The Assessment and Qualifications Alliance (AQA) is one of the leading examination boards in the United Kingdom, offering a wide range of qualifications and exams for various subjects. As a student preparing for these exams, understanding the available subjects, effective preparation strategies, and essential resources is crucial for success. In this blog post, we will delve into the details of each AQA exam, offer tips on how students should prepare, and provide a resourceful website for past paper exams and exam guides.
Structure and Organization:
- AQA Exam Subjects
- Exam-specific Preparation Strategies
- Resources for Success
Section 1: AQA Exam Subjects
AQA offers exams for a diverse range of subjects at different levels, including GCSE, AS, and A-level. Some of the most popular subjects include:
- English Language and English Literature
- Mathematics
- Biology, Chemistry, and Physics
- History and Geography
- Modern Foreign Languages (e.g., French, Spanish, German)
- Art and Design
- Business Studies and Economics
- Computer Science and IT
- Psychology, Sociology, and Philosophy
Section 2: Exam-specific Preparation Strategies
To ensure success in each AQA exam, students should adopt the following preparation strategies:
English Language and Literature:
- Practice active reading by analyzing texts for themes, literary devices, and structure.
- Develop essay-writing skills by practicing various question types and focusing on structure, argumentation, and evidence.
- Engage in regular discussions about literature to hone analytical and critical thinking skills.
Mathematics:
- Work through a variety of practice problems to develop a strong understanding of mathematical concepts and problem-solving techniques.
- Utilize resources like textbooks, online tutorials, and video lectures to reinforce learning.
- Review and memorize essential formulas and mathematical relationships.
Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics):
- Create a study schedule that covers all relevant topics, leaving ample time for revision.
- Focus on understanding scientific concepts, principles, and processes, rather than relying on memorization.
- Utilize visual aids like diagrams, charts, and models to enhance comprehension.
Humanities (History, Geography):
- Develop strong note-taking skills to effectively synthesize and retain information.
- Create a timeline of significant events, themes, or concepts to contextualize learning.
- Engage in critical analysis and evaluation of historical and geographical evidence.
Modern Foreign Languages:
- Immerse yourself in the language through conversation, listening, reading, and writing.
- Utilize language-learning apps, flashcards, and online resources to practice vocabulary and grammar.
- Join language clubs, conversation groups, or online communities to enhance fluency and confidence.
Section 3: Resources for Success
One resourceful website where students can purchase past paper exams and exam guides is Qwivy (https://www.qwivy.com/). Qwivy offers a comprehensive range of study guides, revision guides, and practice papers for all AQA subjects and levels. These resources are designed to help students master exam content, develop effective revision techniques, and boost their confidence in tackling AQA exams.
Access all AQA Exams From 2019 to 2022 by following the link below
AQA Question Papers and Mark Schemes
Preparing for AQA exams can be a daunting task, but with the right approach, resources, and dedication, success is within reach. Start your revision early, utilize the available resources, and stay consistent in your efforts. Don't forget to check out CGP Books for past paper exams and exam guides to support your AQA exam journey. Good luck!
Titles for AQA Exams
English
GCSE Level:
1. AQA GCSE English Language Paper 1: Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing
2. AQA GCSE English Language Paper 2: Writers' Viewpoints and Perspectives
3. AQA GCSE English Literature Paper 1: Shakespeare and the 19th-century Novel
4. AQA GCSE English Literature Paper 2: Modern Texts and Poetry
AS Level:
1. AQA AS Level English Language Paper 1: Language and the Individual
2. AQA AS Level English Language Paper 2: Language Varieties
3. AQA AS Level English Literature Paper 1: Love Through the Ages: Shakespeare and Poetry
4. AQA AS Level English Literature Paper 2: Love Through the Ages: Prose
A Level:
