Frequently Asked Questions
Q. When can I sit the exams?
A. Exams for AS 1-3 and A2 1 can be sat in both the spring and summer series. Exams for Units A2 2 and A2 3 are only available in the summer series.
Q. What range of grades are available for AS and A Level?
A. Both AS and A Level are awarded on a five-grade scale: A, B, C, D and E. Students who fail to reach the minimum standard for a Grade E are recorded as U (unclassified) and will not receive an AS or A Level certificate. However, we will report the uniform marks awarded to each assessment unit.
Q. Is the content of Unit AS 1, ‘The Government and Politics of Northern Ireland ’ going to change?
A. Content for Assessment Unit AS 1 will not change until the revised specification for first teaching in September 2008 is introduced.
Q. What are the benefits of studying GCE Government and Politics?
A. GCE Government and Politics helps young people develop their knowledge and understanding of the political systems in which they live and encourages them to become actively involved as citizens.
It enables students to develop their critical thinking and other essential academic and practical skills. It helps students to think for themselves and become independent and flexible people who can adapt to a variety of careers including law, business, finance, the government service and, of course, politics itself.
Q. What can students do to improve their performance in exams?
A. The Chief Examiner’s Report provides guidance for both students and teachers on how to improve performance in exams.
Q. How can this qualification help students gain Key Skills?
A. GCE Government and Politics can provide assessment evidence for nationally-specified Key Skills Level 3 in:
- Communication;
- Application of Number;
- Information Technology;
- Working with Others;
- Improving Your Own Learning and Performance; and
- Problem-Solving.
