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AQA A-Level Politics Past Papers & Mark Schemes

Download free AQA A-Level Politics (7152) past papers & mark schemes. Paper 1: UK Government. Paper 2: US Politics & Comparative. Paper 3: Political Ideas. 44 resources.

📅June 2017 – June 2024📄44 resources available✅Free to download

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44 of 44 resources — page 1 of 2

June 2023

6 files

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A-level Politics – Question paper: Paper 2 Government and Politics of the USA and comparative politics – June 2023

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A-level Politics – Question paper: Paper 3 Political ideas – June 2023

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A-level Politics – Mark scheme: Paper 2 Government and Politics of the USA and comparative politics – June 2023

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A-level Politics – Question paper (Modified A4 18pt): Paper 1 Government and Politics of the UK – June 2023

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A-level Politics – Mark scheme: Paper 3 Political ideas – June 2023

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A-level Politics – Question paper (Modified A4 18pt): Paper 2 Government and Politics of the USA and comparative politics – June 2023

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June 2022

7 files

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A-level Politics – Question paper: Paper 2 Government and Politics of the USA and comparative politics – June 2022

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A-level Politics – Question paper: Paper 3 Political ideas – June 2022

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A-level Politics – Mark scheme: Paper 2 Government and Politics of the USA and comparative politics – June 2022

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A-level Politics – Question paper (Modified A4 18pt): Paper 1 Government and Politics of the UK – June 2022

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A-level Politics – Mark scheme: Paper 3 Political ideas – June 2022

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A-level Politics – Question paper (Modified A4 18pt): Paper 2 Government and Politics of the USA and comparative politics – June 2022

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A-level Politics – Question paper (Modified A3 36pt): Paper 1 Government and Politics of the UK – June 2022

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November 2021

5 files

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A-level Politics – Question paper: Paper 2 Government and Politics of the USA and comparative politics – November 2021

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A-level Politics – Question paper: Paper 3 Political ideas – November 2021

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A-level Politics – Mark scheme: Paper 2 Government and Politics of the USA and comparative politics – November 2021

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A-level Politics – Mark scheme: Paper 3 Political ideas – November 2021

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A-level Politics – Question paper (Modified A4 18pt): Paper 2 Government and Politics of the USA and comparative politics – November 2021

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November 2020

7 files

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A-level Politics – Question paper: Paper 2 Government and Politics of the USA and comparative politics – November 2020

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A-level Politics – Question paper: Paper 3 Political ideas – November 2020

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A-level Politics – Question paper (Modified A3 36pt): Paper 3 Political ideas – November 2020

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A-level Politics – Mark scheme: Paper 2 Government and Politics of the USA and comparative politics – November 2020

Mark Scheme

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A-level Politics – Question paper (Modified A4 18pt): Paper 1 Government and Politics of the UK – November 2020

Question Paper

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A-level Politics – Mark scheme: Paper 3 Political ideas – November 2020

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A-level Politics – Question paper (Modified A4 18pt): Paper 2 Government and Politics of the USA and comparative politics – November 2020

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UK Institutions, US Comparison, and the Ideas Behind Political Systems: AQA A-Level Politics

AQA A-Level Politics (specification code 7152) operates across three distinct intellectual modes across its three papers: institutional analysis of the UK system in Paper 1, comparative political analysis of the UK and USA in Paper 2, and ideological analysis of the ideas that underpin different political traditions in Paper 3. Each mode requires a different type of analytical thinking. Paper 1: Government and Politics of the UK (2 hours, 77 marks, 33.3%) covers every major institution and process of UK politics: democracy and participation (referendums, elections, pressure groups, digital democracy); the major political parties and their ideological positions and internal divisions; electoral systems used across the UK (FPTP, AMS, STV, regional list) and their comparative effects; voting behaviour and factors shaping it (class, gender, age, ethnicity, media, rational choice); the UK Constitution (sources, debates about codification, recent constitutional change); Parliament (legislative function, scrutiny, relations between the chambers, the Lords reform debate); the executive (the role and powers of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, the core executive, and ministerial responsibility); and the judiciary (judicial independence, Supreme Court, the Human Rights Act, and tension between parliamentary sovereignty and rights protection). Paper 2: Government and Politics of the USA and Comparative Politics (2 hours, 77 marks, 33.3%) examines US political institutions — the Constitution and its amendment process, Congress (Senate and House differences, the committee system, legislative process, and gridlock), the Presidency (executive powers, the relationship with Congress and the Supreme Court, and presidential leadership), the Supreme Court (judicial review, landmark decisions, and the debate over judicial activism), and US democracy. All topics require direct comparison with UK equivalents. Paper 3: Political Ideas (2 hours, 77 marks, 33.3%) covers the core ideologies — Conservatism (traditional, New Right, and One Nation strands), Liberalism (classical and modern), and Socialism (Marxism, social democracy, and democratic socialism) — and one optional ideology selected by your school from Feminism, Nationalism, Multiculturalism, Ecologism, or Anarchism.

