Government and Politics
Why Should I Study This Subject?
Government and Politics is an academically rigorous subject in which students are challenged to consider how political decisions are made and the political ideologies and processes that drive them. The subject is highly regarded by universities and will benefit students wishing to pursue a range of professional careers, including law, journalism, the media, business, finance and, of course, politics itself.
What Will I Study?
AS Level
Unit 1 People and Politics (25% of the A Level: Covers the central ideas of citizenship, democracy and participation. Assessed by an exam of one hour and 20 minutes, consisting of two structured questions from a choice of four.
Unit 2 Governing the UK (25% of the A Level): Provides an introduction to the major institutions of UK government, examines their relationship with each other and their effectiveness. Assessed by an exam of one hour and 20 minutes, consisting of one structured stimulus based question from a choice of two and one extended essay question from a choice of two.
A2 Level
Unit 3 Representative Processes in the USA (25% of the A Level): Examines the representative processes of the US political system and considers their adequacy in terms of popular participation and full democracy. Assessed by an exam of one hour and 30 minutes, students are required to answer three short questions from a choice of five and one essay question from a choice of three.
Unit 4 Governing the USA (25% of the A Level): Examines the institutional framework of the US government and considers the interrelationship between its legislative, executive and judicial processes and the health of federalism. Assessed by an exam of one hour and 30 minutes, students are required to answer three short questions from a choice of five and one essay question from a choice of three.
Exam Board
Edexcel
What Can I do Next?
Students with a serious interest in studying Politics at A Level will benefit from reading The Economist, and from reading a daily newspaper. The subject is highly regarded by universities and will benefit students wishing to pursue a range of professional careers, including law, journalism, the media, business, finance and, of course, politics itself.
What Grades Will I Need?
8 GCSE grades A*- C. There is no need to have taken Politics at GCSE in order to study it at AS/A2 Level; indeed very few of you will have had the opportunity to do so. However, you should have at least a Grade B in English and/ or History. The course involves a great deal of reading, note taking and essay writing. An enquiring mind and a determination to work hard will also be useful. It is essential that you have a good grasp of current affairs in order to appreciate the wider impact of politics.