Key Stage 5

In Years 11 - 13, students can choose to follow the OCR Critical Thinking AS Level course

This is for Mixed Ability groups and is 100% Exam-assessed.

No Tiers

Students opting for this course are expected to be on target to achieve B grades in English Language and Maths.

What is Critical Thinking?

Critical Thinking is an interesting and useful subject which will be offered as a two unit AS Level by OCR. Part of its excitement is that you can see the world differently once you have been doing it.  It is different from some subjects, in that it teaches skills not content.  Just like swimming, driving, skiing, dancing and anything else that requires skills, once you can do it you feel different!  Developing Critical Thinking skills will help in all academic studies.

What will be Studied?

Unit 1 : Introduction to Critical Thinking

(Written exam 1hr 30mins AS 50%)

This unit provides an introduction to important skills in critical thinking. It also covers the area of credibility and recognises that the plausibility of an argument is influenced by its origin, be that a person or organisation.

The key skills will be:

• The language of reasoning
• Credibility

Unit 2 : Assessing and Developing Argument

(Written exam 1hr 30mins AS 50%)

This unit covers a wide range of argument components building on the skills developed in Unit 1.

The key skills will be:

• Analysing arguments
• Evaluating arguments
• Developing arguments of your own

You will develop and practice your skills by applying them to different materials like news articles, adverts, glossy magazines and extracts from TV programmes and documentaries.

Students who have a higher degree of critical thinking invariably get better grades, a matter which has been highlighted by the Universities and Colleges Application Scheme (UCAS).