AQA A Level Philosophy specification (7172)
Understanding the exam specification is key to doing well in your AQA A Level Philosophy exam. It lays out exactly what you need to learn, how you'll be assessed, and what skills the examiners seek. Whether you're working through the course for the first time or revising for your final exams, the specification helps you stay focused and confident in your preparation.
We've included helpful revision tools to support you in putting the specification into practice. Wherever you're starting from, you'll find everything you need to feel prepared, from the official specification to high-quality resources designed to help you succeed.
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In the next section, you'll find a simplified summary of the official AQA A Level Philosophy specification, along with a breakdown of key topics, assessment structure, and useful study resources. We've also included links to topic-level guides and revision tools to help you put the specification into practice.
Contents
Disclaimer
This page includes a summary of the official AQA A Level Philosophy (7172) specification, provided to support your revision. While we've made every effort to ensure accuracy, Save My Exams is not affiliated with the awarding body.
For the most complete and up-to-date information, we strongly recommend consulting the official AQA specification PDF.
Specification overview
The AQA A-level Philosophy specification introduces students to fundamental philosophical concepts and methods, encouraging analytical thinking and engagement with profound questions in a secular context. It focuses on key areas including knowledge, ethics, metaphysics, and mind. Students develop critical reasoning, argument analysis, and essay writing skills, enabling them to interpret complex texts and construct clear, well-argued positions. The course is designed for seamless AS/A-level co-teaching, supports diversity in philosophical voices, and lays a strong foundation for higher education in philosophy or related disciplines.
Subject content breakdown
Epistemology
- What is knowledge: tripartite view and Gettier problem
- Perception: direct and indirect realism, idealism
- Reason: innatism, intuition and deduction
- Limits of knowledge: scepticism, Descartes’ arguments, reliabilism
Moral Philosophy
- Normative theories: utilitarianism, Kantian ethics, Aristotelian virtue ethics
- Applied ethics: lying, stealing, eating animals, simulated killing
- Meta-ethics: moral realism and anti-realism, naturalism, emotivism, prescriptivism
Metaphysics of God
- Nature of God: omnipotence, omniscience, goodness, eternal vs everlasting
- Arguments for existence: ontological, cosmological, teleological
- Problem of evil: logical and evidential, Free Will Defence, soul-making
- Religious language: verification and falsification debates
Metaphysics of Mind
- What is mind: qualia, intentionality
- Dualism: substance and property dualism, philosophical zombies, Mary argument
- Physicalism: behaviourism, identity theory, eliminative materialism
- Functionalism: multiple realisability, inverted qualia, China brain
Set Texts
- Includes works by Descartes, Berkeley, Hume, Kant, Aristotle, Mill, Ayer, Jackson, Chalmers, and others
Assessment structure
Paper 1: Epistemology and Moral Philosophy
- Covers knowledge, perception, reason, scepticism, normative ethics, applied and meta-ethics
- Written exam: 3 hours
- 100 marks, 50% of A-level
- Section A: Five questions on epistemology
- Section B: Five questions on moral philosophy
Paper 2: Metaphysics of God and Metaphysics of Mind
- Covers the nature and arguments about God, religious language, dualism, physicalism, functionalism
- Written exam: 3 hours
- 100 marks, 50% of A-level
- Section A: Five questions on metaphysics of God
Section B: Five questions on metaphysics of mind
Both papers include extended written responses requiring analysis, evaluation, and argument construction
Key tips for success
Doing well in your AQA A Level Philosophy isn't just about how much you study, but how you study. Here are a few proven tips to help you stay on track
- Start with a clear plan: Break the subject into topics and create a revision schedule that allows enough time for each. Start early to avoid last-minute stress.
- Focus on understanding, not memorising: Use our revision notes to build a strong foundation in each topic, making sure you actually understand the material.
- Practise regularly: Attempt past papers to familiarise yourself with the exam format and timing. Mark your answers to see how close you are to full marks.
- Be strategic with your revision: Use exam questions by topic to focus on weaker areas, and flashcards to reinforce important facts and terminology.
- Learn from mistakes: Whether it's from mock exams or practice questions, spend time reviewing what went wrong and why. This helps prevent repeat mistakes in the real exam.
- Stay balanced: Don't forget to take regular breaks, eat well, and get enough sleep, a healthy routine makes revision much more effective.
With the right approach and consistent practice, you'll build confidence and improve your chances of exam success.
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