1. AQA A Level English Language Paper 1: Language, the Individual, and Society
2. AQA A Level English Language Paper 2: Language Diversity and Change
3. AQA A Level English Language and Literature Non-Exam Assessment: Language in Action
4. AQA A Level English Literature Paper 1: Love Through the Ages
5. AQA A Level English Literature Paper 2: Texts in Shared Contexts (Option A: WW1 and its Aftermath or Option B: Modern Times)
6. AQA A Level English Literature Non-Exam Assessment: Independent Critical Study: Texts Across Time
Biology
GCSE Level:
1. AQA GCSE Biology Paper 1: Cell Biology, Organisation, Infection and Response, and Bioenergetics
2. AQA GCSE Biology Paper 2: Homeostasis and Response, Inheritance, Variation and Evolution, and Ecology
AS Level:
1. AQA AS Level Biology Paper 1: Biological Molecules, Cells, Organisms Exchange Substances with their Environment, and Genetic Information
2. AQA AS Level Biology Paper 2: Energy Transfers, Organisms Respond to Changes in their Environments, Genetics, Populations, and Evolution
A Level:
1. AQA A Level Biology Paper 1: Biological Molecules, Cells, Organisms Exchange Substances with their Environment, Genetic Information, Variation and Relationships between Organisms
2. AQA A Level Biology Paper 2: Energy Transfers, Organisms Respond to Changes in their Environments, Genetics, Populations, Evolution, and Ecosystems
3. AQA A Level Biology Paper 3: General and Practical Principles in Biology (covering content from Papers 1 and 2, as well as practical skills)
Chemistry
GCSE Level:
1. AQA GCSE Chemistry Paper 1: Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table, Bonding, Structure and the Properties of Matter, Quantitative Chemistry, Chemical Changes, and Energy Changes
2. AQA GCSE Chemistry Paper 2: Rate and Extent of Chemical Change, Organic Chemistry, Chemical Analysis, Chemistry of the Atmosphere, and Using Resources
AS Level:
1. AQA AS Level Chemistry Paper 1: Physical Chemistry (including Atomic Structure, Bonding, Energetics, and Chemical Equilibria) and Inorganic Chemistry (including Periodicity and Group 2 and 7 Elements)
2. AQA AS Level Chemistry Paper 2: Physical Chemistry (including Kinetics, Equilibria, Redox Reactions, and Thermodynamics) and Organic Chemistry (including Alkanes, Halogenoalkanes, Alkenes, Alcohols, and Organic Analysis)
A Level:
1. AQA A Level Chemistry Paper 1: Physical Chemistry (including Atomic Structure, Bonding, Energetics, Kinetics, Chemical Equilibria, Redox Reactions, and Thermodynamics) and Inorganic Chemistry (including Periodicity, Group 2 and 7 Elements, and Transition Metals)
2. AQA A Level Chemistry Paper 2: Physical Chemistry (including Rate Equations, Equilibrium Constants, Electrode Potentials, Acids and Bases) and Organic Chemistry (including Alkanes, Halogenoalkanes, Alkenes, Alcohols, Organic Analysis, Optical Isomerism, Aldehydes, Ketones, Carboxylic Acids, Aromatic Chemistry, Amines, Polymers, Amino Acids, Proteins, DNA, Organic Synthesis, and NMR Spectroscopy)
3. AQA A Level Chemistry Paper 3: Practical Skills, Data Analysis, and Synoptic Content (covering content from Papers 1 and 2)
Physics
GCSE Level:
1. AQA GCSE Physics Paper 1: Energy, Electricity, Particle Model of Matter, and Atomic Structure
2. AQA GCSE Physics Paper 2: Forces, Waves, Magnetism and Electromagnetism, and Space Physics (only for Physics, not Combined Science)
AS Level:
1. AQA AS Level Physics Paper 1: Measurements and their Errors, Particles and Radiation, Waves, Mechanics and Materials, and Electricity
2. AQA AS Level Physics Paper 2: Further Mechanics and Thermal Physics, Fields, and Nuclear Physics (plus content from Paper 1)
A Level:
1. AQA A Level Physics Paper 1: Measurements and their Errors, Particles and Radiation, Waves, Mechanics and Materials, Electricity, and Periodic Motion
2. AQA A Level Physics Paper 2: Further Mechanics and Thermal Physics, Fields, Nuclear Physics, and Optional Topics (Astrophysics, Medical Physics, Applied Physics, or Turning Points in Physics)
3. AQA A Level Physics Paper 3: Practical Skills, Data Analysis, and Synoptic Content (covering content from Papers 1 and 2)
Mathematics
GCSE Level:
1. AQA GCSE Mathematics Paper 1: Non-Calculator
2. AQA GCSE Mathematics Paper 2: Calculator
3. AQA GCSE Mathematics Paper 3: Calculator
AS Level:
1. AQA AS Level Mathematics Paper 1: Pure Mathematics
2. AQA AS Level Mathematics Paper 2: Applied Mathematics (Statistics and Mechanics)
