How Many A Level Philosophy Papers Are There?

There are two A Level Philosophy papers, both set by AQA. Each is 3 hours long and worth 50% of your grade. AQA is the only exam board offering A Level Philosophy. This article explains exactly what each paper covers, how long they are, and how they’re weighted.

Key Takeaways

• A Level Philosophy is only offered by AQA — it is the sole exam board for this subject in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

• The qualification is assessed through two written papers, both sat at the end of Year 13. There is no coursework.

• Both papers are equally weighted at 50% each, so strong preparation across all topics is essential.

• The papers draw on core branches of philosophy: epistemology, metaphysics of God, metaphysics of mind, and moral philosophy — so the depth of understanding matters as much as breadth.

A Level Philosophy Assessment Structure Explained

A Level Philosophy is a linear qualification. This means all of your exams are taken at the end of Year 13, with no marks awarded during the course itself. There is no coursework, no controlled assessment, and no portfolio: your entire grade is determined by two written exams at the end of the two-year course.

This is worth keeping in mind when planning your revision. Because nothing counts until the final exams, it’s important to maintain and revisit your knowledge. Do this regularly across both years of study; don’t just revise in the weeks immediately before the exams.

The content of AQA A Level Philosophy (opens in a new tab) is divided into four main branches, which together make up the two exam papers:

• Epistemology: this is the philosophical study of knowledge. What does it mean to know something? Can we be certain of anything? This area covers topics including the nature of perception and the problem of the external world. It also explores the nature and scope of our knowledge, and debates between rationalism and empiricism.

• Moral Philosophy: how should we act? This covers normative ethical theories including utilitarianism, Kantian deontological ethics, and Aristotelian virtue ethics. It also explores metaethical questions about the nature of moral claims themselves (cognitivism, non-cognitivism, moral realism, and error theory).

• Metaphysics of God: philosophical arguments about the existence and nature of God. This includes the ontological, cosmological, and teleological arguments for God’s existence. It also explores challenges to theism including the problem of evil and the relationship between religious language and meaning.

• Metaphysics of Mind: what is the mind, and how does it relate to the physical body? This area covers dualism (Descartes), physicalism, functionalism, and the concept of consciousness, including the ‘hard problem’ of explaining subjective experience.

These four areas are not isolated from each other — good A Level Philosophy students are expected to make connections across topics and evaluate philosophical arguments with precision and rigour.

How Many Exam Papers Are There For A Level Philosophy?

There are two exam papers (opens in a new tab) for AQA A Level Philosophy (7172). Each paper is 3 hours long and is worth 50% of the total qualification. The 3 hours given per paper reflect the depth of extended writing that philosophy exams require.

•       Paper 1: Epistemology and Moral Philosophy
•       Paper 2: The Metaphysics of God and the Metaphysics of Mind

Both papers are mandatory. Total examination time across both papers is 6 hours.

Each paper contains a set of structured questions and extended essay questions. Questions ask you to explain philosophical positions, analyse arguments, and evaluate competing views. The extended essays in particular reward students who can construct a well-supported argument, rather than simply listing points.

Breakdown of Exam Papers

AQA is the only exam board offering A Level Philosophy in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The specification covers four philosophical areas across two papers. Both papers are sat at the end of Year 13 and they are equally weighted.

 Each AQA A Level Philosophy paper has the same structure: 

• Section A: five questions on the first topic

• Section B: five questions on the second topic

The 25-mark essay questions are where many students lose marks by describing philosophical positions rather than genuinely arguing and evaluating. AQA’s mark scheme explicitly rewards students who engage critically with the strengths and weaknesses of a position, not just those who describe it accurately.

Past papers and specimen papers are available from AQA’s website (opens in a new tab) as well as the A Level Philosophy past papers on Save My Exams. The examiner reports published after each series are particularly useful for understanding how to improve essay answers.

The long essay answers might seem daunting but former A Level Philosophy student, Amelia, explains the positive side:

“Writing such long essays in an exam feels like an enormous task when you think about it. But I found it was also a chance to really focus your thoughts and arguments. I didn’t have to switch between ideas as much as you do in other subject papers. This makes it really interesting and fulfilling if you practise and learn to do it well.”

Tips for Preparing for A Level Philosophy Papers

A Level Philosophy rewards precise arguments and deep engagement with ideas. Here are five practical tips to help you prepare effectively:

• Learn the arguments, not just the conclusions. It’s tempting to memorise what Descartes or Kant concluded, but examiners want to see that you understand why they argued what they did. Practise explaining arguments in your own words from scratch. If you can reconstruct an argument clearly, you really understand it.

• Master the language of philosophical evaluation. Words like “critique,” “evaluate,” and “assess” appear in most extended questions. Evaluation in philosophy means identifying and responding to the strongest objections to a position, not just listing pros and cons. Practise writing balanced, argued evaluations that reach a clear conclusion.

• Practise 25-mark essays under timed conditions. The extended essays are worth the most marks and are the hardest part of the paper. Under exam conditions, you have roughly 45–50 minutes per essay. Practise this regularly. Plan your essay before you write for 2–3 minutes. Aim for a clear thesis in your introduction, develop your argument across 4–5 paragraphs, and conclude with a reasoned judgement.

• Build a thinker-and-argument revision sheet for each topic. For every topic on the specification create a concise reference sheet: the key thinker(s), the core argument in 3–4 steps, the strongest objection, and a possible response. This structure mirrors what a good exam answer needs to do.

• Use past papers and mark schemes together. Past papers are one of the best preparation tools you have. But don’t just attempt the questions. Read the mark schemes and examiner reports carefully afterwards. AQA publishes commentary on what high-scoring answers looked like and what common mistakes to avoid. Save My Exams provides A Level Philosophy past papers to help you practice fully.

Two 3-hour papers, each worth half your grade: balanced preparation across all four topics is key. To help organise your revision, check out our full guide to the A Level Philosophy topics in the Save My Exams Learning Hub.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are all A Level Philosophy papers compulsory?

Yes, both papers are compulsory. There is no option to sit only one paper or to choose between alternative papers. AQA is the only exam board offering A Level Philosophy so there is no alternative specification.

Do the papers have equal weighting?

Yes. Paper 1 (Epistemology and  Moral Philosophy) and Paper 2 (Metaphysics of God and the Metaphysics of Mind) are each worth 50% of your total grade. Aim for consistent preparation and confidence across all four topic areas covered by the two papers.

Can I resit individual A Level Philosophy papers?

No. A Level Philosophy, like all linear A Level qualifications, does not allow you to resit individual papers in isolation. If you want to improve your grade, you must resit the full qualification — both papers — in a subsequent exam series. 

If you’re considering a resit, speak to your teacher or school about the options available to you and make use of AQA’s past papers, mark schemes, and examiner reports to understand exactly where to focus your effort.

References

A level Philosophy 7172 | Specification | AQA (opens in a new tab)
A level Philosophy 7172 | Specification | Specification At A Glance | AQA (opens in a new tab)