Government and Politics A Level

Politics is the study of power, of how it is held and used in society, and how this affects every aspect of our lives. In examining Politics you will consider the nature and distribution of power in society. You will develop important skills, such as writing clearly and accurately and the ability to evaluate and articulate a range of political arguments. This subject combines well with other Social Sciences and Humanities subjects. It provides an excellent grounding for a range of university courses and careers, from Law to American Studies.

Entry Requirements

A minimum of 40 points for your average GCSE score, Mathematics and English Language at grades A*-C plus at least four other GCSEs from our specified range of GCSE subjects and a satisfactory reference.

International Entry Requirements
IELTS 5.5, High School Certificate Grade C or above (or equivalent)

Content and Assessment

Four units are examined, two for the AS and two more for the full A Level. The AS course at Kingston is designed to introduce you to the skills required to comprehend and interpret political information in a variety of forms. You will analyse and evaluate a range of political arguments and concepts. These skills will be developed in the context of two specific units
Unit 1 – People and Politics
Unit 2 – Governing the UK

The A2 course develops the skills and knowledge gained at AS.
Unit 3 – Key Themes in Political Analysis
Unit 4 – Extended Themes in Political Analysis

Coursework

There is no coursework in this subject.

Course Duration

The A level qualification ia a full-time course achieved over a two year period. In the first year you study the AS modules and in the second year you will study the A2 modules. The year begins in September and runs through to the beginning of July.

Progression

A Levels can lead to exciting opportunities in Higher Education. Students who have studied Politics with us have gone on to careers in law, journalism, teaching, marketing, personnel and, of course, politics. Recent graduates of ours have worked for Members of Parliament at the House of Commons, political parties and political consultancies. Studying Politics will enable you to develop a range of core skills, including the evaluation of arguments, interpretation of information and essay writing – all skills valued by university admissions tutors and employers. Politics complements a wide range of AS/A2 Level subjects, including History, Sociology, Philosophy and Economics. It provides an excellent grounding for a range of university courses and careers from Law to American studies.