How Many A Level Philosophy Papers Are There?

There are two A Level Philosophy exam papers. Both papers are three hours long, worth 100 marks, and count for 50% of your final A Level grade.

AQA is the only exam board that currently offers A Level Philosophy, so the assessment structure is the same for all students. In this guide, we'll explain what you'll be assessed on in each paper, how the exams are structured and what you can do to prepare.

Key Takeaways

• There are two A Level Philosophy exam papers, both set by AQA.

• Paper 1 covers epistemology and moral philosophy.

• Paper 2 covers the metaphysics of God and the metaphysics of mind.

• Each paper lasts three hours, is worth 100 marks and makes up 50% of your A Level.

How Many A Level Philosophy Papers Are There?

There are two A Level Philosophy exam papers, both set by AQA (opens in a new tab). Unlike some A Levels, there are no optional papers or coursework components, so each student is assessed using the same exam papers.

Each A Level Philosophy paper covers two of the four main topic areas and is worth half of your final grade. This helps you divide your revision equally, as each area accounts for 25% of your A Level.

A Level Philosophy Assessment Structure Explained

A Level Philosophy is a linear qualification, so you'll sit both written exams at the end of your course. There is no coursework or non-exam assessment.

The course covers four main topic areas:

• Epistemology

• Moral philosophy

• The metaphysics of God

• The metaphysics of mind

Each topic is worth 25% of your A Level. Epistemology and moral philosophy are assessed in Paper 1, while the metaphysics of God and the metaphysics of mind are assessed in Paper 2.

You can find a full breakdown of the course content in our guide to the topics covered in A Level Philosophy.

Each topic follows the same assessment structure, with questions worth 3, 5, 5, 12 and 25 marks. The 25-mark question requires you to analyse and evaluate philosophical arguments to reach a reasoned judgement.

How Many Exam Papers Are There for A Level Philosophy?

There are two A Level Philosophy exam papers:

• Paper 1: Epistemology and moral philosophy

• Paper 2: The metaphysics of God and the metaphysics of mind

Both papers are three hours long and follow the same structure. Each exam has two sections, one for each topic. You'll answer five questions in each section, meaning there are a total of 10 questions in each three-hour paper.

AQA A Level Philosophy Exam Papers

Paper 1: Epistemology and Moral Philosophy

Paper 1 covers two of the four A Level Philosophy topic areas:

• Epistemology, including the nature, sources and limits of knowledge

• Moral philosophy, including normative ethical theories, applied ethics and meta-ethics

Paper 2: The Metaphysics of God and the Metaphysics of Mind

Paper 2 covers the other two A Level Philosophy topic areas:

• The metaphysics of God, including the concept and nature of God, arguments relating to the existence of God and religious language

• The metaphysics of mind, including the nature of the mind, dualist theories and physicalist theories

Tips for Preparing for A Level Philosophy Papers

Practise every question type

Each topic follows the same pattern of 3-, 5-, 5-, 12-, and 25-mark questions. Save My Exams offers A Level Philosophy Past Papers, so you can see the exam paper structure and the types of questions included. 

Make sure you practise all the question types you will face. Get used to what each question asks you to do and how much time you have to answer it.  

Plan your 25-mark essays

The 25-mark questions require you to defend a clear conclusion. 

Before writing, identify the relevant arguments and debates, decide which position you will defend and organise your points in a logical order. 

Develop your evaluation skills

For the 25-mark question, 20 of the 25 marks are awarded for AO2: analysing and evaluating philosophical arguments to form reasoned judgements. 

Therefore, it’s essential that you don't simply describe different philosophical views. Practise responding to objections and counter-arguments and explaining why you think one argument is stronger than another.

Be precise with philosophical arguments

A Level Philosophy requires you to explain philosophical claims and arguments clearly and accurately. Make sure you understand how each argument works, including its premises, conclusions and any objections or counter-arguments.

Use philosophical terminology accurately too. Being precise will help you demonstrate your knowledge and make your reasoning easier for the examiner to follow.

Make connections with A Level Religious Studies

If you also study A Level Religious Studies, you may recognise some of the content in A Level Philosophy. Topics such as ethical theories, arguments for the existence of God and religious language can overlap. Both subjects also require you to develop strong evaluation skills.

However, make sure you answer questions from a philosophy perspective, focusing closely on the logic and structure of philosophical arguments.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are all A Level Philosophy papers compulsory?

Yes. You must sit both A Level Philosophy papers to complete the qualification. 

There are no optional papers or coursework components.

Do the A Level Philosophy papers have equal weighting?

Yes. Paper 1 and Paper 2 are each worth 50% of your final A Level grade. 

Each paper is worth 100 marks and lasts three hours.

Can I resit individual A Level Philosophy papers?

No. A Level Philosophy is a linear qualification, so you cannot resit an individual paper. 

If you choose to resit the qualification, you must take both papers again in the same exam series.

Final Thoughts

A Level Philosophy has two equally weighted exam papers, with each paper covering two of the four main topic areas.

Once you understand how the papers are structured, you can plan your revision around the different topics and question types. Save My Exams has revision resources to help you prepare for Philosophy and your other A Level subjects, including revision notes, past papers and exam questions.

References:

• A-level Philosophy 7172 | AQA (opens in a new tab)

• A Level Philosophy 7172 | Specification | AQA (opens in a new tab)