Are you interested in current affairs? Would you like to find out more about how decisions made in this country affect the lives of millions of people?
A Level Politics is a dynamic and highly topical course, where you will examine the underlying political system to gain a deeper insight into
ever-changing events and policies. It develops an understanding of how our country is run, while also exploring key political ideals, parties and thinkers.
You will study a range of interesting topics, including UK politics and core political ideas, conservatism, liberalism, socialism, UK government, non-core political ideas and global politics.
What will my day look like?
Explore example timetableCourse Information
At least five GCSEs at grades 9-4 in one sitting. An average GCSE score of 5 or more is preferred.
GCSE English and Maths at grade 4.
There are three externally examined papers, all sat at the end of the two-year course. Each paper is 2 hours long and worth 33.3% of the A Level. There is no coursework or practical assessment. You will complete:
Paper 1: UK Politics and Core Political Ideas
Paper 2: UK Government and Non-core Political Ideas
Paper 3: Comparative Politics (either Government and Politics of the USA or Global Politics)
- UK Politics
- Democracy and Participation
- Political Parties
- Electoral Systems
- Voting Behaviour and the Media
- Core Political Ideas
- Conservatism
- Liberalism
- Socialism
- UK Government
- The Constitution
- Parliament
- Prime Minister and Executives
Entirely theory based. Assessment is 100% written examinations with no practical or coursework component. Approximately 0% practical / 100% theory.
Politics is a subject that can be studied further at university and combines well with other subjects such as law, history, sociology and economics. Want to stay local? At the University of Suffolk at East Coast College, we offer a degree in Crime, Justice and Society, allowing you to gain a degree on your doorstep.
It is also a pathway to careers in the civil service, broadcasting, journalism, the legal profession, the police force and more. Career opportunities include roles such as policy officer, political risk analyst, politician’s assistant, public affairs consultant and government social research officer.
You will have many opportunities to debate about political ideas and movements, improving your public speaking skills and
helping your confidence grow.
Whether you want to become a politician or you are simply fascinated by the subject, a qualification in politics will leave you with many transferable skills that will benefit you when progressing to higher education and employment. These include assertiveness, public speaking, data analysis, essay writing and research.
Politics is a highly topical subject, meaning you will develop a greater awareness of the world around you.
