General Studies
General Studies
Entry Guidance:
The majority of students will follow a compulsory General Studies programme in Year 12 in addition to their chosen programmes of study. No specific prior knowledge is needed although students are encouraged to apply their knowledge from other disciplines.
Syllabus Outline:
The OCR syllabus involves the study of important topics from science and technology, the arts, humanities and social sciences. Of equal importance are the interconnections between these areas of knowledge.
Students will be offered three short courses during the academic year. These are:
- The Social Domain
Key themes include political systems, processes and goals, social and economic trends and the evaluation of human behaviour. - Culture, Arts and Humanities
Key themes include beliefs, values and moral reasoning, media and communication, and creativity and innovation. - Science, Mathematics and Technology
Key issues include characteristics of physical, life and earth science, scientific method and mathematical reasoning.
Methods of Assessment:
AS examinations will take place in January and June of the academic year. The examinations consist of a range of short answer questions, data analysis questions and essays.
General Comments:
General Studies offers students the opportunity to engage in subject areas outside their chosen specialisms, and to consider issues and themes that would otherwise not be addressed within the Sixth Form curriculum. It challenges students to think and is a useful subject for life.
