The OCR Classical Civilisation A Level will be examined for the first time in summer 2019, and the AS Level in 2018.
Course Overview
Students study three components.
The world of the hero
Worth 40% of the total A level and examined with a 2 hour 20 minutes paper.
This is a compulsory component consisting of an indepth study of:
- one of Homer’s Iliad or Odyssey
- plus Virgil’s Aeneid
This component is solely focused on the study of literature in translation
Component Group 2: Culture and the arts
Worth 30% of the total A level and examined with a 1hour 45 minutes paper.
Learners must study one component in this component group, chosen from:
- Greek theatre (21)
- Imperial image (22)
- Invention of the barbarian (23)
- Greek art (24)
All components in this group involve the study of visual and material culture. In all except Greek Art this is combined with the study of literature in translation.
Component Group 3: Beliefs and ideas
Worth 30% of the total A level and examined with a 1hour 45 minutes paper.
Learners must study one component in this component group, chosen from:
- Greek religion (31)
- Love and relationships (32)
- Politics of the Late Republic (33)
- Democracy and the Athenians (34)
All components in this group involve the study of an area of classical thought, in combination with either the study of literature in translation or visual/material culture.
AS Level Course Overview
The World of the Hero
Worth 50% of the total AS level and examined with a 1 hour 30 minutes paper.
This is a compulsory component consisting of an in-depth study of either Homer’s Iliad or Odyssey.
This component is solely focused on the study of literature in translation.
Component Group 2: Culture and the Arts
Worth 50% of the total AS level and examined with a 1 hour 30 minutes paper.
Learners must study one component in this component group, chosen from:
- Greek Theatre (21)
- Imperial Image (22)
Components in this group involve the study of visual and material culture combined with the study of literature in translation.
Co-teaching AS and A Level
With the de-coupling of AS and A Level it is very likely that many teachers will have mixed classes of AS and A Level students in the Year 12. These qualifications are therefore fully co-teachable. For a mixed class the first year should involve the study of the chosen Homeric text plus the chosen component from Culture and the Arts. AS Level students can then sit the exam. In the second year of study teachers should cover the Aeneid and the chosen component from Beliefs and Ideas before examinations on all material are sat for the A Level.
Teaching and learning resources
OCR have a selection of free resources on their website and Bloomsbury have produced endorsed supporting textbooks for every component.
More details
For full details of the AS and A Levels please see the OCR website.
