Man is by nature a political animal.
Aristotle
Few realise that something as mundane as arguing is a political exercise. Arguing is an unpleasant form of negotiation; each party wants something, usually at the expense of the other. It's also a tad unrefined. A framework of flexible rules that adjust to every situation is the more diplomatic way to resolve conflicts.
In your Politics A-Level, you'll study two such systems: in the United Kingdom (UK) and another - perhaps the United States (US). Those political structures diverge at critical points; you'll explore where, how, and why. This article summarises the A-Level Politics specification, and provides you with resources and other information.
A-Level Politics Spec Overview
- Core modules for the A-Level Politics specification
- Assessment criteria and objectives - AQA/Edexcel
- Resources for your A-Level Politics specification
- Understand AQA/Edexcel grade boundaries and marking schemes
A-Level Politics Spec: Core Modules
You might already know that two examination boards offer Politics A-Levels: AQA and Edexcel. At their core, the syllabus remains the same: presenting two governments, and compare/contrast them. However, the course structure and elements are not the same.
These variations could impact your exam results, as we'll reveal in this article's last section. They also reflect the breadth of knowledge you'll access, which could affect deeper understanding of politics.
| Component | Topics | Subtopics |
|---|---|---|
| UK Government and politics | The Government of the UK UK Politics | Constitution, Parliament, Cabinet and Prime Minister, Judiciary Democracy, Elections, Political Parties, Pressure Groups, the European Union |
| US Government and politics | The Government of the US | Constitutional Framework, 3 Branches of Government, Electoral Processes, Political Parties, Pressure Groups |
| Comparing UK/US politics and government | Comparative politics | Constitutional arrangements The executives Judiciaries Party systems Civil rights Pressure groups |
| Political ideas | Core Ideologies Other ideologies | Conservatism, liberalism, socialism Feminism, nationalism, multiculturalism, anarchism, ecologism |
This table gives us an overview of this courses' study phases. Before exploring this course's core modules, we lay out those differences.
AQA
- three modules
- UK, US/comparisons, ideologies
- limited to US politics
- 2 hours per exam paper
- each paper worth 77 points (231 total)
Edexcel
- three modules
- ideology study across all modules
- choice of US or global study
- 2 hours per exam paper
- each paper worth 84 points (252 total)
AQA dwells on UK/US politics and governments exclusively. Edexcel gives you the opportunity to study global governments or the US government, alongside UK politics.
We're at a loss to explain why one examination board focuses on the US exclusively, while the other lets students choose their focus. This is a crucial difference that compels us to study the AQA/Edexcel syllabi individually.
The AQA Core Modules
The UK Government and Politics module (Module 1) is straightforward. First, you'll examine the British Constitution and then, the role of Parliament, the Prime Minister, and their cabinet. Finally, you'll learn about the judiciary and other UK governments. Those include the Scottish, Welsh, and Northern Irish governing bodies.
Module 2 takes us across the pond, and follows the same pattern. First, you'll study the US Constitution and then, the three branches of government, their actors, and electoral processes. This module's second half focuses on comparing UK and US government structures.
AQA's A-Level Politics Module 3 dwells on ideologies. You'll learn about feminism and multiculturalism, conservatism and liberalism, among others. Looking over this exam board's Politics A-Level past papers, we find the questions in roughly the same order as the study modules.
UK government and politics (Module 1); US government and politics, plus comparing UK/US systems (Module 2); Ideologies (Module 3)
The Edexcel Core Modules
As noted above, this course offers the same content, but organised differently. Module 1 covers UK politics, including electoral systems, political parties and voting behaviour. With that, you'll study the main political ideologies: conservatism, liberalism, and socialism. Students must be well-versed in all three.
Module 2 focuses on the UK government. You will learn about all the topics addressed in AQA's Module 1. You'll also touch on more specialised ideologies: nationalism, feminism, anarchism, ecologism, and multiculturalism. This course instructs students to choose one of those ideologies, and examine it in-depth.
