[Obfuscator]

(Original post by mandem2k11)
yeah im currently finding acroynms a decent way, but then even remembering acroynms for many things..i just dont see how to do it!

Lots of time, every day. Talk to yourself. Write as much as you can without looking at notes. Talk about a subject to your parents / pet.

Try and learn it in a way that is logical, rather like the essays need to be. You need to learn the points and the examples together, so when you're writing, both spring to mind at the same time, so instantly as you write the point you write the example, too.

[mondegreen]

Have a look at the Examiner Reports: http://www.edexcel.com/quals/gce/gce...s/default.aspx I found them really useful in honing your technique and pushing you up the bands by telling you what examiners where looking for in specific questions. They also give 'sample answers' which are also really useful.

If you're a bit overwhelmed by the amount to learn, our teachers told us that it was ok to not learn one of the topics for unit 1. Obviously it's up to you, but if you have to answer 2 topics, and know 3 really securely, then it technically should be ok?

Also, to OP, really don't worry about you current grades! I got a low D in my mock about 4 weeks before the exam, and managed to get it up to an A for the real thing (without sacrificing my other subjects!)
(not saying this to 'boast', just to show that it is possible!)

Good luck everyone!

[mandem2k11]

(Original post by mondegreen)
Have a look at the Examiner Reports: http://www.edexcel.com/quals/gce/gce...s/default.aspx I found them really useful in honing your technique and pushing you up the bands by telling you what examiners where looking for in specific questions. They also give 'sample answers' which are also really useful.

If you're a bit overwhelmed by the amount to learn, our teachers told us that it was ok to not learn one of the topics for unit 1. Obviously it's up to you, but if you have to answer 2 topics, and know 3 really securely, then it technically should be ok?

Also, to OP, really don't worry about you current grades! I got a low D in my mock about 4 weeks before the exam, and managed to get it up to an A for the real thing (without sacrificing my other subjects!)
(not saying this to 'boast', just to show that it is possible!)

Good luck everyone!

ok thanks for the help

[raaachek]

Politics for Dummies really helped me!

[mandem2k11]

(Original post by raaachek)
Politics for Dummies really helped me!

do you know anything regarding this:

http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/show....php?t=1967284

[raaachek]

(Original post by mandem2k11)
do you know anything regarding this:

http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/show....php?t=1967284

No, sorry I did AQA.

[emcero]

(Original post by mandem2k11)
do you know anything regarding this:

http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/show....php?t=1967284

Okay, so I heard back from my old teacher, and he says that he believes that we're overdue for a question on a single party in the parties system, so look at those. I've also got a load of questions from past years that could come up in another form. I'll post them below (this is just unit 1)

ELECTIONS

5 Mark
Outline the workings of the Party List electoral system. (Jan 12)
Distinguish between a mandate and a manifesto. (Jun 11)
How do elections promote democracy? (Jan 11)
Outline two functions of elections. (Jun 10)
Define proportional representation. (Jan 10)
What is the doctrine of the mandate? (Jun 09)
Outline the workings of the Additional Member System (AMS). (Jan 09)

10 Mark
Explain three criticisms of the ‘first past the post’ electoral system. (Jan 12)
Explain the workings of three electoral systems used in the UK. (Jun 11)
Distinguish between majoritarian representation and proportional representation. (Jan 11)
Explain three advantages of the ‘first past the post’ electoral system. (Jun 10)
Explain why proportional electoral systems have been more widely used in the UK since 1997. (Jan 10)
Explain the workings of three electoral systems used in the UK. (Jun 09)
How has the use of AMS affected party representation in the UK? (Jan 09)

25 Mark
Make out a case in favour of retaining the ‘first past the post’ electoral system
for the House of Commons. (Jan 12)
Should the Westminster electoral system be reformed? (Jun 11)
How far does the Westminster electoral system ensure strong and stable government? (Jan 11)
Make out a case in favour of the introduction of proportional representation for Westminster elections. (Jun 10)
Assess the criticisms of the various electoral systems used in the UK. (Jan 10)
Assess the advantages of the ‘first past the post’ electoral system. (Jun 09)
Should proportional representation be introduced for elections to the House of Commons? (Jan 09)

