Edexcel A/S Level Politics
Content and assessment overview
The Pearson Edexcel Level 3 Advanced Subsidiary GCE in Politics consists of two externally-examined papers. Students must complete all assessment in May/June in any single year.
Component 1: UK Politics (*Component code: 8PL0/01)
Written examination: 1 hour an 45 minutes 50% of the qualification 60 marks
Content overview
Students will study:
● democracy and participation
● political parties
● electoral systems
● voting behaviour and the media.
Assessment overview
Section A
One 10-mark question from a choice of two, which assesses AO1.
Section B
Two 10-mark questions – one question focuses on a single source and assesses AO1 and AO2. The other question focuses on two comparative sources and assesses AO2 and AO3.
Section C
One 30-mark question from a choice of two, which assesses AO1, AO2 and AO3.
Component 2: UK Government (*Component code: 8PL0/02)
Written examination: 1 hour and 45 minutes 50% of the qualification 60 marks
Content overview
Students will study:
● the constitution
● Parliament
● Prime Minister and executive
● relationships between the branches.
Assessment overview
Section A
One 10-mark question from a choice of two, which assesses AO1.
Section B
Two 10-mark questions – one question focuses on a single source and assesses AO1 and AO2. The other question focuses on two comparative sources and assesses AO2 and AO3.
Section C
One 30-mark question from a choice of two, which assesses AO1, AO2 and AO3.
AO1 Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of political institutions, processes, concepts, theories and issues. 42%
AO2 Analyse aspects of politics and political information, including in relation to parallels, connections, similarities and differences. 33%
AO3 Evaluate aspects of politics and political information, including to construct arguments, make substantiated judgements and draw conclusions. 25%
Total 100%
Edexcel A Level Politics
Component 1: UK Politics (*Component code: 9PL0/01)
Written examination: 2 hours 33⅓% of the qualification 84 marks
Content overview
1. Political Participation, students will study:
• democracy and participation
• political parties
• electoral systems
• voting behaviour and the media.
2. Core Political Ideas, students will study:
• conservatism
• liberalism
• socialism.
Assessment overview
Section A: Political Participation
One 30-mark question from a choice of two (each question uses a source) – students must complete one of these.
Plus one 30-mark question from a choice of two – students must complete one of these.
All questions assess AO1, AO2 and AO3.
Section B: Core Political Ideas
One 24-mark question from a choice of two, which assesses AO1, AO2 and AO3.
Component 2: UK Government (*Component code: 9PL0/02)
Written examination: 2 hours 33⅓% of the qualification 84 marks
Content overview
1. UK Government, students will study:
• the constitution
• Parliament
• Prime Minister and executive
• relationships between the branches.
2. Non-core political ideas, students will study: one idea from the following:
• anarchism
• ecologism
• feminism
• multiculturalism
• nationalism.
Assessment overview
Section A: UK Government
One 30-mark question from a choice of two (each question uses a source) – students must complete one of these.
Plus one 30-mark question from a choice of two – students must complete one of these.
All questions assess AO1, AO2 and AO3.
Section B: Non-core Political Ideas
One 24-mark question from a choice of two, which assesses AO1, AO2 and AO3.
Component 3: Comparative Politics (*Component code: 9PL0/3A or 3B)
Written examination: 2 hours 33⅓% of the qualification 84 marks
Students study either USA (9PL0/3A) or Global (9PL0/3B)
Content overview For USA (3A), students will study: • the US Constitution and federalism, US Congress, US presidency, US Supreme Court and civil rights, democracy and participation, comparative theories.
OR For Global (3B) students will study:
• sovereignty and globalisation
• global governance: political and economic
• global governance: human rights and environmental
• power and developments
• regionalism and the European Union
• comparative theories.
Assessment overview for 3A and 3B
Section A • One 12-mark question from a choice of two, which assesses AO1 and AO2.
Section B • One compulsory 12-mark question focused on comparative theories, which assesses AO1 and AO2.
Section C • Two 30-mark questions from a choice of three, which assess AO1, AO2 and AO3.
