AS/A Level Politics

Start Date: 01/09/2026
Course is for: School Leaver
Course Length: 1 Year
Funding Support:
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This course offers you a unique and wonderful opportunity to study the political culture, behaviour, processes and key institutions of both the UK and the USA. Lively, relevant, controversial… there are many ways to describe AS/A-level Politics.

There’s no denying that it’s one of the most interesting and engaging qualifications you can choose.

Covering news and current affairs from the UK and US, it helps you understand how the UK country is run and develops research, written communication and debate skills.

It also helps grow your confidence.

You will develop an in-depth understanding and broad and balanced knowledge base of the political systems and workings in both countries.

At AS Level, you will mainly focus upon the UK: this will be extremely comprehensive and detailed.

At A2, you will examine key components of the US system and take a synoptic approach by comparing and contrasting both countries.

You will also study key political concepts and ideologies that have influenced the 20th century and have helped shape and drive political interpretations and debates.

There are three broad areas of study in this AQA specification:

The government and politics of the UK (AS)
The government and politics of the USA, and comparative politics (A2)
Political ideas (A2)

The specification requires an in-depth study of UK and US government and politics.

Some of the indicative content is:

Government of the UK/USA
Structure of Parliament and Congress
Powers of the Prime Minister/President, the nature of the Constitution
Role and functions of political parties and nature of elections and electoral systems
Forms of direct democracy and the role of Pressure Groups.

Assessment

Your knowledge and skills will be assessed in a variety of ways including:

Frequent topic tests
Mock assessments
Practical assessments
Exams; you’ll sit one written exam at the end of year 1 and three exams at the end of year 2

Required Entry Qualifications

In order to study A-levels with us, all students need to obtain a strong GCSE grade profile, averaging 6 x Grade 6s. You must also have passed maths at Grade 4, and English Language or other humanities subject at Grade 6.

Next Steps

You’ll spend a year at each level; a year at AS Level and a year at A Level.

Students who study the course have access to a wide range of careers and higher education opportunities.

By the end of the course you will have learnt to evaluate and analyse information, work independently and communicate complex ideas effectively.

All these skills are recognised and valued by employers and universities.

Politics provides a basis for a number of popular careers, including journalism, law and business.

You may even become the future Prime Minister!

WHAT CAN I DO WITH A QUALIFICATION IN AS/A LEVEL POLITICS?

Public Relations and Communications Directors

National Government Administrative Occupations

Public Services Associate Professionals

Local Government Administrative Occupations

Knowledge

Education and Training: Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Sales and Marketing: Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.

English Language: Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Customer and Personal Service: Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Mathematics: Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Median Salary
£51,632

Average Qualifications
Honours, Bachelor's degree

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Knowledge

Clerical: Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.

English Language: Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Computers and Electronics: Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Law and Government: Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.

Median Salary
£27,724

Average Qualifications
Level 2 NVQ; GCSE at grades A*-C

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Knowledge

Administration and Management: Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modelling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Mathematics: Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Personnel and Human Resources: Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labour relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.

Median Salary
£35,330

Average Qualifications
Level 3 NVQ; A Levels

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Knowledge

Mathematics: Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Economics and Accounting: Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data.

Computers and Electronics: Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Median Salary
£21,416

Average Qualifications
Level 2 NVQ; GCSE at grades A*-C

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Skills

Monitoring

Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Writing

Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Active Listening

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Speaking

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Critical Thinking

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Reading Comprehension

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Active Learning

Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Learning Strategies

Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.

Mathematics

Using mathematics to solve problems.

Science

Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.

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Skills

Active Listening

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Reading Comprehension

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Speaking

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Writing

Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Critical Thinking

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Active Learning

Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Monitoring

Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Learning Strategies

Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.

Mathematics

Using mathematics to solve problems.

Science

Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.

View More About This Career

Skills

Monitoring

Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Active Listening

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Speaking

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Reading Comprehension

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Critical Thinking

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Writing

Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Active Learning

Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Learning Strategies

Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.

Mathematics

Using mathematics to solve problems.

Science

Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.

View More About This Career

Skills

Active Listening

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Active Learning

Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Critical Thinking

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Writing

Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Mathematics

Using mathematics to solve problems.

Reading Comprehension

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Learning Strategies

Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.