Exam Paper Structure

Paper 1No calculator

UK Government and Politics

⏱ 2 hours🎯 77 marks📊 33% of grade

Democracy and participation (elections, referendums, pressure groups)Political parties (Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrat — ideology and internal tensions)Electoral systems and voting behaviourThe UK Constitution (sources, conventions, recent reform)Parliament (legislative function, scrutiny, Lords reform)The executive (Prime Minister, Cabinet, core executive)The judiciary (Supreme Court, HRA, parliamentary sovereignty)

Paper 2No calculator

US Government and Comparative Politics

⏱ 2 hours🎯 77 marks📊 33% of grade

US Constitution and amendment processUS Congress (Senate vs House, committees, gridlock)US Presidency (powers, executive orders, relationship with Congress)US Supreme Court (judicial review, landmark cases)Comparative UK-US analysis throughout

Paper 3No calculator

Political Ideas

⏱ 2 hours🎯 77 marks📊 33% of grade

Conservatism (traditional, One Nation, New Right)Liberalism (classical and modern)Socialism (Marxism, social democracy, democratic socialism)One optional ideology (Feminism, Nationalism, Multiculturalism, Ecologism, or Anarchism)

Key Information

Exam Board	AQA
Specification Code	7152
Qualification	A-Level
Grading Scale	A*–E
Assessment Type	3 written papers (no coursework)
Number Of Papers	3
Exam Duration	2 hours per paper
Total Marks	231 (77 per paper)
Paper 3 Options	Core: Conservatism, Liberalism, Socialism. Option: Feminism, Nationalism, Multiculturalism, Ecologism, or Anarchism
Available Sessions	June 2017 – June 2024
Total Resources	44

Key Topics in Politics

Topics you need to know

UK constitutional arrangements and Parliament (legislative process, scrutiny, reform)Executive power (Prime Minister, Cabinet government, presidential critique)The judiciary and rights (Supreme Court, HRA, tension with parliamentary sovereignty)UK electoral systems and their effects on representationUS government (Congress, Presidency, Supreme Court — comparison with UK equivalents)Core ideologies (Conservatism, Liberalism, Socialism) including internal tensions and factionsOptional ideology (Feminism / Nationalism / Multiculturalism / Ecologism / Anarchism)

Exam Command Words

Command word	What the examiner expects
Describe	Give an accurate account of how an institution, process, or ideology works
Explain	Give analytical reasons for a political outcome, trend, or institutional feature — not just description
Analyse	Examine a political issue in depth, identifying key factors, relationships, and implications
Evaluate	Weigh up competing arguments and reach a qualified, evidence-supported judgement
How far do you agree	Argue both for and against the stated position, then reach a reasoned qualified conclusion
Assess	Appraise the importance, significance, or success of a political institution, policy, or idea
Discuss	Explore multiple perspectives on a political question, drawing on specific examples and theory

Typical Grade Boundaries

Grade	Approximate mark needed
A*	78–88%
A	68–77%
B	57–67%
C	46–56%
D	36–45%
E	26–35%

⚠️ Typical boundaries across three papers (231 total marks: 77 per paper). Actual boundaries vary by series — check AQA's website.

Argument Structure, Comparative Technique, and Internal Ideological Tensions in AQA Politics

The most common failure in AQA Politics essays is description instead of analysis. Writing about how Parliament works — explaining the legislative process step by step — is not what the mark scheme rewards. Analysis asks why Parliament has certain powers, how effectively it fulfils its functions, what constraints it faces, and how its performance compares to the ideal. Every factual point should be followed by an 'and this matters because...' or 'however, this is undermined by...' clause that moves from description to analysis. Specific, recent examples — recent legislative defeats for government, specific parliamentary select committee reports, recent judicial decisions — ground analysis in reality. For Paper 2's comparative questions, the temptation is to write about the UK first and then the USA second. This produces a structurally weak comparison where the two systems sit in parallel but never really meet. Instead, organise each paragraph around a comparative point — 'Both the UK Parliament and US Congress face challenges of executive dominance, but the mechanisms differ fundamentally: while Prime Ministers require Commons majority support, US Presidents can govern without Congressional cooperation through executive orders' — moving between the two systems within each paragraph. For Paper 3 ideological analysis, knowing the internal tensions within each ideology is as important as knowing its core principles. Conservatism contains deep tensions between One Nation paternalism (a positive role for the state in reducing inequality) and New Right libertarianism (a minimal state and free markets). Liberalism is divided between classical liberals (who prioritise economic freedom and distrust state intervention) and modern liberals (who accept state intervention to enable positive freedom). Questions often target these internal debates rather than asking for a statement of the ideology's basic principles. Build a detailed map of the internal fault lines within each ideological tradition. Stay current: Paper 1 questions draw on recent political events, constitutional changes, and electoral outcomes. The analysis of UK politics is enriched by being genuinely engaged with political developments — reading quality journalism critically, not just noting what happened but asking what it reveals about how power operates.

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AQA A-Level Politics Past Papers & Mark Schemes

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June 2023

June 2022

November 2021

November 2020

UK Institutions, US Comparison, and the Ideas Behind Political Systems: AQA A-Level Politics

Exam Paper Structure

Key Information

Key Topics in Politics

Exam Command Words

Typical Grade Boundaries

Argument Structure, Comparative Technique, and Internal Ideological Tensions in AQA Politics

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