PRESSURE GROUPS

5 Mark
How do pressure groups promote functional representation? (January 2012)
Using examples, distinguish between promotional and sectional pressure groups. (June 2011)
Outline two differences between pressure groups and political parties. (January 2011)
Distinguish between elitism and pluralism. (June 2010)
Using examples, distinguish between insider and outsider pressure groups. (January 2010)
What is meant by pluralism? (June 2009)
Using examples, distinguish between sectional and promotional pressure groups. (January 2009)

10 Mark

Explain three factors which may restrict the influence of a pressure group. (January 2012)
How and why do pressure groups seek to influence public opinion? (June 2011)
How and why do some pressure groups use direct action? (January 2011)
Explain three political functions of a pressure group. (June 2010)
Explain the reasons why the success of pressure groups may be limited. (January 2010)
Why is it sometimes difficult to distinguish between pressure groups and political parties? (June 2009)
Explain the methods used by pressure groups to influence government. (January 2009)

25 Mark

Are pressure groups becoming more powerful, or less powerful? (January 2012)
Is pressure group politics in the UK better described as pluralist or as elitist? (June 2011)
To what extent are the largest pressure groups the most successful ones? (January 2011)
To what extent to pressure groups undermine democracy? (June 2010)
To what extent do pressure groups promote political participation in the UK? (January 2010)
To what extent have pressure groups become more important in recent years? (June 2009)
To what extent do pressure groups promote pluralist democracy? (January 2009)


DEMOCRACY

5 Mark

How does a referendum differ from an election? (January 2012)
Outline the key features of a referendum. (June 2011)
Apart from voting in elections and referendums, describe two ways of participating in politics(January 2011)
What is meant by legitimacy? (June 2010)
Define direct democracy (January 2010)
Define liberal democracy. (June 2009)
What are the main features of representative democracy? (January 2009)

10 Mark

Explain the arguments in favour of making voting compulsory. (January 2012)
Apart from referendums, explain three ways in which democracy in the UK could be improved. (June 2011)
Explain the arguments in favour of lowering the voting age.(January 2011)
Explain three strengths of representative democracy (June 2010)
Explain three forms of democratic participation. (January 2010)
Explain the main features of the UK’s democratic system.(June 2009)
In what ways has political participation declined in the UK in recent years? (January 2009)

25 Mark

How effectively does representative democracy operate in the UK? (January 2012)
To what extent does democracy in the UK suffer from a ‘participation crisis’? (June 2011)
To what extent would the wider use of referendums improve democracy in the UK? (January 2011)
How democratic is the UK? (June 2010)
Assess the arguments in favour of the greater use of direct democracy in the UK. (January 2010)
To what extent is there a ‘democratic deficit’ in the UK? (June 2009)
Evaluate the effectiveness of the various ways in which participation and democracy could be strengthened in the UK.(January 2009)

PARTIES

5 Mark
Outline two ideas associated with liberalism. (Jan 2012)
What is meant by consensus politics? (June 2011)

Define two functions of a political party. (Jan 2011)
Distinguish between left-wing and right-wing political ideas. (June 2010)
Using an example, define consensus politics (Jan 10)
Outline two functions of a political party. (June 2009)
Using an example, define adversary politics. (Jan 2009)

10 Mark
Explain three policies of the modern Labour Party. (Jan 2012)
Has consensus politics become more or less evident in the UK since May 2010? (June 2011)
Explain what is meant by the term Thatcherism. (Jan 2011)
Explain the ideas and policies which link the modern Labour Party to socialism. (Jan 2010)
Explain the differences within the Labour Party over ideas and policies. (June 2010)
In what ways has the Conservative Party distanced itself from Thatcherism? (June 2009)
What divisions exist within the current Conservative Party over ideas and policies? (Jan 2009)

25 Mark
To what extent have the parties involved in the Conservative-Liberal Democrat
coalition remained faithful, since 2010, to their traditional principles and ideas? (Jan 2012)
To what extent are the major UK parties internally united over ideas and policies? (June 2011)
To what extent do the UK’s major parties accept Thatcherite ideas and policies? (Jan 2011)
To what extent is the modern Conservative Party influenced by ‘One Nation’
principles? (Jan 2010)
To what extent are the ideas and policies of the Labour and Conservative parties similar? (June 2010)
To what extent is the Labour Party still committed to its traditional principles? (June 2009)
To what extent are there differences between the Labour and Conservative parties
over policies and ideas? (Jan 2009)



What I and my friends did was to make thorough plans for quite a few essays and learn them as it got closer to the exam and time was tight. I hope these are helpful for you.

