on this question.
• Question 3a or 3b - 24 marks - essay question on a non-core ideology. You should spend 30 minutes on this question.

Paper 3: Comparative Politics - The Government & Politics of the USA

• Question 1a or 1b - 12 marks - comparison question. You should spend 15 minutes on this question.
• Question 2 - 12 Marks - comparative theory question. You should spend 15 minutes on this question.
• Question 3a and/or 3b and/or 3c - 60 marks - 2 x US-focused essay questions. You should spend 90 minutes on this section and 45 minutes on each question.

Assessment Objectives

Assessment Objective 1

• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of political institutions, processes, concepts, theories, and issues.

Assessment Objective 2

• Analyse aspects of politics and political information, including in relation to parallels, connections, similarities, and differences.

Assessment Objective 3

• Evaluate aspects of politics and political information, including to construct arguments, make substantiated judgements, and draw conclusions.

Topics

Paper 1: UK Politics & Core Political Ideas

• Democracy & Participation.
• Political Parties.
• Electoral Systems.
• Voting Behaviour & the Media.
• Core Political Ideas: Conservatism; Liberalism; Socialism.

Paper 2: UK Government & Non-Core Political Ideas

• The Constitution.
• Parliament.
• The Prime Minister & the Executive.
• The Relationship between the Branches of the Government.
• Non-Core Political Ideas: Anarchism.

Paper 3: Comparative Politics - the Government & Politics of the USA

• The Constitution.
• Congress.
• The Presidency.
• The Supreme Court & Civil Rights.
• Democracy & Participation.

Faculty Contact Details

Mr S Tighe (Subject Leader: Politics)

• E-mail: [email protected].
• Classroom: EPR1.

Mr M Hewitt (Deputy Head: Teaching & Learning)

• E-mail: [email protected].