What A-level Philosophy covers
Philosophy sits only at A-level; there is no GCSE equivalent. Four sections span two papers, all set by AQA, the only major A-level Philosophy specification in the UK.
Epistemology: theory of knowledge
What is knowledge? The tripartite analysis (justified true belief) and the Gettier problem. Perception, covering direct realism, indirect realism, and Berkeley's idealism where it comes up. Reason against experience: rationalism (Descartes, Leibniz) set against empiricism (Locke, Hume). And the limits of knowledge, through innatism and scepticism.
Moral Philosophy: normative and meta-ethics
Normative ethical theories: utilitarianism in its act and rule forms after Mill, Kantian deontology, and virtue ethics after Aristotle. Applied ethics questions such as stealing, eating animals, simulated killing, and lying. Meta-ethics covering moral realism, anti-realism, naturalism, non-cognitivism, error theory, emotivism, and prescriptivism.
Metaphysics of God
The concept of God: omnipotence, omniscience, omnibenevolence, and the Euthyphro problem. Arguments for God's existence come in three families: ontological (Anselm, Descartes, Plantinga's modal argument), cosmological (Aquinas's First Way, the Kalam), and teleological (Paley's design argument and Hume's critique). The problem of evil appears in its logical and evidential forms, answered by theodicies such as the Augustinian account, Hick's soul-making, and the free-will defence. Religious language covers verificationism, falsificationism, and Wittgensteinian language games.
Metaphysics of Mind
The mind-body problem, from substance dualism after Descartes through property dualism to physicalism. Behaviourism in its logical and analytical forms (Wittgenstein, Ryle). Identity theory in type and token versions. Functionalism and its critics (Block's Chinese Nation, Searle's Chinese Room). And eliminative materialism (Churchland).
What tutoring focuses on
Argument reconstruction
Philosophy mark schemes reward precise argument reconstruction: laying out an argument's premises and conclusion explicitly, identifying its logical structure, and evaluating validity and soundness. Strong students write reconstructions in numbered-premise form. Tutors drill the formal technique.
Objection-and-response dialectic
A-level Philosophy questions often ask students to evaluate whether an objection or a response succeeds. Strong essays present the objection in its strongest form, then the response in its strongest form, then a critical evaluation that considers further sub-objections. Tutors coach this dialectical structure explicitly.
25-mark essay technique
The 25-mark essays are where most marks are won. Strong essays open with a clear thesis, structure paragraphs around individual arguments, cite named philosophers and specific arguments precisely, evaluate dialectically, and reach a nuanced conclusion that weighs the arguments considered. Tutors drill explicit essay frameworks.
Named-philosopher recall and citation
Mark schemes reward specific citations. A strong answer names the philosopher and the work: "Berkeley argues, in his Three Dialogues, that material objects exist only as ideas", rather than a vague "some philosophers argue". Tutors build systematic philosopher-and-argument recall.
Choosing a Philosophy tutor
A philosophy-degree background is almost essential at A-level depth; the subject's analytical demands are too specialised for non-philosophers to coach effectively. A-level Religious Studies tutors with strong philosophy-of-religion coverage sometimes cross over, but pure Philosophy is a different commitment. Confirm all four sections, since some tutors are stronger on epistemology and metaphysics than on ethics, or the other way round. Look for argument-led teaching: strong tutors teach by arguing rather than lecturing, challenging student arguments and asking for precise responses. For pre-PPE or pre-Philosophy applicants, tutors familiar with Oxford and Cambridge entry expectations can speak to the depth required at undergraduate interview.
Find Philosophy tutors4 tutors
Browse tutors