General Studies

What are the entry requirements?

All students take General Studies AS level in January of Year 12. To progress to the A2 level, students require a minimum of a Grade D at AS level General Studies. The A2 exams are taken in January of Year 13.

Course Outline

AS:

Unit F731: Cultural and Social Domains

Unit F732: Scientific domain

A2:

Unit F733: Domain exploration: applying synoptic skills Control Culture, Science and Society

Unit F734: Making Connections

How will I be assessed?

AS:

Unit 1: Two written exams, one of 2 hours and one of an hour

A2:

Unit 2: Two written exams, each of 90 minutes

What will I study?

The course is delivered through a ‘General Studies day’ for each of the two levels. During the day you will learn about the format of the examinations and will go through some sample exam papers. There will be an input from each of the subject areas – social, cultural and scientific. In addition you are expected to keep up to date with current affairs and do some independent work on each of the topic areas.

Cultural and Social Domains (AS)

In this section you will gain an appreciation of political systems, processes and goals, social and economic trends and constraints. You will learn to explain and evaluate human behaviour and explore beliefs, values, and moral reasoning. In addition you also study media and communication and creativity and innovation

Scientific Domain (AS)

For the scientific domain you will gain an appreciation of the characteristics of the sciences (physical, life and earth), an understanding of scientific methods, principles, criteria and their application. You also study mathematical reasoning and its application

Domain Exploration: Applying Synoptic Skills (A2)

This area enables you to understand the place of ideologies and values in society, together with the nature of objectivity in social sciences: debate and disagreement. You will appreciate the relationship between law, society and ethics, understand religious experience and its alternatives and look at aspects of culture and aesthetic evaluation.

Culture, Science and Society: Making Connections (A2)

You will understand the nature of scientific objectivity and the question of progress. In addition you will also appreciate the social, ethical and environmental implications and consequences of scientific discoveries and technological development. The moral responsibility of scientists and the relationship between technology, science, society (past and/or present) and ideology will be discussed ad debated.

Where can it lead me?

General Studies can be a valuable qualification showing employers and universities that you have a broad range off knowledge. Many students use it to boost their overall UCAS points when applying to university.