A Level Politics

Exam Board: Pearson EDEXCEL

Specification Number: 9PL0

Level of Course: 3

Aim of Course: 

Politics enables students to develop knowledge and an informed understanding of contemporary political structures, both within the United Kingdom (UK) and globally. The course simultaneously allows students to develop a critical awareness of the changing nature of politics and the relationships between political ideas, institutions and processes and an understanding of the influences and interests which have an impact on decisions in government and politics. Students cover a wide range of topical and engaging areas within politics to develop knowledge and an understanding of the rights and responsibilities of individuals and groups to foster an interest in, and engagement with, contemporary politics. There are several avenues of further education open to students with an A Level in Politics from law, journalism, politics, teaching, psychology and other social sciences. If you like asking questions of the answers, then this course is for you. 

Course Content and Mode of Assessment:

Component 1:  UK Politics - 33.3% of A Level, 2 hour written paper                                                                           Content overview:

• Political Participation: democracy and participation, political parties, electoral systems, voting behaviour and the media.
• Core Political Ideas: conservatism, liberalism, socialism                                                                                          

Component 2: UK Government - 33.3% of A Level, 2 hour written

Content overview

• UK Government: the constitution, parliament, Prime Minister and executive, relationships between the branches.
• Optional Political Ideas: one idea from the following: anarchism, ecologism, feminism, multiculturalism, nationalism.

Component 3: Comparative Politics - 33.3% of A Level, 2 hour written paper

Content overview:

• Theories of Global Politics, sovereignty and globalisation, global governance: political and economic, global governance: human rights and environmental, power and developments, regionalism and the European Union.