A Level Politics Topics by Exam Board: Full List

Thinking about taking A Level Politics? If you’re interested, or even if you’re already enrolled and planning your revision, one of the first things to know is that your topics depend on your exam board. Each one, Edexcel, AQA, or OCR, has a slightly different structure and focus, though all cover core themes such as democracy, government, and political ideas.

This guide breaks down exactly which A Level Politics topics are included in each specification, so you can revise the correct materials with confidence.

Key Takeaways

• Each exam board covers slightly different A Level Politics content.

• All include UK government and politics, but optional topics vary, especially in US and global politics.

• Edexcel and AQA are the most widely taken specifications.

• Use this guide to check exactly which topics you need to revise for your exam board.

How A Level Politics Is Structured

No matter which exam board you’re with, all A Level Politics courses explore how political systems operate, how decisions are made, and how ideas shape society.

You’ll usually study:

• UK Politics, including democracy, elections, political parties, and participation.

• UK Government, the constitution, Parliament, and the Prime Minister.

• Political Ideas, covering core ideologies such as conservatism, socialism, and liberalism.

• Comparative Politics. Depending on your exam board, this may include US Politics or Global Politics.

Most students sit three exam papers at the end of Year 13. There’s no coursework, so everything depends on written exams.

Each paper focuses on a different part of the course. For example:

• Paper 1: UK Politics

• Paper 2: UK Government

• Paper 3: Either US or Global Politics (depending on your chosen option)

The exact structure and content vary by exam board, so it’s essential to know which specification your school or college follows. The next sections break this down clearly for Edexcel, AQA, and OCR.

Edexcel A Level Politics Topics

The Edexcel A Level Politics (opens in a new tab) (9PL0) course gives students a broad understanding of UK and global political systems, alongside the ideas that shape them. It’s divided into three main areas of study: UK Politics, UK Government, and either US or Global Politics.

Core Topics

UK Politics

• Democracy and Participation: Explore how citizens engage in politics, from voting to joining pressure groups and taking part in protest movements.

• Political Parties: Understand the role, organisation, and ideologies of major and minor UK parties.

• Electoral Systems: Compare voting systems used across the UK and evaluate their fairness and effectiveness.

• Voting Behaviour and the Media: Examine how social factors, campaigns, and media influence election outcomes.

UK Government

• The Constitution: Learn about the nature and sources of the UK constitution and ongoing debates about reform.

• Parliament: Study the functions, powers, and scrutiny role of the House of Commons and House of Lords.

• Prime Minister and Executive: Analyse how the PM and Cabinet operate and how power is distributed.

• Relations Between Branches: Explore how Parliament, the Executive, and the Judiciary interact within the political system.

Political Ideas

• Core Ideologies: Conservatism, Liberalism, and Socialism, including key thinkers and internal divisions.

• Optional Ideologies: One from Feminism, Nationalism, Anarchism, Multiculturalism, or Ecologism.

US or Global Politics (Option Paper)

Students choose between:

• US Politics: Focus on the US Constitution, Congress, the Presidency, the Supreme Court, and civil rights.

• Global Politics: Explore globalisation, international relations, global governance, and power in the international system.

What Is Covered in Edexcel A Level Politics Exam Papers?

AQA A Level Politics Topics

The AQA A Level Politics (opens in a new tab) (7152) course gives you a firm grounding in how political systems operate in the UK and the US, as well as the key political ideas that shape them.

It’s divided into three main areas of study, each assessed in a separate exam paper.

Core Topics

The Government and Politics of the UK

• Democracy and Participation: Understand the principles of democracy, political participation, and how citizens can influence politics.

• Elections and Voting: Explore electoral systems, voting behaviour, and the impact of electoral outcomes.

• Political Parties: Learn how parties are structured, financed, and what policies and ideologies they promote.

• Pressure Groups: Study the role of interest groups and social movements in shaping political debate.

• The Constitution: Examine the nature, sources, and development of the UK constitution.

• Parliament: Understand the structure, powers, and scrutiny role of Parliament.

• The Prime Minister and Executive: Analyse how government operates and where power lies within the executive.

• Relations Between Branches: Explore how the legislative, executive, and judiciary interact in the UK system.

Government and Politics of the USA and Comparative Politics

• The US Constitution and Federalism: Study the principles of the US system and how power is shared between states and the federal government.

• Congress: Understand the role, structure, and powers of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

• The Presidency: Learn how presidents exercise power and how they’re held accountable.

• The Supreme Court: Examine its impact on civil rights and constitutional interpretation.

• Democracy and Participation in the US: Explore elections, political parties, and pressure groups in the American context.