A Level:
1. AQA A Level Mathematics Paper 1: Pure Mathematics
2. AQA A Level Mathematics Paper 2: Pure Mathematics
3. AQA A Level Mathematics Paper 3: Applied Mathematics (Statistics and Mechanics)
A Level Further Mathematics:
1. AQA A Level Further Mathematics Paper 1: Core Pure Mathematics
2. AQA A Level Further Mathematics Paper 2: Core Pure Mathematics
3. AQA A Level Further Mathematics Paper 3: Optional (Discrete, Further Pure, Mechanics, or Statistics)
4. AQA A Level Further Mathematics Paper 4: Optional (Discrete, Further Pure, Mechanics, or Statistics)
History
GCSE Level:
1. AQA GCSE History Paper 1: Understanding the Modern World (options include America, Germany, Russia, and Conflict and Tension)
2. AQA GCSE History Paper 2: Shaping the Nation (options include Britain, Migration, Empires and the People, Elizabethan England, and Restoration England)
AS Level:
1. AQA AS Level History Paper 1: Breadth Study with Interpretations (options include The Tudors, The Stuarts, France, Germany, Italy, Russia, and Spain)
2. AQA AS Level History Paper 2: Depth Study (options include Wars of the Roses, The English Revolution, France in Revolution, Germany, Italy, Russia, and Spain)
A Level:
1. AQA A Level History Paper 1: Breadth Study with Interpretations (options include The Tudors, The Stuarts, France, Germany, Italy, Russia, and Spain)
2. AQA A Level History Paper 2: Depth Study (options include Wars of the Roses, The English Revolution, France in Revolution, Germany, Italy, Russia, and Spain)
3. AQA A Level History Non-Exam Assessment: Historical Investigation (Personal Study based on a topic of the student's choice)
Geography
GCSE Level:
1. AQA GCSE Geography Paper 1: Living with the Physical Environment (topics include Natural Hazards, Ecosystems, Tropical Rainforests, Cold Environments, Coasts, and Rivers)
2. AQA GCSE Geography Paper 2: Challenges in the Human Environment (topics include Urban Issues and Challenges, The Changing Economic World, The Challenge of Resource Management, and optional topics in Food, Water, or Energy)
3. AQA GCSE Geography Paper 3: Geographical Applications (topics include Issue Evaluation and Fieldwork)
AS Level:
1. AQA AS Level Geography Paper 1: Physical Geography and People and the Environment (topics include Coastal Systems and Landscapes, Glacial Systems and Landscapes, Hazards, and Water and Carbon Cycles)
2. AQA AS Level Geography Paper 2: Human Geography and Geography Fieldwork Investigation (topics include Changing Places, Contemporary Urban Environments, and Global Systems and Global Governance)
A Level:
1. AQA A Level Geography Paper 1: Physical Geography (topics include Coastal Systems and Landscapes, Glacial Systems and Landscapes, Hazards, and Water and Carbon Cycles)
2. AQA A Level Geography Paper 2: Human Geography (topics include Changing Places, Contemporary Urban Environments, Global Systems and Global Governance, Population and the Environment, and Resource Security)
3. AQA A Level Geography Paper 3: Geographical Investigation (Non-Exam Assessment) (Personal fieldwork investigation based on a topic of the student's choice)
Modern Foreign Languages (MFL)
GCSE Level:
French, German, Spanish:
1. AQA GCSE French/German/Spanish Paper 1: Listening
2. AQA GCSE French/German/Spanish Paper 2: Speaking
3. AQA GCSE French/German/Spanish Paper 3: Reading
4. AQA GCSE French/German/Spanish Paper 4: Writing
AS Level:
French, German, Spanish:
1. AQA AS Level French/German/Spanish Paper 1: Listening, Reading, and Writing (covering Aspects of Society and Artistic Culture)
2. AQA AS Level French/German/Spanish Paper 2: Writing (covering Literary Texts or Films) and Speaking (including an Independent Research Project)
A Level:
French, German, Spanish:
1. AQA A Level French/German/Spanish Paper 1: Listening, Reading, and Writing (covering Aspects of Society, Artistic Culture, Multiculturalism, Aspects of Political Life)
2. AQA A Level French/German/Spanish Paper 2: Writing (covering Literary Texts or Films) and Speaking (including an Individual Research Project)
3. AQA A Level French/German/Spanish Paper 3: Speaking (including Presentation and Discussion of an Independent Research Project)
Art and Design
GCSE Level: AQA offers GCSE Art and Design in various subject areas. Each area follows a similar assessment structure, consisting of two components:
