WJECAS/A Level20 resources

WJEC AS/A Level Government & Politics Past Papers & Mark Schemes

Free WJEC A Level Government & Politics papers & mark schemes. Units covering Wales, UK democracy, political theory & US politics. 34 resources.

📅Summer series📄20 resources availableFree to download

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Summer 2023

6 files
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AS/A Level Government & Politics – Unit 4: Written: Government and Politics of the USA – Past Paper – Summer 2023

Past Paper
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AS/A Level Government & Politics – Unit 2: Written: Living and Participating in a Democracy – Past Paper – Summer 2023

Past Paper

AS/A Level Government & Politics – Unit 3: Written: Political Concepts and Theories – Mark Scheme – Summer 2023

Mark Scheme

AS/A Level Government & Politics – Unit 4: Written: Government and Politics of the USA – Mark Scheme – Summer 2023

Mark Scheme

AS/A Level Government & Politics – Unit 2: Written: Living and Participating in a Democracy – Mark Scheme – Summer 2023

Mark Scheme
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AS/A Level Government & Politics – Unit 3: Written: Political Concepts and Theories – Past Paper – Summer 2023

Past Paper

Summer 2022

6 files
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AS/A Level Government & Politics – Unit 3: Written: Political Concepts and Theories – Past Paper – Summer 2022

Past Paper
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AS/A Level Government & Politics – Unit 4: Written: Government and Politics of the USA – Past Paper – Summer 2022

Past Paper

AS/A Level Government & Politics – Unit 4: Written: Government and Politics of the USA – Mark Scheme – Summer 2022

Mark Scheme

AS/A Level Government & Politics – Unit 2: Written: Living and Participating in a Democracy – Mark Scheme – Summer 2022

Mark Scheme
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AS/A Level Government & Politics – Unit 2: Written: Living and Participating in a Democracy – Past Paper – Summer 2022

Past Paper

AS/A Level Government & Politics – Unit 3: Written: Political Concepts and Theories – Mark Scheme – Summer 2022

Mark Scheme

Summer 2019

6 files

AS/A Level Government & Politics – Unit 3: Written: Political Concepts and Theories – Mark Scheme – Summer 2019

Mark Scheme

AS/A Level Government & Politics – Unit 4: Written: Government and Politics of the USA – Mark Scheme – Summer 2019

Mark Scheme

AS/A Level Government & Politics – Unit 2: Written: Living and Participating in a Democracy – Mark Scheme – Summer 2019

Mark Scheme
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AS/A Level Government & Politics – Unit 2: Written: Living and Participating in a Democracy – Past Paper – Summer 2019

Past Paper
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AS/A Level Government & Politics – Unit 3: Written: Political Concepts and Theories – Past Paper – Summer 2019

Past Paper
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AS/A Level Government & Politics – Unit 4: Written: Government and Politics of the USA – Past Paper – Summer 2019

Past Paper

Summer 2018

2 files

AS/A Level Government & Politics – Unit 2: Written: Living and Participating in a Democracy – Mark Scheme – Summer 2018

Mark Scheme
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AS/A Level Government & Politics – Unit 2: Written: Living and Participating in a Democracy – Past Paper – Summer 2018

Past Paper

From Welsh Devolution to US Federalism: The Scope of WJEC Government & Politics

WJEC AS/A Level Government and Politics is distinctive in its explicit inclusion of Welsh governance alongside UK and US political systems. The four-unit qualification provides a structured progression from domestic constitutional arrangements to comparative and theoretical political analysis. Unit 1 — Government in Wales and the United Kingdom (AS, 1 hour 30 minutes, 20% of A Level) — examines the UK constitution, devolution (with particular emphasis on the Welsh Senedd), Parliament, the executive, and the judiciary. Candidates assess the balance of power between institutions and evaluate the impact of devolution on governance. Unit 2 — Living and Participating in a Democracy (AS, 1 hour 30 minutes, 20%) — covers electoral systems, political parties, pressure groups, and citizenship. Questions often require candidates to compare the effectiveness of different forms of political participation. Unit 3 — Political Concepts and Theories (A2, 2 hours, 30%) — introduces the major political ideologies: liberalism, conservatism, socialism, nationalism, and feminism. Candidates analyse the internal tensions within each ideology and evaluate their contemporary relevance. Unit 4 — Government and Politics of the USA (A2, 2 hours, 30%) — provides a comparative dimension: the US Constitution, federalism, Congress, the presidency, the Supreme Court, and elections. The 34 resources include papers and mark schemes across all four units.