Module 3 offers students a choice. They may either select US politics and government, or global political studies. The content for each breaks down as such:
US Studies
- federalism and the Constitution
- political parties and branches of government
- democracy and participation
- civil rights
- comparative theories
Global Studies
- globalisation and sovereignty
- global political and economic governance
- global environmental and human rights
- global power and development
- comparative theories.
The Edexcel curriculum provides a more comprehensive look at politics and governance. However, if you intend to keep your political aspirations local, the AQA Politics A-Level will serve you better.
AQA/Edexcel Assessment Objectives and Criteria
Despite profound differences, the assessment criteria and objectives for Politics A-Level remain the same across examination boards. Some find this surprising, but it's quite sensible. AQA/Edexcel expect students to learn about two systems of government and political ideologies.
Exam candidates should communicate their ideas in such a way that demonstrates their grasp of the subject. They must think critically, and apply logic to their arguments. They must work independently to expand their knowledge base. This chart shows you overall assessment criteria both exam boards focus on.
| Criterion | How it's measured | Point values |
|---|---|---|
| Interest in current politics | Relevant, specific answers, balanced arguments, sustained reasoning, clearly communicate ideas. | 25 marks |
| Compare US/UK politics and government | Compare/contrast systems, highlight differences and similarities | 25 marks |
| Analyse/explain political institutions | Balanced arguments, sustained reasoning, communicating ideas coherently. | 9 marks |
| Analyse/explain political processes and issues | Balanced arguments, sustained reasoning, communicating ideas coherently. | 9 marks |
| Analyse/explain political concepts and theories | Balanced arguments, sustained reasoning, communicating ideas coherently. | 9 marks |
Were it only those few criteria, this article would have little more to say on the subject. However, AQA/Edexcel present more specific objectives, and they are exactly the same. These points come directly from the A-Level Politics exam guidelines:
AQA Objectives
- Paper 1: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of political institutions, processes, concepts, theories and issues.
- Paper 2: Analyse aspects of politics and political information, including in relation to parallels, connections, similarities and differences.
- Paper 3: Evaluate aspects of politics and political information, including to construct arguments, make substantiated judgements and draw conclusions.
Edexcel Objectives
- Paper 1: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of political institutions, processes, concepts, theories and issues.
- Paper 2: Analyse aspects of politics and political information, including in relation to parallels, connections, similarities and differences.
- Paper 3: Evaluate aspects of politics and political information, including to construct arguments, make substantiated judgements and draw conclusions.
The Department for Education sets these standards for all exam boards. However, each exam board follows slightly different marking criteria. Thus, students must learn how much weight each board assigns each objective.
AQA/Edexcel Marking Scheme and Grade Boundaries
Before we begin, we must note that the COVID pandemic shifted grade boundaries significantly. Typically, exam boards consider students' performance from the previous exam cycle to set the current boundaries. The pandemic made this impossible, because students' learning conditions changed during that time.
To compensate for the lack of in-person learning, exam boards offered supplemental information. These papers allowed students to explore ideas that they would normally discuss in class.
The 2023 exam cycle marked the end of supplemental support. This change cause student grades to drop below pandemic-era markings.
Statistics show a sharp drop in grades, signalling a return to pre-pandemic results levels.
Each exam board's examiner's report reveals further noteworthy points. These trends are remarkable for their differences from paper to paper, as well as through the years. Again, we study each exam board's findings.
