How hard is philosophy A level?

[Toomanyminifigs]

DS is trying to decide on A levels. He has autism (and an EHCP) so he does need more guidance and support than perhaps a NT teen might need at 16.

He is considered academically able (mainly 8's and 9's in mocks). He's drawn to philosophy as he loves 'big questions' but my concern is that I've heard it's a very difficult/challenging A level (not that any A level is easy).

He has a good work ethic and is strong in subjects like English and History so is used to researching and writing essays (but obviously only at a GCSE level at this stage).

I wonder if I should try and steer him to something like Sociology or Government and Politics instead?

Has anyone's DC taken philosophy A level? If so did they regret it? Enjoy it?

I'm assuming universities regard philosophy A level quite highly but I also imagine that the most important thing is the grade...

Thank you for reading.

DD absolutely loved her philosophy a level and went on to do it for her degree.

Thete are lots of very approachable books on philosophy- has he read any of those to see whether it’s his sort of thing? I think you need two qualities to enjoy it- an interest in the questions and an interest in logic- learning how to build an argument, etc. He should also consider that most a level philosophy courses spend quite a lot of time on arguments for and against the existence of God (Descartes etc) - dd wasn’t particularly interested in that as a subject matter but it’s a great introduction to how to think in the right way.

My DD has just switched off philosophy to geography in year 12. There was too much religious content for her but a diff exam board might be different.

DS has just started Religion, Ethics and Philosophy (with History and Politics so all essay based subjects) and he’s loving it. He got a B on his first essay which was marked to A level standard so I was really impressed! He got 6s and 7s at GCSE so solid but not incredible results and he’s dyslexic.

Phil and ethics (so RS with a slightly different slant) was a popular choice in my DD's year and her peers got good grades. I have never heard that it is any harder than any other A level tbh. No easier or harder than sociology or gov/pol.

Obvs for some students all of those would be a challenge – while art or maths would be to others. But if it plays to your DS's strengths then all good.

Look at the syllabus covered by the school and see if that appeals.

Unis are fine with it too – it's no better or worse than the other options you mention. No uni course requires phil or sociology or gov pol as A levels but that's not to say there is anything against taking them. If he'll get a good grade then it's a better option than biology or French (just for example) for sure.

My autistic son loves his A Level Philosophy. Like your DS, he is into the big questions. DS’s GCSE results were 4-7, RE was 6. He’s had in depth input about how to write essays and the teacher thinks he will do really well in his exams next year.

Is it Philosophy or is it Philosophy and Ethics ( RS)? Philosophy is more unusual.

Either way he should be fine. Sociology and politics are no easier...all essay subjects.

This is Philosophy A Level :

https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/philosophy/a-level/philosophy-7172/specification/subject-content

This, by way of comparison is what people often refer to as philosophy and ethics A level :

https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/religious-studies/a-level/religious-studies-7062/specification/specification-at-a-glance

Thank you all so much for taking the time to reply.
I probably should have said, yes, it's AQA philosophy. I did have a look at the spec and some of the materials online and it looks terrifying to me! But then obviously I'm not the one taking it.

I do know that it's vital that DS take the subjects that they're interested in as they need to stay motivated. There is obviously the option to switch - but I know DS will find that hard and will struggle with the idea that he's 'failed'.

The teacher I spoke to at the 6th form open evening was telling me that a disproportionate number of students who take philosophy seem to get offers from Oxbridge/Russel group unis. So that's one of the reasons I wondered if it was an especially challenging A level.

@BrumCurryHouse That is so wonderful to hear about your DS. Thanks for sharing. I do have many worries about DS and A levels!

The teacher I spoke to at the 6th form open evening was telling me that a disproportionate number of students who take philosophy seem to get offers from Oxbridge/Russell group unis.

I cannot imagine how they would know that tbh – unless they were talking solely about their school. But even if it’s true, there could be other reasons – for example it is rarely offered so perhaps only selective schools offer it (certs at most schools I know it's phil+ethics which as Piggy says is RS really), or the cohort is self-selecting as more able – bc it is an untried subject and frankly sounds a bit more fancy (challenging!) than gov/pol. Not saying it is more fancy btw. But some (weaker maybe) students might be scared of it.

I would counsel (as I have before) against the reason for taking phil for a degree (or indeed, having looked briefly at the spec and a past paper or two, for A level) being because a students "loves to argue their point" or "likes to debate ethical matters" – IME that is not what it is (I did phil at uni as half my joint honours).

Looking at the A level paper, it's a lot of "what did this philosopher mean when they said xyz/explain this terminology/how successful was x's argument about y" – the last being the most chance you'll get to put your own view. But you are not really discussing the great philosophical questions. That's fine tho and tbh makes sense. A lot more realistic to set a paper like that, looking at authorities and terms and explaining them.

