History
The A Level course in History aims to expand on the knowledge and skills you have developed up to Key Stage 4.
During the course you will study a range of different themes and countries, over various timeframes, allowing you to develop a greater sense of the development of the past.
A Level History is a demanding literacy subject, where your performance is enhanced by wider reading of the topics you study. You will have numerous opportunities to develop your written communication skills, alongside your analysis and evaluative competencies.
The study of A Level History requires you to take a balanced view on different scenarios, allowing you to come to an informed, evidence based conclusion. You will need good organisational skills to ensure that you sequence your work effectively, as being able to draw links across multiple topics is paramount.
Entry Requirements
Grade 4 at GCSE History.
If you have not studied History to GCSE Level, a grade 4 in either English Literature or Language is required.
What will I Study?
Paper 1 - Britain, 1918-1979 - Examining the social, economic, political and cultural changes to Britain during the Twentieth Century.
Paper 1 - Interpretations of Thatcher and her legacy, 1979 - 1997 - Examining the policies of Thatcher and her impact on Britain.
Paper 2 - USA, 1920 - 1955 - A study of the development of the United States of America, from the post WW1 boom, through the Great Depression and recovery.
Paper 3 - Witch Craze, 1580 - 1750 - A study of the persecution of people following accusations of witchcraft in 5 different case studies, plus a study of why there was a declining belief in the supernatural and witchcraft across the full period.
Coursework - A study of the different historical views on why war broke out in 1914.
Which exam board is used and how will I be assessed?
The exam board is Edexcel.
Click here to access the exam board webpage for this specification.
Paper 1 - Assessed in May / June of Year 13
This is assessed with 3 exam questions, each worth 20 marks each. Section A is a selection of two essays of which you answer one. These will be questions on a longer period of time. Section B is a selection of two essays of which you answer one. These will be questions on a shorter period of time. Section C is a compulsory Thatcher interpretations question.
Paper 2 - Assessed in May / June of Year 13
This is assessed with 2 exam questions, each worth 20 marks each. Section A is a compulsory source question. Section B is a selection of two essays of which you answer one.
Paper 3 - Assessed in May / June of Year 13
This is assessed with 3 exam questions, each worth 20 marks each. Section A is a compulsory source question. Section B is a selection of two essays of which you answer one. These will be focused on the witch craze depth studies. Section C is a selection of two essays of which you answer one. These will be focused on the different reasons people stopped believing in witches.
Coursework - Submitted in the Spring term of Year 13.
This is an extended piece of writing worth 40 marks. You will be required to analyse three different historical works studying the causes of the First World War.This will culminate in 4000 words of analysis about the varying interpretations, and a personalised conclusion about the outbreak of war in 1914.
Where could this subject take me?
History is a transferable subject, and therefore whilst you could study a variety of directly History related courses at university (e.g. BA in History), you can also use History to facilitate access to other subjects such as Law and Journalism.
We have had a number of students from recent cohorts go on to study History at various institutions across the country, such as universities in Nottingham, Liverpool and Leeds.
How can I get ahead in this subject
Popular books on some of the content we cover in A Level History are:
The Making of Modern Britain by Andrew Marr
The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald
Witch hunting and witch trials by C L’Estrange Ewan
Reading around the topics in the course syllabus from any medium helps you to understand the wider history of the time period. You can do this by looking at non-fiction or fiction texts, plus researching some of the ‘big events’ we study such as the Wall Street Crash. The knowledge you can gain from this wider reading helps to set you apart from other students in the exam.
You can also visit local museums such as the Imperial War Museum North to help gain an insight into some elements of the Paper 1 topic on modern Britain.Immersing yourself in the social, political, cultural and economic changes to Britain during the Twentieth Century is paramount to succeeding in your A Levels.
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