AQA Observations
- Paper 1: average results
- Paper 2: Worst results
- Paper 3: Best outcomes
Edexcel Observations
- Paper 1: Worst results
- Paper 2: The global option more difficult
- Paper 3: Roughly equal to Paper 2's outcomes
AQA Marking and Grade Boundaries
Students performed the best on this board's Paper 3, discussing political ideologies. It posted the highest grade boundaries, as it did in 2019. Paper 2 - US government studies and comparisons, delivered the worst outcomes. Again, this is in line with the 2019 student performances.
| Summer 2023 | Max Marks | *A | A | B | C | D | E | U |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AQA Politics A-Level | 231 % | 176 76 | 150 65 | 123 53 | 96 42 | 69 30 | 42 18 | 0 |
| Paper I | 77 % | 59 71 | 51 66 | 42 55 | 33 43 | 24 31 | 16 21 | 0 |
| Paper 2 | 77 % | 55 71 | 44 57 | 35 45 | 27 35 | 19 25 | 11 14 | 0 |
| Paper 3 | 77 % | 62 81 | 55 71 | 45 58 | 35 45 | 25 32 | 15 19 | 0 |
Edexcel Marking and Grade Boundaries
Students did worse on this exam's first paper - UK government and politics, than on Papers 2 and 3. The global politics paper seems to be the most difficult. It boasts the lowest grade boundaries, in 2019 and 2023, than the US government studies paper.
A-Level Politics Specification: Resources and Recommended Reading
Obviously, past papers, marking schemes and examiners' reports are go-to resources. However, for a good result, you must go far beyond them.
For instance, consider Quizlet or Anki flashcard sets to help you master key concepts. Or, you might build a table with keywords and their definitions, like this sample:
| 🔑Keyword | ❓Definition | 🎮Related concepts |
|---|---|---|
| Codified Uncodified | Organised into a (legal) framework Not organised into a (legal) framework | Election rules, contingency measures, statutory codes, administrative codes |
| Referendum | People vote on a policy or ballot initiative. Example: the Brexit referendum. | Direct democracy, citizen action, civic engagement. |
| Cabinet | The group of decision-makers in government Includes senior ministers and advisors | Parliamentary and presidential systems. |
| JUdicial review | A judiciary process of reviewing current or pending legislation to test its legality. | Constitutional review, separation of powers, administrative review. |
| Devolution | The transfer of certain powers from the central government to a local or subnational government. | The Scottish Parliament, States powers |
Your teacher will likely serve you with a list of recommended books. It should include titles that cover recent political events in the UK, and around the world. The book 21 Lessons for the 21st Century is an excellent volume to kickstart your exploration.
Take in daily news from many sources - BBC and The Guardian are good starting points. Don't neglect news sources from abroad!
Being a student, you might already have all the reading you can stand. If that's the case, plugging into a podcast is a good alternative. This list presents views from across the political spectrum.
| 🎧Podcast name | 🔢What it covers | 🔎Where to find it |
|---|---|---|
| Political Fix | Current events and political discussions | Apple Podcasts, Spotify |
| The Rachman Review | Global politics, trends, discussions and debates | Apple Podcasts, Spotify, RSS |
| Pod Save the World | Global issues, expert panels, diplomatic trends | Apple Podcasts, Spotify, RSS |
| The Weekly Sceptic | Current events and controversies | Apple Podcasts, Spotify, RSS, Audible UK |
| Novara Live | Current events, geopolitics | YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, PlayPodcast |
| This is Not a Drill | Corruption, conflict, global security and stability, realpolitik | PlayerFM, Spotify, PodChaser, Apple Podcasts |
In the thick of your studies, you may wonder whether Politics is a good A-Level. Of course, that judgment is yours to make. It depends on what your future plans include - whether you want a career in politics/government. Or if you're interested in law, or international affairs; even if you plan to live and work abroad.
In those instances, this is the best A-Level. What about if you're not sure what your future holds? This is still a great A-Level. Studying these concepts will help you develop critical thinking and analysis skills. It will help you refine and master organisation strategies and research techniques.
Today's political climate and government upheavals demand the sharpest minds to right those ships. Even if you've no intention of occupying 10 Downing Street, your civic engagement is vital to our nation's political health and future. It's hard to be civically engaged if you don't know what you're engaging in, though.
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