There is no coursework component needed to complete ​​Cambridge International AS and A Level Thinking Skills (9694). That is, students can attain the qualification by examination only. At this time, AQA and Pearson Edexcel do not offer Thinking Skills or Critical Thinking at AS or A Level.

The CAIE exam board uses a syllabus to clearly state, among other things, the subject course content and methods of final assessments. Additionally, the CAIE exam board will give suggested textbooks and other resources, some of which are endorsed (that is, they carefully follow the specific syllabus or specification). Teachers and students can choose the best resources to facilitate learning. 

Each exam board uses a syllabus or specification to clearly state, among other things, the subject course content and methods of final assessments. Additionally, each exam board will give suggested textbooks and other resources, some of which are endorsed (that is, they carefully follow the specific syllabus or specification). Teachers and students can choose the best resources to facilitate learning. You don't need all the suggested resources, but it is useful to have one or two textbooks as a scaffold, alongside the syllabus or specification and online resources as needed. 

I have tutored students in Cambridge AS and A Level Thinking Skills so I am familiar with the syllabus content, varied teaching and learning strategies for individual students, and preparation for assessments (examinations). CAIE examinations were easier for my four home educated children to access, and I have been teaching or tutoring CAIE examination subjects in school or online since 2007. 

​I will pass on what I have used, at one time or another, to teach Cambridge AS and A Level Thinking Skills (9694). 

Syllabuses and specifications

To have  the most success in final assessments (exams), read the syllabus or specification carefully. Consider this as the rule book, as it gives clear details about the subject.

Here is the link for the AS and A Level Thinking Skills course:

Cambridge AS and A Level Thinking Skills (9694)
https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/programmes-and-qualifications/cambridge-international-as-and-a-level-thinking-skills-9694/​

Past paper practice

One of the best ways to understand how well you will do in the final assessments is to complete some past papers, mark them, and reflect on your strengths and challenges. Then repeat the process. Strong AS and A Level knowledge and skills are built through practice, so you should make sure to get support from teachers, tutors, or mentors as necessary. In the meantime, visit the examination board's website and look for past papers, the mark schemes (answer keys or rubrics) and the examiners' reports. All these documents will be helpful in honing your skills in this subject.

Suggested textbooks

There are endorsed textbooks that are closely aligned to exam board courses and these will be the best resource to use as a scaffold for learning. Each exam board also suggests other textbooks and resources for each subject course. The choice of books for teaching and learning is yours, but I have always relied on one or two endorsed textbooks, and then used other resources to supplement my own learning and teaching. 

Here are some useful suggested textbooks for AS and A Level Thinking Skills:

​Cambridge AS and A Level Thinking Skills (9694)

• Grogono, A. & Hart, C. (2018) Cambridge AS & A Level Thinking Skills. ISBN: 9781510421899 [Endorsed]
• Zaccaro, E. (2006) Becoming a Problem Solving Genius: A Handbook of Math Strategies. ISBN: 9780967991597    
• Thomson, A. (2008) Critical Reasoning: a practical introduction, 3rd Edition. ISBN: 9780415445870​
• Butterworth, J., & Thwaites, G. (2013) Thinking Skills. ISBN 9781107606302
• Lally, J. et al (2008) OCR AS Critical Thinking: Student Book. ISBN 9780435235895
• Lally, J., Hart, C. & McCabe, T. (2010) OCR A2 Critical Thinking: Student Book. ISBN 978-0435235901​

Useful websites for AS and A Level Thinking Skills

Using an endorsed textbook alongside the syllabus or specification is always my first strategy in teaching or tutoring AS and A Level Thinking Skills. Then I look through the online resources to supplement and complement what is being learnt, and I am constantly researching new resources.

Here are a few resources you might find useful:

http://www.folj.com/folj.com/puzzles/
This site is just one example of logic puzzles. Students might be really interested in logic puzzle books or puzzles – the best students can be encouraged to solve logic problems and then explain their reasoning to the rest of the class.
​
http://austhink.com/critical/
One of the many sites for critical thinking. This has argument mapping tutorials.

http://www3.cis.gsu.edu/dtruex/courses/IB8710/instructions/Writing-Toulmin-Argumentaiton-2012.pdf 
This shows the basis of Toulmin theory. There used to be a better link to Toumlin's work, but it appears to have gone.
 
http://www.fallacyfiles.org/taxonomy.html
This is a well-organised site showing logically categorised flaws.

http://philosophy.lander.edu/logic/diagram.html
This website shows examples of argument diagrams. 

http://www.philosophypages.com/lg/e01.htm
Arguments and inference, clearly detailed on this website. Can be used as a reference tool by teachers and students.

http://philosophy.hku.hk/think/
I like this site because it comes from Hong Kong (where I grew up). It is worth a look, as there is plenty of material to read.


Websites need to be checked often to make sure they are still relevant and the links are still active. All websites were checked and updated: April, 2021.