Exam Paper Structure

Unit 1No calculator

Government in Wales and the United Kingdom

1 hour 30 minutes🎯 80 marks📊 20% of grade
UK constitution and devolutionWelsh Senedd and devolved powersParliament, executive, and judiciaryBalance of power between institutions
Unit 2No calculator

Living and Participating in a Democracy

1 hour 30 minutes🎯 80 marks📊 20% of grade
Electoral systems and voting behaviourPolitical parties and their policiesPressure groups and political participationCitizenship and democratic engagement
Unit 3No calculator

Political Concepts and Theories

2 hours🎯 120 marks📊 30% of grade
Liberalism: classical and modernConservatism: traditional and New RightSocialism: revolutionary and social democraticNationalism and feminism
Unit 4No calculator

Government and Politics of the USA

2 hours🎯 120 marks📊 30% of grade
US Constitution and federalismCongress and the legislative processThe presidency and executive powerThe Supreme Court and judicial reviewUS elections and parties

Key Information

Exam BoardWJEC
Specification Code601/7644/0 (AS) / 601/7645/2 (A Level)
QualificationAS/A Level
Grading ScaleA*–E (A Level), A–E (AS)
Assessment Type4 written exams (no coursework)
TiersNo tiers
Number Of Papers4 units
Exam DurationUnit 1: 1 hr 30 min; Unit 2: 1 hr 30 min; Unit 3: 2 hrs; Unit 4: 2 hrs
Total Marks320
Calculator StatusNot required
Available SessionsSummer series
Total Resources34

Key Topics in Government & Politics

Topics you need to know

UK constitution, sovereignty, and devolutionWelsh governance and the SeneddParliamentary democracy and electoral systemsPolitical parties, pressure groups, and participationLiberalism, conservatism, socialism, and feminismUS Constitution, federalism, and separation of powersCongress, the presidency, and the Supreme CourtComparative UK–US political analysis

Exam Command Words

Command wordWhat the examiner expects
ExplainGive political reasons for a feature or development
EvaluateWeigh up arguments for and against a political claim
AnalyseExamine a political concept or institution in depth
DiscussExplore competing political perspectives
CompareIdentify similarities and differences between political systems or institutions

Typical Grade Boundaries

GradeApproximate mark needed
A*78–88%
A68–77%
B57–67%
C46–56%
D35–45%
E24–34%

⚠️ Typical A Level boundaries across all four units (320 total marks). Boundaries vary by session.

Constitutional Knowledge and Ideological Analysis for WJEC Government & Politics

Unit 1 questions on devolution carry a distinctly Welsh focus. Understand the specific powers of the Welsh Senedd, the legislative competence orders that expanded its authority, and the contrast between Welsh, Scottish, and Northern Irish devolution settlements. Use recent legislation passed by the Senedd as evidence of devolution’s impact on policy outcomes. Unit 3’s political theories paper rewards candidates who can identify and explain internal ideological divisions. Liberalism, for instance, encompasses both classical liberalism (minimal state, individual liberty) and modern liberalism (enabling state, positive freedom). Prepare structured comparisons within each ideology, supporting your analysis with named thinkers: Locke and Mill for classical liberalism, Rawls and Beveridge for the modern strand. For Unit 4 (US politics), comparative points earn particularly high marks. When discussing the US Supreme Court, compare its role to that of the UK Supreme Court; when analysing Congressional committees, contrast them with select committees at Westminster. This comparative approach demonstrates synoptic understanding — the quality that distinguishes the strongest candidates at A2.

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