Philosophy
Specification: 100/4776/1
The CAMBRIDGE-OCR A-Level Philosophy specification covers 5 topics with 22 learning objectives (100/4776/1). Use the topic browser below to explore subtopics, exam tips, common mistakes, and key terminology for each area of the course.
This subject will help you develop key knowledge and skills required for exam success.
5
Topics
22
Objectives
32
Exam Tips
33
Pitfalls
Key Features
- Master key concepts
- Develop exam technique
- Apply knowledge effectively
Assessment Objectives
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the core concepts and methods of philosophy, including through the use of philosophical analysis
Analyse and evaluate philosophical arguments to form reasoned judgements
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
Common Exam Mistakes
Pitfalls to avoid in your exams
- •Confusing the necessity of the conclusion in a valid deductive argument with the truth of the premises; students often treat validity as guaranteeing a true conclusion.
- •Treating inductive arguments as either fully strong or fully weak, rather than recognising they exist on a continuum of probability.
- •Applying deductive standards (e.g., demanding absolute proof) when evaluating inductive reasoning, leading to the fallacy of requiring certainty where only probability is warranted.
- •Confusing a series of unrelated statements with an argument, failing to see inferential connections.
- •Mistaking a conditional statement (if... then) for an argument, without recognising that an argument asserts the premises as reasons to accept the conclusion.
- •Treating an explanation (e.g., 'why something happened') as an argument, when the speaker assumes the conclusion is already accepted.
- •Confusing implicit assumptions with implications or conclusions; students may mistakenly identify a consequence of an argument as an assumption.
- •Failing to provide justification when evaluating an assumption; simply labeling it as 'unsupported' without explaining why it weakens the argument.
Top Examiner Tips
Expert advice for exam success
- •Before evaluating any argument, state explicitly whether it is intended to be deductive or inductive; this determines the appropriate evaluative framework.
- •When discussing inductive strength, always ground your assessment in specific criteria (e.g., sample size, representativeness, absence of selection bias) and show how they apply to the given example.
- •Use potential counter-examples or defeaters to demonstrate a nuanced understanding: show how additional evidence could weaken an otherwise strong inductive argument.
- •In the exam, when presented with a passage, first identify the conclusion by asking 'What is the main point the author wants me to accept?' Then look for reasons that directly support it.
- •Use indicator words as clues but be cautious: not all 'since' or 'therefore' sentences are part of the argument structure.
- •Practice reconstructing arguments in standard form (premises first, then conclusion) to clarify the logical flow.
- •When analyzing a passage, actively look for gaps between the premises and conclusion; these gaps often reveal implicit assumptions. Use phrases like 'It is assumed that...' to make them explicit.
- •For evaluation, structure your response: identify the assumption, explain its role, assess its acceptability (e.g., is it controversial? does it rely on false premises?), and then conclude how it affects the overall argument.
Specification Topics
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