If he has had a look at the papers and likes the sound of it then it can't be bad. When I said it was better than doing bio or French btw, I meant an A in phil is better than a C in French. Not that philosophy is better than French! (which is one of my teaching subjects haha).

(At uni btw it was more of the same as the A level (which I did not take - not even sure it existed) – a lot of analysis of the words of dead white men. Maybe it's changed now).

ETA: I sound super negative about it and I really don't mean to be. Sounds to me as tho your DS would do well at it if he likes Eng lit and history.

Sorry! I'm really not being clear today (am typing while out). Yes, the comment the teacher made about philosophy and Oxbridge/Russell group unis was specifically about his cohort.

It's very interesting to hear your views @clary as I know you are a teacher (although not of this subject but even so).

DS would actually like to take RS but it's not offered at his school at A level so it's interesting to hear that there is some crossover as I think he'd enjoy that aspect of it.

He is looking at possibly history at uni (or maybe archaeology so biology is another option. I did start another thread about that which you were kind enough to comment on too).

I have contacted the school to ask for some advice about A level option combinations but they've not got back to me yet. Hence reaching out to you lovely people who are always so helpful and knowledgeable!

Haha sorry sounds like you don't need to hear so much from me 😃

Philosophy would be great prep for history at uni - study of and analysis of texts and sources, all good. Like I say, get him to look at the spec and maybe read a few of the texts to see what he thinks.

I've taught both RS and pure philosophy A level. The AQA Phil course is tough in the philosophy of mind section but the questions are more broken down than in RS which tends to be longer essays. If hes getting 8/9 at GCSE he'd be fine but as a pp said, it's a lot of formal content to learn and explain, not sitting around with a beer arguing about the meaning of life.

My autistic DD took philosophy A level, generally loved it and actually got A in it, despite being consistently predicted an A (she got As in her 2 other subjects). She has just started doing philosophy + a language at Durham. Just for info, her Durham offer was AAA but did not specify the subject in which she had to get her A*.

Sorry, the * has made the text bold. Should say, offer was A+AA without specifying subject but she got A+ in philosophy.

That is so interesting. Thank you for sharing - and well done your DD. That's an amazing achievement. It's so encouraging to hear stories of DC who are doing well. You must be so proud of her.

Thank you for this. At DS's school, they are really emphasising how 'difficult' philosophy A level is. Perhaps they do that deliberately to put off those students who don't have the academic discipline to learn/explain all the content, as you say.
DS is also drawn to English Language. Both subjects strike me as being quite 'scientific' in their approach to trying to understand 'big questions'/methods of learning.

It’s a great subject for students who want the tools to approach big questions. DS is doing A level and it has sharpened how he thinks about his other subjects - history and politics.
As to being ‘difficult’, it is in the sense that it is v different at the start. I suspect it is because it attracts students who are academically sound and happy to get stuck in and happy to be out of their depth at the start. It is not an ‘easy’ subject but if your DS is heading for 8s then absolutely fine. It was only one that DS’s college asked for strong English at GSCE ie 7+

Thank you so much for your reply. This is really encouraging. I'm glad your DS is enjoying it. My DS is looking at History A level too. I've had a look at the Philosophy course specification and past papers and it looks terrifying to me! I don't think I'm going to be able to help him (I did History A level so feel more at home with that).
At his school they do 'taster sessions' in some subjects after GCSEs so I'm going to see if he can sit in a Philosophy class to see what he thinks.
Thank you again.

Tell him to check out Crash Course Philosophy on YouTube. They are brilliant ten minute videos on all aspects of the spec.

Amazing! Thank you so much. He's mid-mocks at the moment but I've said we can have a proper think about A level options over Christmas. He can change his options right up until July I believe.
I know there's no such thing as an 'easy' A level but at the same time I don't want to set him up to fail by choosing a subject that he's really going to struggle with. It's especially difficult with the subjects they've not done before.

He's also toying with Sociology or English Language - so all quite similar in that they ask questions about how we think/how we acquire knowledge but I wonder if they might be a bit more 'accessible'.

i attended an A level event yesterday,
and asked about philosophy, and they told me it’s one of the toughest subjects to get high marks as the markers also use negative points. They recommended theology.

Theology A level doesn't exist? Did they mean RS?

No subject takes marks off students : all mark schemes focus on rewarding positively. It sounds like they were tyring the elitism recruitment tactic tbh.

There is no theology A level. Religious Studies has aspects of theology, philosophy and ethics. What do you mean by "negative points". No exam board I've ever worked with deducts marks for wrong content, they just ignore it and mark positively what is there.

Hopefully the cross post reinforces that message!

I did philosophy and ethics A Level, I actually started it in year 13 and did both years in one and did reasonably well, so in my opinion it was a pretty easy A Level but it depends how good he is at arguing a position.