• Comparative Politics (UK and US): Compare the political systems, constitutions, executives, legislatures, judiciaries, and rights protection of the UK and the US.

Political Ideas

• Core Ideologies: Liberalism, Conservatism, Socialism.

• Optional Ideology (choose one): Feminism, Nationalism, Multiculturalism, Anarchism, or Ecologism.

Each ideology includes key thinkers and concepts, helping you understand the intellectual roots of modern politics.

What Is Covered in AQA A Level Politics Exam Papers?

OCR A Level Politics Topics

The OCR A Level Government and Politics (opens in a new tab) (H495) course gives students the flexibility to explore political systems in the UK, the US, or a global context. It’s designed to help you understand how political institutions operate, how power is distributed, and how ideologies influence real-world decisions.

Like the other exam boards, OCR divides its content into three main components, each assessed in a separate paper.

Core Topics

UK Politics and Core Political Ideas

• Democracy and Participation: Study how citizens engage with politics through elections, referendums, and pressure groups.

• Political Parties: Explore how parties compete, campaign, and shape government policy.

• Electoral Systems: Compare how different systems operate and their impact on representation and outcomes.

• Voting Behaviour and the Media: Analyse what influences voter choices and how the media shapes political debate.

• Core Political Ideas: Understand the main ideas and thinkers behind Liberalism, Conservatism, and Socialism.

UK Government and Optional Political Ideas

• The Constitution: Learn about the principles, sources, and flexibility of the UK constitution.

• Parliament: Study the structure and role of the House of Commons and House of Lords.

• The Prime Minister and Executive: Examine how government decisions are made and implemented.

• Relations Between Branches: Understand how the branches of government— Parliament, the Executive, and the Judiciary — interact.

• Optional Political Ideologies: Choose one from Anarchism, Feminism, Ecologism, Multiculturalism, or Nationalism.

Comparative Politics: US or Global

Students choose one of two comparative routes:

• US Politics: Study the US Constitution, Congress, the Presidency, and the Supreme Court, as well as civil rights and democracy in the US system.

• Global Politics: Explore international relations, global governance, and major debates around power, development, and human rights.

What Is Covered in OCR A Level Politics Exam Papers?

Key Differences Between Exam Boards

Although all three exam boards — Edexcel, AQA, and OCR — cover similar themes, such as democracy, power, and political ideas, their structures and emphases differ.

The table below summarises how each exam board structures A Level Politics and what makes each one distinctive.

In summary:

• Edexcel has the broadest range of ideology content.

• AQA requires direct UK–US comparison throughout.

• OCR offers the greatest choice between US and Global Politics.

Understanding these differences helps you focus your revision and choose the course that best matches your strengths. No matter which board you study with, you’ll develop strong analytical, evaluative, and essay-writing skills, essential for university study and beyond.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which exam board is hardest for A Level Politics?

There’s no single “hardest” exam board; it depends on your strengths and preferences.

AQA is often seen as more analytical because it requires constant comparison between the UK and the US. Edexcel has a broader scope, including optional Global Politics, while OCR offers flexibility with a choice between US and Global Politics routes. 

If you prefer structure and comparison, AQA may be the best fit; if you like variety and choice, Edexcel or OCR might be a better option.

Are political ideologies the same across boards?

All students study the core ideologies of liberalism, conservatism, and socialism, but optional topics vary.

Edexcel and AQA often include feminism or nationalism, while OCR adds options such as anarchism, ecologism, or multiculturalism. These differences don’t change the core skills you’ll develop; you’ll still learn to apply political ideas to real-world systems and debates.

Do all students study both UK and US politics?

Not always. AQA and Edexcel include US Politics as part of their core specification, while OCR allows schools to choose between US and Global Politics. 

However, all students study UK Politics and Government. It’s the foundation of every specification.

Next Steps for Your Revision

Knowing exactly what’s on your exam board’s specification is one of the easiest ways to make your A Level Politics revision more focused and effective.

Double-check which topics your teacher has chosen, especially for optional ideologies and comparative papers. Then use the paper structure — not just the topic list — to plan your essays and practise under exam-style conditions. That’s how you’ll turn a long syllabus into a smart, manageable study plan. 

Use Save My Exams’ A Level Politics resources for topic breakdowns, past papers, and mark schemes. And whatever A Level options you go for, Save My Exams’ past papers, revision notes, and exam questions will help you master every topic and ace your exam preparation.

References

• Edexcel A Level Politics (9PL0) Specification (opens in a new tab)

• AQA A Level Politics (7152) Specification (opens in a new tab)

• OCR AS/A Level Government & Politics (H495) Specification (opens in a new tab)