WHY SHOULD YOU STUDY AS LEVEL THINKING SKILLS?
AS Level Thinking Skills (also known as ‘Critical Thinking’) was developed to allow students to demonstrate more sophisticated, complex and mature ways of thinking. You will learn how to approach information and problems, how to break them down, understand, analyse and ultimately resolve them. You will be encouraged to express and debate your ideas, think critically and investigatively, and to apply informed and disciplined reasoning to your arguments.
The ‘Problem Solving’ component assesses your ability to analyse numerical and graphical information, based on real-life situations. You will develop your ability to analyse arguments; judge the relevance and significance of information; evaluate claims, inferences, arguments and explanations; construct clear and coherent arguments and form well-reasoned judgements and decisions. These are transferable skills which complement other A Levels, university courses and a wide range of careers, including accounting, business, engineering, law, philosophy, and social sciences.
WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW TO ENROL?
The problem solving element of this course involves handling numerical data and applying the right numerical techniques to find solution. It is not a test of mathematical abilities, but students must be comfortable with using different forms of data to find outcomes. For AS, candidates need to be familiar with basic mathematical techniques to Primary School Level. All Wolsey Hall A Level students must have a GCSE/IGCSE in English Language and Maths at Grade C/4 or above.
THE SYLLABUS AND THE EXAM
The course prepares you for the Cambridge (CIE) Syllabus 9694. Exams take place in June and November.
For the AS in Thinking Skills, you will sit the following 2 papers:
Paper 1: Problem Solving – 50% of the AS grade and 25% of the overall A Level grade (1 hour and 45 minutes) Paper 2: Critical Thinking – 50% of the AS grade and 25% of the overall A Level grade (1 hour and 45 minutes)