Free Practice Questions for A-Level Philosophy

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Key Facts: A-Level Philosophy Exam

7172

AQA specification code

AQA

2 papers

3 hours each, 100 marks

AQA 7172 specification

A*-E

Grading scale

Ofqual

100

Free practice questions here

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AQA A-Level Philosophy 7172 is assessed by two 3-hour linear papers at the end of Year 13 covering Epistemology, Moral Philosophy, Metaphysics of God and Metaphysics of Mind, graded A*-E on the 2026 specification.

Sample A-Level Philosophy Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the A-Level Philosophy exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1According to direct realism, what are the immediate objects of perception?

A.Mind-independent physical objects and their properties

B.Sense-data caused by physical objects

C.Ideas in the mind of God

D.Innate ideas placed in us by reason

Explanation: Direct realism holds that we perceive ordinary mind-independent physical objects (and their properties) directly, without any intermediary such as sense-data. Russell defended this naive view before adopting indirect realism in The Problems of Philosophy.

2Locke's distinction between primary and secondary qualities holds that secondary qualities are:

A.Powers in objects to produce sensations in us

B.Inseparable from the object in every state

C.Identical to primary qualities at the atomic level

D.Properties that exist only in God's mind

Explanation: For Locke, primary qualities (extension, shape, motion, number, solidity) resemble qualities in the object itself. Secondary qualities (colour, taste, sound, smell) are mere powers in the object — arrangements of primary qualities — that cause sensations like red or sweet in the perceiver.

3The time-lag argument is most commonly used to support which theory of perception?

A.Indirect realism

B.Direct realism

C.Berkeley's idealism

D.Phenomenalism only

Explanation: Because light takes time to reach us, what we perceive (e.g. the sun) is the state it was in moments ago, not its current state. This suggests we perceive a representation or sense-datum, not the object directly, supporting indirect realism.

4Berkeley's slogan 'esse est percipi' translates as:

A.To be is to be perceived

B.I think therefore I am

C.Existence precedes essence

D.Whatever is, is right

Explanation: Berkeley's idealism holds that the existence of any physical thing consists in its being perceived. Objects are bundles of ideas, and when no finite mind perceives them, God's perception sustains their existence.

5Berkeley's 'master argument' aims to show that:

A.It is impossible to conceive of an unperceived object

B.All ideas come from sensation

C.God necessarily exists

D.Primary qualities are also mind-dependent

Explanation: The master argument challenges us to think of a tree existing unperceived. Berkeley argues that the very act of conceiving it makes it an object of thought, so we cannot truly conceive of something existing outside any mind.

6On the tripartite (JTB) definition, knowledge that p requires:

A.True belief that p plus justification for believing p

B.A vivid mental image of p

C.An unshakeable feeling of certainty about p

D.The ability to demonstrate p by experiment

Explanation: The traditional analysis defines knowledge as justified true belief: S knows that p iff (i) p is true, (ii) S believes p, and (iii) S is justified in believing p. Each condition is individually necessary and jointly sufficient on the traditional view.

7In Gettier's Smith and Jones case, Smith infers that 'the man who will get the job has ten coins in his pocket'. Why is this a counterexample to JTB?

A.The belief is true and justified but only luckily true

B.The belief is false

C.Smith does not really believe it

D.Smith is not justified in any sense

Explanation: Smith is justified in believing Jones will get the job (the boss said so) and Jones has ten coins, so he infers 'the man who will get the job has ten coins'. Smith himself gets the job and also has ten coins, so the belief is true — but only by luck, not because of his justification.

8The 'fake barn country' case (Goldman) is typically used to motivate:

A.A reliabilist or no-false-lemmas style response to Gettier

B.Berkeley's idealism

C.Hume's fork

D.The trademark argument

Explanation: Driving through a region full of fake barn facades, Henry happens to look at the one real barn and forms a true justified belief 'that is a barn'. Intuitively this is not knowledge, suggesting reliability of the process or the absence of false steps matters beyond JTB.

9The 'no false lemmas' response adds which condition to JTB?

