I provide Psychology (AQA) and Politics (Edexcel) A-Level revision notes by topic, both of which I have an A* in. These notes helped me get it and they can help you too! Although the Politics notes are the 2008 specification, the examples are all up to date and relevant for an assessment of American politics. I'm currently studying at Durham and I achieved 3A* at A level in Biology, Politics, and Psychology.
I provide Psychology (AQA) and Politics (Edexcel) A-Level revision notes by topic, both of which I have an A* in. These notes helped me get it and they can help you too! Although the Politics notes are the 2008 specification, the examples are all up to date and relevant for an assessment of American politics. I'm currently studying at Durham and I achieved 3A* at A level in Biology, Politics, and Psychology.
A* level notes on topic 6 (immunity and infection) covering infection, including:
the structure and function of bacteria and virus
similarities and differences between bacteria and virus
how viruses reproduce, how bacteria reproduce,
how bacteria share genetic material
the definition of infection, and physical barriers from infection
the non specific immune response - inflammation, production of interferons, phagocytosis, lysozymes, fever, histamines,
the specific immune response - lymphocytes, t-killer cells, b lymphpcytes, t cell activation, b cell activation, antibodies (role and structure)
immunity (including the secondary and primary immune response)
vaccination and its benefits (including natural/artificial, passive/active)
HIV - structure, function, how it causes AIDS, and evades our immune systems.
Tuberculosis - structure, function, the primary infection, how it evades immunity systems
split genes and post transcriptional changes
explaining why more than one amino acid sequence, so more than one protein, can be produced from a single gene with reference to antibodies.
These are A* essay plans for the ‘Constitution’ unit in Edexcel Politics for all long answer questions ever asked. Each plan provides a balanced answer to the question, colour coded in ‘for’ and ‘against’. Each point is equipped with up to date examples from the 2016 Election.
Including: an assesment of if the Constitution fit for purpose, the transformation of the Constitution, and the obstacle proposed by checks and balances.
These are A* essay plans for the ‘Congress’ unit in Edexcel Politics for all short answer questions ever asked, split into ‘Voting in Congress’, ‘Relationships in Congress’, ‘The Legislative Process’ and ‘Powers of Congress’ equipped with up to date examples from the 2016 Election.
These are A* essay plans for the ‘Pressure Groups’ unit in Edexcel Politics for all long answer mark questions ever asked, split into an analysis of: if pressure groups are good for democracy, the role of pressure groups in dispersing political power, the influence of pressure groups, the role of membership size in pressure group success (compared with money, policy, agenda, and countervailing ideas). This includes examples from groups such as the ACLU, the NAACP, the NRA, and NFU.
These are A* essay plans for the ‘Federalism’ unit in Edexcel Politics for all short answer questions ever asked, split into an analysis of each of the key principles of New Federalism, Federalism in the Constitution, and recent expansion of the Federal Government. No long answer question has ever been asked on Federalism’s role, but examples from here are pertinant in other topics. All are equipped with up to date examples from the 2016 election.
These are A* essay plans for the ‘Elections and Voting’ unit in Edexcel Politics for all long answer questions ever asked. Each plan provides a balanced answer to the question, colour coded in ‘for’ and ‘against’. This includes an analysis of reforming the nomination process, reforming the electoral college, the role of participation in the nomination process, the role of incumbency in the election campaign, and an assesment of the roles of money, policy, and personality in a sucessful campaign.
These are A* essay plans for the ‘Pressure Groups’ unit in Edexcel Politics for all short answer questions ever asked, split into an analysis of: if pressure groups are good for democracy, the role of pressure groups in dispersing political power, the influence of pressure groups, the role of membership size in pressure group success (compared with money, policy, agenda, and countervailing ideas). This includes examples from groups such as the ACLU, the NAACP, the NRA, and NFU.
These are A* essay plans for the ‘Racial Politics’ unit in Edexcel Politics for all short answer questions ever asked, split into an analysis of: the role of affirmative action, the success of affirmative action, the major parties and affirmative action, immigration reform from 2008, the role of black nationalism, an assesment of civil rights.