[Sisko_197]

(Original post by raaachek)
No, sorry I did AQA.

you are useless ¬_¬

[pink pineapple]

usually I go through my notes and write them up in shorthand as I find that if I write them out again, it helps the information to sink in

[raaachek]

(Original post by Sisko_197)
you are useless ¬_¬

lol!! xD Stop stalking me, you baby-faced BETCH!

[mandem2k11]

(Original post by emcero)
Okay, so I heard back from my old teacher, and he says that he believes that we're overdue for a question on a single party in the parties system, so look at those. I've also got a load of questions from past years that could come up in another form. I'll post them below (this is just unit 1)

ELECTIONS

5 Mark
Outline the workings of the Party List electoral system. (Jan 12)
Distinguish between a mandate and a manifesto. (Jun 11)
How do elections promote democracy? (Jan 11)
Outline two functions of elections. (Jun 10)
Define proportional representation. (Jan 10)
What is the doctrine of the mandate? (Jun 09)
Outline the workings of the Additional Member System (AMS). (Jan 09)

10 Mark
Explain three criticisms of the ‘first past the post’ electoral system. (Jan 12)
Explain the workings of three electoral systems used in the UK. (Jun 11)
Distinguish between majoritarian representation and proportional representation. (Jan 11)
Explain three advantages of the ‘first past the post’ electoral system. (Jun 10)
Explain why proportional electoral systems have been more widely used in the UK since 1997. (Jan 10)
Explain the workings of three electoral systems used in the UK. (Jun 09)
How has the use of AMS affected party representation in the UK? (Jan 09)

25 Mark
Make out a case in favour of retaining the ‘first past the post’ electoral system
for the House of Commons. (Jan 12)
Should the Westminster electoral system be reformed? (Jun 11)
How far does the Westminster electoral system ensure strong and stable government? (Jan 11)
Make out a case in favour of the introduction of proportional representation for Westminster elections. (Jun 10)
Assess the criticisms of the various electoral systems used in the UK. (Jan 10)
Assess the advantages of the ‘first past the post’ electoral system. (Jun 09)
Should proportional representation be introduced for elections to the House of Commons? (Jan 09)

PRESSURE GROUPS

5 Mark
How do pressure groups promote functional representation? (January 2012)
Using examples, distinguish between promotional and sectional pressure groups. (June 2011)
Outline two differences between pressure groups and political parties. (January 2011)
Distinguish between elitism and pluralism. (June 2010)
Using examples, distinguish between insider and outsider pressure groups. (January 2010)
What is meant by pluralism? (June 2009)
Using examples, distinguish between sectional and promotional pressure groups. (January 2009)

10 Mark

Explain three factors which may restrict the influence of a pressure group. (January 2012)
How and why do pressure groups seek to influence public opinion? (June 2011)
How and why do some pressure groups use direct action? (January 2011)
Explain three political functions of a pressure group. (June 2010)
Explain the reasons why the success of pressure groups may be limited. (January 2010)
Why is it sometimes difficult to distinguish between pressure groups and political parties? (June 2009)
Explain the methods used by pressure groups to influence government. (January 2009)

25 Mark

Are pressure groups becoming more powerful, or less powerful? (January 2012)
Is pressure group politics in the UK better described as pluralist or as elitist? (June 2011)
To what extent are the largest pressure groups the most successful ones? (January 2011)
To what extent to pressure groups undermine democracy? (June 2010)
To what extent do pressure groups promote political participation in the UK? (January 2010)
To what extent have pressure groups become more important in recent years? (June 2009)
To what extent do pressure groups promote pluralist democracy? (January 2009)


