Critical Thinking
GCE Advanced Level AS/A2
Course Content
Unit 1 Introduction to Critical Thinking
- The language of reasoning: how persuasion works
- Credibility: how ‘believability’ can be strengthened and weakened
Unit 2 Assessing and Developing Argument
- How and why arguments sometimes go wrong
- How to improve our ability to persuade others of our point of view
Unit 3 Ethical Reasoning and Decision Making
- How to think more clearly when faced with moral or social problems that don’t seem to have a straightforward solution
Unit 4 Critical Reasoning
- How persuasion works in the real world
- How and why real arguments often go wrong
- How to improve our ability to persuade others in the real world
How it is Taught
Taking Critical Thinking is not like taking any other A Level course because we focus exclusively on the skills needed to reason. The classes are active as we don't spend hours learning theories or facts and you don't have to remember who said what and what happened when. The classes are geared towards helping you to reason better, to think and express your ideas more clearly and precisely.
A typical class involves breaking into small groups or working in pairs and spending time exploring different ways in which arguments are used and misused to persuade. There are no essays to write but there is written work and you are expected to want to work to clarify your thoughts and to be prepared to identify flaws in your own, as well as others', reasoning. So as well as gaining a useful qualification, there is evidence that studying Critical Thinking will have a beneficial impact on your attainment in all the subjects you study.
Examination Details
| Module | Module name | Duration | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| AS Unit 1 | Introduction to Critical Thinking | 1 hour 30 min | 1st Year May |
| AS Unit 2 | Assessing and Developing Arguments | 1 hour 30 min | 1st Year May |
| A2 Unit 3 | Ethical Reasoning and Decision Making | 1 hour 30 min | 2nd Year January |
| A2 Unit 4 | Critical Reasoning | 1 hour 30 min | 2nd Year June |
Entry Requirements
Grade C or above in English Language and/or English Literature.
Students should also meet the general college entry requirements for Advanced Level study. Please refer to the current prospectus - advanced programmes, entry requirements.
Useful/Common Subject Combinations
Critical Thinking combines well with any other subjects. It fits particularly well with the study of Humanities subjects such as: Philosophy, History, Languages; and Social Science subjects such as: Law, Psychology, Sociology and Politics.
Careers and HE Information
Studying Critical Thinking will develop essential skills such as analysis, evaluation and, especially, your ability to express complex and sophisticated ideas clearly and coherently. These skills are valuable for careers and university courses. The course will be of particular use to students intending to take entry examinations for Medicine and Law. Those applying for competitive courses will also find that the subject is well regarded by universities seeking to choose between candidates with similar results in their core A Levels. Former students have contacted us to tell us that, although they found the course challenging, they found Critical Thinking one of the most useful courses they took at college.