These are A* essay plans for the ‘Political Parties’ unit in Edexcel Politics for all long answer questions ever asked, split into an analysis of: the overlap between the main parties, which parties are more internally divided, the theory of party decline, the role of moderate conservatism in the GOP, the role of moderate liberalism in the Democrats, and an assesment of polarisation. All are equipped with up to date examples from the 2016 election.
These are all the topics covered in Paper one for the new psychology specification: memory, attachment, social influence, and psychopathology. Save 30% by buying them as one!
A* Level notes covering the first section of the large topic 4 (Biodiversity and Natural Resources) including natural selection, speciation, variation and its sources, Carl Woese and his impact and methods, competition, and how we can maintain biodiversity via zoos, seedbanks, reintroduction. This includes a discussion of benefits and drawbacks of in situ versus ex situ protection. Also includes explanations on how to measure biodiversity and how to use the Hardy-Weinberg Equation.
These are A* essay plans for the ‘Racial Politics’ unit in Edexcel Politics for all the long answer questions ever asked, split into an analysis of: political measures designed to promote racial equality, the issue of Race in US politics, and the role of affirmative action. This is equipped with relevant examples e.g. the Black Lives Matter movement, the 2016 election and racial equality in Congress.
A* Level notes covering the second section of Topic 4 (Biodiversity and Natural Resources). This includes the section on Drug Testing (including defining drugs, drugs we derive from plants, how we ensure validity in drug trials, the stages of clinical trials, the origin of clinical trials from digitalis soup, the impact of using animals in our trials, the use of aseptic techniques, and the core practical about the microbiobal properties of plants)
Also includes the section of Plant Structures and Roles - including transportation, translocation, the phloem and xylem, the structure of starch and cellulose (and how they differ) the varying organelles in plants and their structure and function (e.g. vacuoles, chloroplasts, amyloplast, the cell wall), why we use plant fibers. Also includes the core practicals identifying plant fibers, testing the tensile strength of plant fibers, and looking at the minerals plants need to grow.
A* Level notes on photosynthesis, including:
Covers:
Definition of phosphorylation, photophosphorylation, photolysis, hydrolysis, and redox reactions.
What photosynthesis is (endothermic reaction, releasing hydrogen from water)
The light dependent reaction, the process, where it takes place (cyclic and non-cyclic photophosphorylation)
The light independent reaction (the calvin cycle), the process, where it takes place, the carboxylation, reduction, and regeneration.
Structure and function of the Chloroplast
Chlorophyll A and B
Energy transfers - including definitions of NPP, GPP, and the equation NPP=GPP-R, respiratory loss, food chains
Core practical notes for the photosynthesis topic.
A* Level notes covering the Greenhouse Effect and Global warming. Including:
definition and causes of the greenhouse effect
definition and causes of global warming
the difference between the greenhouse effect and global warming
the evidence for climate change (temperature, carbon dioxide, methane, pollen in peat bogs, dendrochronology, ice cores)
how we can extrapolate data on climate change
the limits of the evidence over climate change
the impact of climate change on enzymes
the carbon cycle (how fossil fuels are formed, the role of microorganisms, carbon sinks, the impact of slash and burn farming)
the role and impact of bio fuels and reforestation to offset climate change
the core practical about the impact of increasing temperature on the rate of enzyme-catalysed reaction.
These are all the topics covered in Paper two for the new psychology specification: research methods, approaches, and biopsychology. Save 30% by buying them as one!
These are A* essay plans for the ‘Supreme Court’ unit in Edexcel Politics for all short answer questions ever asked, split into an analysis of each of the key principles the Court, including: the Appointment Process and it’s controversy, the role of judicial review, the role of judicial activism, the role judicial restraint, and limits on the court’s power. This also includes two plans specifically about the current Robert’s Court and significant decisions made in relation to the Bill of Rights.