Specification = GENERAL STUDIES OCR AS H079 A level H479

Introduction

It is undoubtedly true, as is often pointed out, that some universities and many more academic departments do not accept General Studies as being equal to conventional A level disciplines. It is equally true that most universities and most departments do accept it as an alternative third A level.

It is worth pointing out that at least some university departments regard General Studies as their best indicator of likely performance on a degree course since the approach requires almost entirely the application of skills learned rather than a test of content.

Since we began teaching our General Studies examination programme, we have been delighted with the results in terms of the A level grades achieved. In some cases, the A level has not been of direct use to a candidate applying for degree courses, but in many cases it has either been taken into account in terms of the points gained to qualify for admission, or it has taken the place of the third A level. Last year, again, General Studies was one of the most successful A levels in terms of its results.

Several teaching staff are involved in the two-year programme, providing their individual expertise in teaching classes or supervising individual private studies. General Studies calls for skills in handling information from varied areas of knowledge in a diversity of form and allows the development of these skills in a context free from the restrictions imposed by other subject-specification disciplines.

All Sixth Form students who are competent in written and spoken English are required to attend classes in General Studies and normally most choose to take the examination at A level.

Specification

General Studies is examined in four papers, two for the AS and two for the A2 exam leading to the A level qualification.

There are three main ingredients to the programme of study:

· A Scientific Domain including Mathematics, Science and Technology
· A Cultural Domain including Culture, Morality, Arts and Humanities
· A Social Domain including Society, Politics and Economics

General Studies is the application of academic and theoretical knowledge to a discussion of current problems or issues in every day life.

• The Science Domain touches issues such as global warming, pollution, principles of scientific study, mathematical reasoning and techniques, gravity, disease control, recycling and peace-keeping among many others.

• The Culture Domain touches issues of belief, instincts, conscience, minority cultures, the nature of western society, the media, fashion, music and aesthetics.

• The Social Domain covers the political system, education, poverty, social structure, ideologies, human behaviour, law and ethics, transport issues and current areas of political controversy.

Scheme of Assessment

AS General Studies

AS Unit F731: The Cultural and Social Domains

This paper has four sections:

Section A: Candidates focus on the Cultural Domain and are provided with focused resource material on which they answer a series of short, structured questions.
Section B: Candidates focus on the Cultural Domain and are required to write at greater length on one of three topics.
Section C: Candidates focus on the Social Domain and are provided with focused resource material on which they answer a series of short, structured questions.
Section D: Candidates focus on the Social Domain and are required to write at greater length on one of three topics.

This unit counts for 70% of the total AS GCE marks (and 35% of the A2 qualification)
2 h written paper 120 marks
Candidates answer all of Sections A and C, and one question in Sections B and D.

AS Unit F732: The Scientific Domain

This paper has two sections:

Section A: Candidates focus on the Scientific Domain and are provided with focused resource material on which they answer a series of short, structured questions.
Section B: Candidates focus on the Scientific Domain and are required to write at greater length on one of three topics.

This unit counts for 30% of the total AS GCE marks (and 35% of the A2 qualification)
1 h written paper 60 marks
Candidates answer all the questions in Section A and one question in Section B.

A2 General Studies

A2 Unit F733: Domain Exploration: Applying Synoptic Skills

This question paper has two sections:

Section A: Candidates are required to answer four mandatory questions covering all three domains. Each of these questions draws on the thinking and analytical skills listed in teaching module 4.
Section B: Candidates are required to answer one essay question from a choice of three. The question requires extended writing in essay form.


25% of the total Advanced GCE marks 1.5 h written paper 100 marks
This unit is synoptic.

A2 Unit F734: Culture, Science and Society: Making Connections

This question paper consists of two compulsory questions. The questions require interpretation of, and comment on, stimulus material provided and extended writing in essay form.

25% of the total Advanced GCE marks 1.5 h written paper 100 marks
This unit is synoptic.