General Studies

GENERAL STUDIES

All year 13 pupils are encouraged to study either General Studies (available in 3 columns) or Critical Thinking (available in 2 columns)

AQA General Studies A 2760 Yr 13 only
Pupils study General Studies to AS level (taken in January), then have the option of continuing to study for the A2 examinations (in June). It is designed to broaden pupils' educational experience, reducing the effects of early specialisation, and it also provides an additional A-level qualification which is accepted by many universities alongside traditional subjects. It is NOT a test of general knowledge. General Studies is an important component of a well-rounded education.

What use is it?

• Pupils continue to pursue a wide range of disciplines. It offers an introduction to law and politics which they may not encounter elsewhere. It produces well-educated young adults.
• Any universities which make points offers are bound to include General Studies points – the AS and A2 grades are worth exactly the same as any other AS or A2 subject.
• The inclusion of General Studies on a pupil’s UCAS form to ANY university shows that they are following a wider range of study, and distinguishes them from the mass of other applications for the same course.
• We have many years’ experience where pupils who do not quite qualify to take up their university offer have been accepted because they have performed well in General Studies.

AS Unit 1 Culture And Society 1½ Hour written exam
AS Unit 2 Science & Society  1½ Hour written exam
A2 Unit 3 Culture And Society 2 Hour written exam
A2 Unit 4 Science & Society  2 Hour written exam

AQA website: 
http://www.aqa.org.uk/qual/gce/gen_stud_a_new.php

CRITICAL THINKING  Yr 13 Only 

OCR AS CRITICAL THINKING H052

Pupils applying for the top universities and those who are applying for courses such as medicine, veterinary science, and law are encouraged to take AS level critical thinking instead of General Studies. Not only is this course recommended by universities, it also enables pupils to apply what they have learned to their other A level subjects, and hopefully to improve their performance across their subjects.
There are two modules, taken in June.

AS Unit 1 (F501) Introduction to Critical Thinking 1½ Hour written exam
AS Unit 2 (F502) Assessing and Developing Argument 1½ Hour written exam

OCR website 
AS A Level GCE Critical Thinking Specification

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