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Critical Thinking A Level
From The Student RoomTSR Wiki > Study Help > Exams and Qualifications > A Levels > Critical Thinking A Level
StatusCritical thinking A-level is a course designed to promote the skill of critical thinking. Although it is generally regarded as very useful, not least by the Oxbridge universities, it is not always included in offers because of its lack of subject content and emphasis on skill development. Thus it shares a similar status to General Studies. OCR is currently the only board to offer Critical Thinking, and now at both AS and A2 levels, as well as an AEA, though AQA will offer an A-level in Critical Thinking from 2008. Its classification code is 7830. StructureUnlike most other A-levels (with the exception of some Modern Foreign Languages e.g. Arabic, Chinese, Polish, Gujurati) it is not divided into the Curriculum 2000 structure of three units in AS and three in A2 - instead it has two units in each year. The unit papers in the A-level qualification are:
ASThe AS has certification code H050. Unit 1, Credibility of Evidence, has structured questions based on a few stimulus passages. It requires candidates to assess the credibility of documents and of people's evidence (such as based on the (C)RAVEN criteria, either weakening or strengthening their case), and stating assumptions required for such assessments; then candidates must find "points of corroboration and conflict", finding the "weight of evidence", assessing the "quality of evidence", and coming to a "reasoned judgement". It constitutes 40% of the AS and 20% of the A-level, and is 1 hour 15 minutes in duration. It has the entry code F491. Unit 2, Assessing and Developing Argument, has twenty multiple choice questions and structured questions based on a few stimulus passages. Section A, the multiple choice centres on identifying conclusions, assumptions, flaws, evidence which can strengthen or weaken the argument, and some statistics. Section B, the structured questions, focuses on an issue, and the reasoning of some arguments (identifying conclusions, reasons, flaws, assumptions etc.), finally requiring original arguments to be constructed by the candidate. It constitutes 60% of the AS and 30% of the A-level, and is 1 hour 45 minutes in duration. It has the entry code F492. A2The A-level has certification code H450. Unit 3, Resolution of Dilemmas, has structured questions based on two or more stimulus passages and material. It asks for answers explaining problems with an issue (such as their definition and implementation), identifying criteria and assessing their relevance, evaluating a position on the "continuum of choice" with the criteria, and the formulating and resolving of a possible dilemma, requiring candidates to produce a piece of extended writing. The examination is 1 hour 15 minutes long, and counts as 20% of the A-level. Its entry code is F493. Unit 4, Critical Reasoning, has twenty multiple choice questions (which are quite like the Unit 2 multiple choice but with slightly more complex passages); followed by structured questions (analysing and evaluating the argument) and a piece of extended writing of an argument, in response to a stimulus passage. It constitutes 30% of the A-level, and is 1 hour 45 minutes in duration. It has the entry code F494. The former ASOriginally, the former Critical Thinking AS (certification code 3821) had only one unit, 2870, but it was split into two components, not conforming to Curriculum 2000. This AS was replaced by the current H050/H450 A-level in 2005, for first AS assessment January 2006 and first A2 assessment June 2006; the assessment objectives for Critical Thinking changed from five to three. The last opportunity to extend their certificated AS 3821 into the full A-level H450 by sitting the Units 3 and 4 will be January 2008. Component 1 (1.5 hours long; 40% of the AS) was split into sections A and B. Section A was composed of 16 multiple choice questions like the current Unit 2 ; section B had twelve structured questions based on two stimulus passages. Component 2 (also 1.5 hours long, but worth 60% of the AS) was also divided into two sections: section A had one essay-type question on credibility (like Unit 1); section B had two essay-type questions on evaluating arguments. Changes for 2008In line with other A-levels, Critical Thinking will be modified for teaching in 2008 (first AS assessment 2009, first A2 assessment 2010). However, Critical Thinking will not be modified to as great an extent as the other A-levels: it already conforms to the four-unit structure. Perhaps the greatest development to A-level Critical Thinking is the addition of a new specification from AQA as well as OCR, with a slightly different approach. Structure of the new OCR specificationThe new A-level Critical Thinking (H052 for AS, H452 for A-level) will be composed as follows:
ASUnit 1: Introduction to Critical ThinkingUnit 1, Introduction to Critical Thinking (F501) will involve the language of reasoning and credibility assessment. It is a 1 hour exam, and is worth 40% of the AS and 20% of the A-level. Unit 2: Assessing and Developing ArgumentUnit 2, Assessing and Developing Argument (F502) will involve the analysis and evaluation of arguments, and developing your own "reasoned" arguments. It is a 2 hour exam, and is worth 60% of the AS and 30% of the A-level. A2Unit 3: Ethical Reasoning and Decision-MakingUnit 3: Ethical Reasoning and Decision-Making (F503) will involve ethical theories, recognising and applying principles, and dilemmas and decision-making. It will include synoptic assessment, and it is a 1 hour 30 minute exam, and is worth a quarter of the A-level. Unit 4: Critical ReasoningUnit 4: Critical Reasoning (F504) will involve the analysis and evaluation of complex arguments, with the developing of your own "cogent and complex" arguments. It will include synoptic assessment and "Stretch and Challenge". It is a 1 hour 30 minute exam, and is worth a quarter of the A-level. Structure of the new AQA specificationThis is the first specification in A-level Critical Thinking (1771 for AS, 2771 for A2) offered by AQA. It is divided into four units, as with most other A-levels from 2008:
ASUnit 1: Foundation UnitUnit 1 (CRIT1) is an introduction to Critical Thinking, including arguments and their structures, and identifying simpler flaws. It is a 1hr 30min exam, worth 25% of the A-level, 50% of the AS. Unit 2: Information, Inference and ExplanationUnit 2 (CRIT2) includes elements of credibility and statistical representations. It is a 1hr 30min exam, worth 25% of the A-level, 50% of the AS.
A2Unit 3: Beliefs, Claims and ArgumentsUnit 3 (CRIT3) links logic to Critical Thinking, and even includes basic application of epistemological concepts, introducing further flaws and patterns of reasoning. It is a 1hr 30min exam, worth 25% of the A-level, 50% of the AS.
Unit 4: Reasoning and Decision MakingUnit 4 (CRIT4) introduces more reasoning patterns, uses techniques from probability, and applies Critical Thinking to decision-making and justification of decisions. It is a 1hr 30min exam, worth 25% of the A-level, 50% of the AS. ComparisonsThe substantial section on Credibility that constituted F491 has been reduced, with concepts from F492 added into the new Unit 1 F501. There has been some rearrangement of the time allocations to the assessment too. The new AQA specification is quite different in approach, with less substantial writing and slightly more emphasis on statistics and interpretation of figures in short-response questions, accompanied by long-response ones at the end. AEAThere is also an AEA available in critical thinking which people studying the A Level can do, although it is actually designed to be open to candidates of any A-level subject. Related WebsitesCriticalThinking.org.uk (Unofficial guide) | 
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