A.The justification must not essentially depend on any false belief

B.The belief must be infallible

C.The belief must be innate

D.The believer must be virtuous

Explanation: On the no-false-lemmas account, S knows p iff S has a justified true belief that p and the justification does not rest on any false intermediate belief (lemma). In the Smith/Jones case, the false lemma 'Jones will get the job' undermines knowledge.

10Descartes' infallibilism about knowledge holds that:

A.Knowledge requires beliefs that cannot possibly be doubted

B.Knowledge is whatever the senses report

C.Knowledge is whatever a reliable process produces

D.Knowledge requires only true belief

Explanation: For Descartes, the proper objects of knowledge are clear and distinct ideas that survive even the most radical sceptical scenarios. If a belief could turn out false, it does not yet count as scientia.

About the A-Level Philosophy Exam

A-Level Philosophy (AQA 7172) is the only A-Level Philosophy specification currently available in England (Edexcel was discontinued in 2018). The course is examined over two 3-hour papers — Paper 1 covers Epistemology and Moral Philosophy, Paper 2 covers Metaphysics of God and Metaphysics of Mind. Each paper carries 100 marks and uses a mix of 3, 5, 12 and 25-mark questions.

Exam sponsor: AQA. The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Questions

100 questions

Time Limit

6 hours total (2 papers x 3 hours)

Passing Score

Grade E is the minimum pass; Grades A*-E count as a pass

Exam / Certification Fees

£75-£130 per subject (school-set entry fee)

Exam sponsor website

Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.

Official sources

Our practice resources: topics covered

We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.

Paper 1 (25%)

Epistemology

Perception (direct/indirect realism, idealism), definitions of knowledge (JTB and Gettier), innatism vs tabula rasa, rationalism vs empiricism (Hume, Descartes)

Paper 1 (25%)

Moral Philosophy

Utilitarianism (Bentham, Mill, Singer), Kantian deontology, Aristotelian virtue ethics, meta-ethics (cognitivism vs non-cognitivism), applied ethics

Paper 2 (25%)

Metaphysics of God

Concept of God, ontological/cosmological/teleological arguments, problem of evil and theodicies, religious language (verificationism, language games)

Paper 2 (25%)

Metaphysics of Mind

Substance and property dualism (Descartes, Jackson, Chalmers), physicalism (identity theory, eliminativism), behaviourism, functionalism

Preparing for the A-Level Philosophy Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: Grade E is the minimum pass; Grades A*-E count as a pass
Exam length: 100 questions
Time limit: 6 hours total (2 papers x 3 hours)
Exam / certification fees: £75-£130 per subject (school-set entry fee) Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

Work through all 100 available questions
Review every answer and explanation
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A-Level Philosophy: Suggested Study Strategy

1Memorise the AQA anthology authors and arguments — questions name-check Hume, Descartes, Berkeley, Mill, Kant, Aquinas, Ayer and Ryle by name

2Practise the 25-mark essay structure — clear thesis, two strong objections, evaluative judgement

3Build a glossary of technical terms (qualia, supervenience, eudaimonia, a priori) and revise it weekly

4Use past papers and AQA examiner reports to learn the precise wording the board credits for 3 and 5 mark definitions

Frequently Asked Questions

Which exam board offers A-Level Philosophy?

AQA is the only awarding body that currently offers A-Level Philosophy in England (specification 7172). Edexcel withdrew its A-Level Philosophy in 2018, so AQA 7172 is the standard specification.

How is AQA A-Level Philosophy assessed?

There are two 3-hour written papers, each marked out of 100. Paper 1 covers Epistemology and Moral Philosophy; Paper 2 covers Metaphysics of God and Metaphysics of Mind. Questions are worth 3, 5, 12 or 25 marks.

Is there any coursework or NEA in A-Level Philosophy?

No. AQA 7172 is fully linear with no non-examined assessment. All marks come from the two end-of-course written papers in May-June of Year 13.

How is A-Level Philosophy graded?

A-Levels are graded A*-E, with A* the highest grade and E the minimum pass. Grade boundaries are set each year by AQA based on the standard of the cohort.

Free Practice Questions for A-Level Philosophy

A-Level Philosophy