Paper 1 Paper 2Name of paper Scientific Domain

duration 2 hours

marks available

60

% of overall AS grade

30%

Section A Compulsory short-response questions and problems; calculator can be used.

Section B 30-mark essay response based on the cultural domain; choice of 3 questions.

Section C compulsory short-response questions based on source material relating to social domain.

Section D

Paper 1 Paper 2Name of paper Cultural & Social Domains Scientific Domain

duration 2 hours 1 hour

marks available

120 60

% of overall AS grade

70% 30%

Section A compulsory short-response questions based on source material relating to cultural domain.

Compulsory short-response questions and problems; calculator can be used.

Section B 30-mark essay response based on the cultural domain; choice of 3 questions.

30-mark essay response based on scientific domain; choice of 3 questions.

Section C compulsory short-response questions based on source material relating to social domain.

Section D 30-mark essay response based on social domain; choice of 3 questions.

A2 General Studies

Two papers, though unlike AS these carry equal weighting Both papers 1.5 hours long with two main sections Focus on synoptic skills - this means putting together what has been studied at AS in

relation to social, cultural and scientific domains.

A2 Paper 1 - Applying Synoptic Skills Accounts for 50% of A2 grade

1.5 hours long with 100 marks available

A02 (evidencing ideas) accounts for 50% of all marks on this paper

Section A: four compulsory questions. Three 10-mark questions covering three different domains (social, cultural, scientific) and one synoptic twenty-mark question.

Section B: one synoptic 50-mark essay question from a choice of three

Questions are frequently based on problem-solving, logic and evaluating different types of knowledge. A recurrent question focus is based around fact and opinion.

Centres would help their candidates by coaching them to produce concise, focused and above all shorter answers to Questions 1, 2 and 3 in Section A. Many Examiners noted candidates who wrote two full pages in answer to each of these questions, and it was often the case that such answers earned the full quota of awardable marks from only a quarter of their wordage

(2012 Examiner’s Report)

Statement A is fact - the source (BMA) is a reputable scientific journal- the statement is the outcome of scientific research- the symptoms are physically diagnosable

Statement B is opinion

Statement A is fact - the source (BMA) is a reputable scientific journal- the statement is the outcome of scientific research- the symptoms are physically diagnosable

Statement B is opinion – the scientific credentials of Carlos Santana not established- no scientific evidence is cited- much of the language is unclear and subjective

Another common question focus in Section A is based around evaluating arguments and identifying flaws in reasoning.

Alvin’s statement presumes that prediction techniques will naturally lead to better protection – not necessarily the case unless other measures, e.g. early evacuation, were put in place.

Just because some politicians are renowned for lying it does not necessarily follow that all do.

2/3 of a population sharing a view does not mean it is true.

That events coincide in time does not mean that they are linked

Some of the other questions are more straightforward, focusing on key aspects of social, cultural and scientific

Despite many people in Britain now being irreligious, there are still several ways in which religion bears a significant influence on life in the UK. The basic laws of our society are essentially underpinned by religion. For example, murder, stealing and perjury are conveyed in the Christian Ten Commandments. This is a way in which all of our lives, implicitly, are influenced by religion. Another way that religious belief influences modern society is in the attitudes taken towards issues such as family life, marriage and sexuality. For example, although gay marriage has now been legalised this took a long time to pass into law. It might be perceived that this was because various governments were fearful of offending or alienating religious groups and individuals who disagreed with same-sex marriage. A further way in which religion is shown to impact upon contemporary society is through religious dress. For example this can be seen in the hijab worn by many Muslim women and the various types of cross Christians often wear. The fact that religion is ingrained in something as basic as the clothes we wear, shows how it is undeniably still an influence in the UK today.