1. AQA GCSE Art and Design Component 1: Portfolio (a selection of work showcasing the student's skills and abilities in the chosen subject area)
2. AQA GCSE Art and Design Component 2: Externally Set Assignment (a project based on a theme provided by AQA, culminating in a final piece created during a supervised exam)
Subject areas for GCSE Art and Design include:
• Fine Art
• Graphic Communication
• Textile Design
• Three-Dimensional Design
• Photography
A Level:
AQA offers A-Level Art and Design in various subject areas. Each area follows a similar assessment structure, consisting of two components:
1. AQA A-Level Art and Design Component 1: Personal Investigation (a practical project accompanied by a written study related to the chosen subject area)
2. AQA A-Level Art and Design Component 2: Externally Set Assignment (a project based on a theme provided by AQA, culminating in a final piece created during a supervised exam)
Subject areas for A-Level Art and Design include:
• Fine Art
• Graphic Communication
• Textile Design
• Three-Dimensional Design
• Photography
Business Studies
GCSE Level:
1. AQA GCSE Business Paper 1: Influences of Operations and Human Resource Management on Business Activity (topics include Business in the Real World, Influences on Business, Business Operations, and Human Resources)
2. AQA GCSE Business Paper 2: Influences of Marketing and Finance on Business Activity (topics include Business in the Real World, Influences on Business, Marketing, and Finance)
AS Level:
1. AQA AS Level Business Paper 1: Business 1 (topics include What is Business?, Managers, Leadership and Decision Making, Decision Making to Improve Marketing Performance, Decision Making to Improve Operational Performance, Decision Making to Improve Financial Performance, and Decision Making to Improve Human Resource Performance)
2. AQA AS Level Business Paper 2: Business 2 (covering the same topics as Paper 1 but with a focus on different businesses and contexts)
A Level:
1. AQA A Level Business Paper 1: Business 1 (topics include What is Business?, Managers, Leadership and Decision Making, Decision Making to Improve Marketing Performance, Decision Making to Improve Operational Performance, Decision Making to Improve Financial Performance, and Decision Making to Improve Human Resource Performance)
2. AQA A Level Business Paper 2: Business 2 (covering the same topics as Paper 1 but with a focus on different businesses and contexts)
3. AQA A Level Business Paper 3: Business 3 (covering all topics from Papers 1 and 2 with a focus on Investigating Business in a Competitive Environment)
Economics
GCSE Level:
1. AQA GCSE Economics Paper 1: How Markets Work (topics include Economic Foundations, Resource Allocation, How Prices are Determined, Production, Costs, Revenues and Profit, Competitive and Concentrated Markets, and Market Failure)
2. AQA GCSE Economics Paper 2: How the Economy Works (topics include The Measurement of Economic Performance, How the Macroeconomy Works, Economic Objectives and the Role of Government, and International Trade and the Global Economy)
AS Level:
1. AQA AS Level Economics Paper 1: The Operation of Markets and Market Failure (topics include Economic Methodology and the Economic Problem, Individual Economic Decision Making, Price Determination in a Competitive Market, Production, Costs, and Revenue, Competitive and Concentrated Markets, and Market Mechanism, Market Failure, and Government Intervention in Markets)
2. AQA AS Level Economics Paper 2: The National Economy in a Global Context (topics include The Measurement of Macroeconomic Performance, How the Macroeconomy Works, Economic Performance, Macroeconomic Policy, and The International Economy)
A Level:
1. AQA A Level Economics Paper 1: Markets and Market Failure (topics include Economic Methodology and the Economic Problem, Individual Economic Decision Making, Price Determination in a Competitive Market, Production, Costs, and Revenue, Competitive and Concentrated Markets, Market Mechanism, Market Failure, and Government Intervention in Markets)
2. AQA A Level Economics Paper 2: National and International Economy (topics include The Measurement of Macroeconomic Performance, How the Macroeconomy Works, Economic Performance, Macroeconomic Policy, and The International Economy)
3. AQA A Level Economics Paper 3: Economic Principles and Issues (synoptic assessment covering content from both Paper 1 and Paper 2)