A Level History

History helps us to understand what we are doing here and therefore how we can make the best of our time while we are here. On top of that, the topics we study are extraordinary stories and History is the ideal starting point for a career in politics, administration, public services, the law, journalism, education, archaeology and information management. Historians are taught how to interpret complex information and communicate their ideas in a lucid and convincing way.

Liberals, Conservatives and the Rise of Labour 1846–1918 (Enquiry topic: England and a New Century c.1900–1918) Unit focus: British period study and enquiry

Assessment: Written exam: 1 hour 30 minutes Candidates will be required to answer two questions, the first is a source based question, and the second is an essay based question.

Skill tested:

Students will be required to track change and developments across time, make substantiated judgements and study significant individuals, societies, events and issues. Students will critically use evidence in investigating and assessing historical questions, problems and issues.

The unit is worth 25% of the total A Level.

Unit 2 The American Revolution 1740–1796 Unit focus: Non-British period study

Assessment: A Level exam: 1 hour ( a two-part exam: the first comparing the relative importance of two factors in order to make a judgment, the second will be an essay focusing on a different part of the period studied)

Skill tested:

Exploring a range of historical perspectives across a non-British period of study. Students are expected to demonstrate abilities to explain, assess, analyse and consider relationships between key features of the period studied in order to reach substantiated judgements.

The unit is worth 15% of the A Level.

Unit 3 Civil Rights in the USA 1865–1992: Thematic study and historical interpretations

This theme focuses on the struggle of citizens in the United States to gain equality before the law. Learners should understand the factors which encouraged and discouraged change during this period.

Assessment: Written exam: 2 hours 30 mins Candidates will be required to answer 3 questions worth 80 marks in total.

Skill tested:

Students will trace developments over a period of 100 years. The thematic element will focus on making links and comparisons between different aspects of the topics studied and of testing hypotheses before reaching a judgement. The depth study element will require students to analyse and evaluate the ways in which the past has been interpreted by historians.

The Unit is worth 40 % of the total A Level.

Unit 4 Historical Enquiry- topic based essay This is a non-examined unit that consists of an independently researched essay of 3000-4000 words in length, marked by the centre and moderated by the exam board.

The essay will include an explanation and analysis of different perspectives on a historical issue, drawing on a range of primary and secondary material. It will be on a topic of your choice using exam-board approved questions.

Assessment (internally assessed) 3000-4000 word essay 40 marks.

The unit is worth 20% of the total A Level.

Five GCSEs grade 4 or above including grade 5 in History.