DEMOCRACY

5 Mark

How does a referendum differ from an election? (January 2012)
Outline the key features of a referendum. (June 2011)
Apart from voting in elections and referendums, describe two ways of participating in politics(January 2011)
What is meant by legitimacy? (June 2010)
Define direct democracy (January 2010)
Define liberal democracy. (June 2009)
What are the main features of representative democracy? (January 2009)

10 Mark

Explain the arguments in favour of making voting compulsory. (January 2012)
Apart from referendums, explain three ways in which democracy in the UK could be improved. (June 2011)
Explain the arguments in favour of lowering the voting age.(January 2011)
Explain three strengths of representative democracy (June 2010)
Explain three forms of democratic participation. (January 2010)
Explain the main features of the UK’s democratic system.(June 2009)
In what ways has political participation declined in the UK in recent years? (January 2009)

25 Mark

How effectively does representative democracy operate in the UK? (January 2012)
To what extent does democracy in the UK suffer from a ‘participation crisis’? (June 2011)
To what extent would the wider use of referendums improve democracy in the UK? (January 2011)
How democratic is the UK? (June 2010)
Assess the arguments in favour of the greater use of direct democracy in the UK. (January 2010)
To what extent is there a ‘democratic deficit’ in the UK? (June 2009)
Evaluate the effectiveness of the various ways in which participation and democracy could be strengthened in the UK.(January 2009)

PARTIES

5 Mark
Outline two ideas associated with liberalism. (Jan 2012)
What is meant by consensus politics? (June 2011)

Define two functions of a political party. (Jan 2011)
Distinguish between left-wing and right-wing political ideas. (June 2010)
Using an example, define consensus politics (Jan 10)
Outline two functions of a political party. (June 2009)
Using an example, define adversary politics. (Jan 2009)

10 Mark
Explain three policies of the modern Labour Party. (Jan 2012)
Has consensus politics become more or less evident in the UK since May 2010? (June 2011)
Explain what is meant by the term Thatcherism. (Jan 2011)
Explain the ideas and policies which link the modern Labour Party to socialism. (Jan 2010)
Explain the differences within the Labour Party over ideas and policies. (June 2010)
In what ways has the Conservative Party distanced itself from Thatcherism? (June 2009)
What divisions exist within the current Conservative Party over ideas and policies? (Jan 2009)

25 Mark
To what extent have the parties involved in the Conservative-Liberal Democrat
coalition remained faithful, since 2010, to their traditional principles and ideas? (Jan 2012)
To what extent are the major UK parties internally united over ideas and policies? (June 2011)
To what extent do the UK’s major parties accept Thatcherite ideas and policies? (Jan 2011)
To what extent is the modern Conservative Party influenced by ‘One Nation’
principles? (Jan 2010)
To what extent are the ideas and policies of the Labour and Conservative parties similar? (June 2010)
To what extent is the Labour Party still committed to its traditional principles? (June 2009)
To what extent are there differences between the Labour and Conservative parties
over policies and ideas? (Jan 2009)



What I and my friends did was to make thorough plans for quite a few essays and learn them as it got closer to the exam and time was tight. I hope these are helpful for you.

ok thank you so much!

[LETSJaM]

(Original post by emcero)
I really couldn't tell you how much I wote because it was so long ago, but obviously for the low mark questions at the beginning it was one paragraph, and they get worth more we got taught to do an introduction (e.g for the 15 mark) but not to do a conclusion, so those ones would be about 3/4/5/ paragraphs, but it depends on your handwriting and how concise you are on how many sides of A4 you'll use.

The one thing that can't be stressed enough is practice papers. With politics the style in which you argue is really important. Learn to look at what each question is asking you to do e.g describe, assess and make sure that that is what you do.

Which exam board were you? As I'm edexcel.

<3 x

[emcero]

(Original post by LETSJaM)
Which exam board were you? As I'm edexcel.

<3 x

Yepp edexcel like the OP, otherwise I wouldn't have posted as I'd be pretty useless lol

[LETSJaM]

(Original post by emcero)
Yepp edexcel like the OP, otherwise I wouldn't have posted as I'd be pretty useless lol

Yeah, I so knew that...

<3 x