The right resources make A Level Politics clearer, faster, and more rewarding. Below is a curated list of AQA-aligned textbooks, revision materials, and free, credible sources you can rely on—plus a simple plan for using them week by week.

Best AQA-Aligned Textbooks (Core Course Study)

• AQA A Level Politics course texts (publisher-aligned to AQA) — Look for editions clearly labelled “AQA A Level Politics” that cover: UK Government & Politics, US Government & Politics with Comparison, and Political Ideas.
  How to use: read one subsection at a time; turn headings into questions; add 1–2 recent examples to your notes.
• Political Ideas/Ideologies companions — A compact guide to liberalism, conservatism, socialism and your additional ideas helps with definitions and thinkers.
  How to use: make a one-page summary per ideology (core ideas, key thinkers, typical criticisms, a recent example).
• Annual UK/US politics updates (yearbooks or update guides) — Great for keeping examples current in the exam year.
  How to use: tag each update to a syllabus topic (e.g., “Elections”, “Rights”, “PM & Executive”).

Revision Guides & Workbooks (Exam Technique)

• AQA-specific revision guides — Slim, exam-focused summaries arranged by topic with quick checks.
  Use for: rapid reviews, glossary building, and last-minute refreshers.
• Question-bank workbooks — Collections of exam-style questions and model answers.
  Use for: 10–15 minute timed paragraph drills and self-marking against AOs.
• Flashcards (DIY or publisher) — Key terms, institutions, thinkers and case names.
  Use for: spaced-repetition on AO1 terminology.

Free, High-Quality Online Sources (Evidence & Examples)

• AQA materials: specification, past papers, mark schemes, examiner reports — aqa.org.uk
  Use for: understanding what earns marks and common pitfalls.
• UK Parliament & Hansard: debates, committee reports — parliament.uk · hansard.parliament.uk
  Use for: precise examples for scrutiny, legislation, accountability.
• Legislation & Courts: legislation.gov.uk · supremecourt.uk
  Use for: exact wording of acts and landmark judgments for rights/judiciary questions.
• Data & Briefings: ONS · Institute for Government · Electoral Commission · Full Fact
  Use for: trustworthy statistics and concise explanations you can cite.
• News & analysis: quality outlets (e.g., BBC, FT, The Times, The Guardian) and podcasts for UK/US politics.
  Use for: 1–2 fresh examples per week for your “examples bank”.

Build a Weekly Study Stack (30–45 mins)

1. 10 mins: Skim two reputable news sources; save 2 items.
2. 10 mins: Log each item in your examples bank (date · what happened · why it matters · syllabus tag).
3. 10–15 mins: Timed paragraph using our PEEL/PEEJE template.
4. 5–10 mins: Flashcards for key terms/thinking (AO1).

Need structure? See how to prepare, how exams are marked (AOs), and how to write Politics essays.

What to Avoid

• Out-of-date editions without recent case studies.
• Unverified social-media “facts”.
• Memorising whole essays instead of flexible structures + current evidence.

FAQ

Do I need more than one textbook?
One AQA-aligned course text is enough for core content; add a concise revision guide and a political ideas companion if budget allows.

How current should my examples be?
Aim for the last 12–24 months where possible; mix in a few landmark cases when directly relevant.

How do I know a book is AQA-aligned?
Check the cover and product page for “AQA A Level Politics” and ensure it covers UK, US+comparison, and Political Ideas.

Related Guides

Keeping up with current affairs · Is A Level Politics hard? · What is the pass mark?

Note: We don’t sell these books and we’re not affiliated with the publishers. Always check you’re buying the latest edition for your exam year.