A level Politics: Exam Structure by Board
Your Teacher Information Pack for A level Politics: how it is assessed for each board, key dates for summer 2027, and links to specifications, past papers and grade boundaries.
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- Qualification
- A level (linear, two years)
- Years
- Year 12 and Year 13
- Ages
- 16–18
- Boards covered
- AQA, Pearson Edexcel
- Entries 2026 (England)
- 23,560 (no. 13 A level by entries)
- Last checked
- 2026-10-20
Entries: Ofqual provisional entries, summer 2026 (rounded to the nearest 5).
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Exam structure by board
Pick your board to see every paper with its length, marks and weighting, plus practicals, booklets and links.
AQA A-level Politics (7152)
First taught 2017
| Paper | Time | Marks | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1: Government and politics of the UK | 2 h | 77 | 33.3% |
| Paper 2: Government and politics of the USA and comparative politics | 2 h | 77 | 33.3% |
| Paper 3: Political ideas | 2 h | 77 | 33.3% |
Pearson Edexcel A level Politics (9PL0)
First taught 2017 · first exams 2019
| Paper | Time | Marks | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Component 1: UK Politics and Core Political Ideas | 2 h | 84 | 33.3% |
| Component 2: UK Government and Non-core Political Ideas | 2 h | 84 | 33.3% |
| Component 3A: Comparative Politics: USA (option) | 2 h | 84 | 33.3% |
| Component 3B: Comparative Politics: Global Politics (option) | 2 h | 84 | 33.3% |
Full Pearson Edexcel pack · specification on the Pearson Edexcel website
OCR: OCR does not list an AS or A level in politics on its AS and A Level qualifications page (read 2026-10-20): https://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/as-and-a-level/
WJEC Eduqas: Eduqas AS/A level qualifications page (read 2026-10-20, https://www.eduqas.co.uk/qualifications/) lists no AS/A level politics (GCSE only).
Key dates
Summer 2027 exam series
- First exam (GCSE and A level): Mon, 10 May 2027
- Contingency day: Wed, 23 June 2027
- Special consideration deadline: Wed, 30 June 2027
A levels are linear: all exams are sat at the end of the two-year course. Source: JCQ key dates June 2027. Check each board's final timetable for paper dates and results day.
Official documents
More packs
Other Level 3 packs: A level Mathematics, A level Psychology, A level Biology, A level Chemistry, A level Economics, A level Business, A level History, A level Physics, A level Sociology, A level Art and design, A level English literature, A level Geography, A level Media, film and TV studies, A level Further mathematics, Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), Core Maths (Level 3). Find another TIP
Exam facts (paper names, times, marks, weightings, codes) are taken from each awarding body's own specification and summarised in our own words; no specification text, papers, mark schemes or booklets are reproduced. Exam details checked against the board's specification on 2026-10-20. Always check the current specification on the board's website.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (Ofqual and DfE pages on GOV.UK). Classfern is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Department for Education, Ofqual, JCQ, AQA, Pearson Edexcel, OCR or WJEC Eduqas.
Questions teachers ask
How many exam papers are there in A level Politics?
AQA 7152: 3 exam papers; Pearson Edexcel 9PL0: 4 exam papers. Check the specification for options.