A2 Philosophy (AQA) 2011

Currently teaching myself Philosophy and will be sitting both unit 3 and unit 4 in 3 weeks. I was going to revise 3 topics for unit 3 but everyone on here looks to be doing only 2? Is this what your teachers have advised as I might do the same?

You're welcome also this video series is really good for the political and moral stuff- http://www.justiceharvard.org/watch/ ah well guess more than one school does the same topics

Ive been watching them, the examples Sandel uses are superb! How are you feeling about the exam?

Yeah they're interesting, good for if you're too lazy to revise properly like me Not too good really :s there's alot of stuff I still don't know much about. You?

And does anyone have a copy of the specimen paper/ mark scheme? I can't find it anywhere!

im making Mill revision notes as we speak! haha. Its going okay, except i know all the content but my essay structure is terrible..havent done enough 50 mark questions to get the gist, may just revise mark schemes instead.

I have been lucky enough to have done quite a few mock essays (50 mark Unit 3 ones mainly, but have done a few Mill).

Regarding structure I would do a concise in introduction highlighting the theories involved in the quote/question given.

I would then clearly outline this argument, before looking at criticisms, possible responses to criticisms and alternatives if appropriate, before moving onto a conclusion which should express your clear point of view - this is made much easier if you have a clear viewpoint (even if it is just one you have selected for the purposes of the exam).

Remember that there are a huge number of marks for evaluation so it is key that you go into sufficient depth. I would also try to get in as many philosophers/quotes as appropriate

I'm doing Philosophy of Mind, Philosophy of Religion, and Descartes Meditations.

I used the AQA Book for Mind, Lacewing for Religion, and Southwell for Meditations.

I've made concise notes on Mind and Religion but haven't started Descartes yet (not too worried about that thought since Des' is pretty simplistic :P)

I haven't started memorising the arguments yet... I've put keywords on flashcards which follow the argument structures including criticisms.


I got 186/200 UMS last year, so if my calculations are correct I only need 134UMS this year to get an A. And that's, what, 67UMS per Unit this year? So a high C? I think I might be able to wing that... haha. I really wanted an A* though. I wish I'd started revising sooner!!! ;_;

P.S. Anyone have the Specimen papers for Phil3 and Phil4? I can't find them anywhere!



P.P.S Oh and to anyone worried about not having done any practice questions, I really haven't done many at all except in the mock... I find Philosophy questions way too daunting to practice. I just like to wing them on the day when I have loads of exam-adrenaline. I find they come out better that way!

How do you remember quotes?

P.S. Anyone have the Specimen papers for Phil3 and Phil4? I can't find them anywhere!

I was going through an exemplar paper on the AQA site just now, and one thing I noticed is that they don't seem to do what I do and use philosopher's view and arguments and instead they talk more generally about arguments if that makes sense.

http://store.aqa.org.uk/qual/gce/pdf/AQA-2170-W-TRB-U03SAMPANS-JUN10.PDF

I usually give an intro and mention a philosopher with an argument then move straight onto that philosopher and his arguments and stick with philsophers or theories but, if you look at the moral philosophy one, they talk about general arguments and general criticisms of the view. Which one is better? Or are they both the same?

If you're answering the question it doesn't matter.

I don't I'm afraid. I'm planning on writing them though, so I can send them to you when I have done so The same in return would be appreciated!