Classical Civilisation
Specification: AQA-A-Level-Classical-Civilisation
This subject will help you develop key knowledge and skills required for exam success.
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Objectives
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Exam Tips
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Key Features
- Master key concepts
- Develop exam technique
- Apply knowledge effectively
About AQA A-Level Classical Civilisation
AQA A-Level Classical Civilisation offers an immersive journey into the literature, art, and history of ancient Greece and Rome. Through this course, you will explore some of the most influential stories ever told – the epics of Homer and Virgil – and examine how these tales shaped ideals of heroism, duty, and leadership. You will also delve into the cultural life of the classical world by studying topics such as Greek theatre, the image of the emperor Augustus, or the Greek concept of the barbarian, depending on your teacher’s choice. The specification is designed to develop your critical thinking, analytical, and essay-writing skills as you evaluate ancient sources – from vivid vase paintings to grand architectural remains – and engage with scholarship to form your own arguments.
The course is structured into three essential components. The first is 'The World of the Hero', a compulsory unit where you study either Homer’s Iliad or Odyssey alongside Virgil’s Aeneid, comparing their portrayals of heroes and the societies that produced them. The second component, 'Culture and the Arts', allows you to focus in depth on one area, chosen from options like the invention of the barbarian, Greek theatre, or imperial image. Finally, you will complete a personal investigation: an independent research project on a classical topic of your choice, ranging from philosophy to architecture, which is assessed as coursework. This combination of breadth and specialisation ensures you gain both a wide-ranging understanding and deep expertise.
Throughout the course, you will not only acquire knowledge of key events, figures, and artefacts but also learn to think like a classicist. You will analyse literary themes, compare ancient and modern viewpoints, and build persuasive written arguments. By the end, you will have a sophisticated appreciation of how the classical world continues to shape our own culture, politics, and ideas. The skills you develop – independent research, source analysis, and coherent expression – are highly valued by universities and employers alike.
Assessment Structure
The AQA A-Level Classical Civilisation qualification is assessed through two written examinations and a non-exam assessment (coursework). Paper 1: 'The World of the Hero' is a 2-hour written paper worth 100 marks and accounts for 40% of the A-level. Paper 2: 'Culture and the Arts' is also 2 hours, 100 marks, and contributes a further 40%; for this paper, you will answer on one of the available cultural topics studied. The remaining 20% comes from the Personal Investigation, a coursework component where you produce an extended essay of 3,000–3,500 words on a classical subject of your own choosing, marked by your teacher and moderated by AQA. All components are compulsory and the qualification is linear, with exams taken at the end of the course.
Why Choose AQA?
- The AQA specification uniquely includes a coursework component, the Personal Investigation, which allows you to pursue an area of personal passion and develop independent research skills – excellent preparation for university-style study. This is not offered by all exam boards.
- AQA provides comprehensive support materials, including detailed schemes of work, sample answers, and strong textbook resources written specifically for the spec, making the course accessible for both students and teachers.
- The course structure, with its focus on two core examined components and one independent project, offers a balanced blend of guided learning and self-directed exploration, fostering both depth of knowledge and critical independence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Assessment Objectives
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of: • literature and either visual/material culture or classical thought • how sources and ideas reflect, and influence, their cultural contexts • possible interpretations of sources, perspectives and ideas by different audiences and individuals
Critically analyse, interpret and evaluate literature, and either visual/material culture or classical thought, using evidence to make substantiated judgements and produce coherent and reasoned arguments
What Gets Top Grades
Knowledge & Understanding
Demonstrates comprehensive and accurate knowledge
- Uses correct subject-specific terminology
- Shows detailed understanding of concepts
- Makes accurate connections between topics
- Demonstrates depth beyond surface-level knowledge
Application
Applies knowledge effectively to new contexts
- Selects relevant knowledge for the question
- Adapts understanding to unfamiliar scenarios
- Uses examples appropriately
- Shows awareness of context
Analysis & Evaluation
Develops sophisticated analytical arguments
- Constructs logical chains of reasoning
- Considers multiple perspectives
- Weighs evidence to reach justified conclusions
- Acknowledges limitations and nuances
Key Command Words
Give a single fact or term
Name, select, or recognise
Set out main features briefly
Give an account of what something is like or what happens
Give reasons with developed cause→effect chains
State similarities AND differences (both required)
Examine in detail showing cause→effect→consequence chains
Weigh up BOTH sides, reach JUSTIFIED conclusion
Make judgments about importance with justification
Show formula→substitution→calculation→answer with units
Specification Topics
No curriculum content available for this specification yet.
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