aqa history coursework

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GCSE History

• Specification
• Planning resources
• Teaching resources
• Assessment resources
• Introduction

Specification at a glance

• 3.1 Rationale
• 3.2 Understanding the modern world
• 3.3 Shaping the nation
• Scheme of assessment
• General administration

This qualification is linear. Linear means that students will sit all their exams at the end of the course. GCSE History students must take assessments in both of the following papers in the same series:

Paper 1: Understanding the modern world

Paper 2: Shaping the nation

Subject content

• one period study
• one thematic study
• one wider world depth study
• one British depth study including the historic environment.

Section A: Period studies

Options to be declared at point of entry.

Choose one of the following options:

• AA America, 1840–1895: Expansion and consolidation
• AB Germany, 1890–1945: Democracy and dictatorship
• AC Russia, 1894–1945: Tsardom and communism
• AD America, 1920–1973: Opportunity and inequality

Section B: Wider world depth studies

• BA Conflict and tension: The First World War, 1894–1918
• BB Conflict and tension: The inter-war years, 1918–1939
• BC Conflict and tension between East and West, 1945–1972
• BD Conflict and tension in Asia, 1950–1975
• BE Conflict and tension in the Gulf and Afghanistan, 1990–2009

Section A: Thematic studies

• AA Britain: Health and the people: c1000 to the present day
• AB Britain: Power and the people: c1170 to the present day
• AC Britain: Migration, empires and the people: c790 to the present day

Section B: British depth studies including the historic environment

• BA Norman England, c1066–c1100
• BB Medieval England: the reign of Edward I, 1272–1307
• BC Elizabethan England, c1568–1603
• BD Restoration England, 1660–1685

Assessments

History Coursework: how to Choose the Best Question

• Dr Janet Rose
• June 13, 2020

So, just when you thought your first A-level History year was over and you could relax before tackling next year, you have to think about your history coursework. This will be the non-exam assessment (NEA) or Historical Investigation.  It can cause a lot of angst amongst students but taking some time and thinking it through carefully before you start can make the world of difference.

1. Choose to study something interesting for your history coursework

If you have the chance to choose whichever topic you like for your history coursework and set your own question, or if you are given a list of different topics, choose one you are genuinely interested in. You will be working on this piece for months, so it makes sense to choose something that will hold your interest.

2. Make sure there are no clashes with your other topics

In practice, there are constraints set by the various exam boards to make sure that your topic does not overlap with the components you are already studying for your A level or Pre U. Your exam centre (school, college or independent centre) will need to have your question approved by the exam board and they will not approve a topic with an obvious overlap. For example, if you are already studying the Tudors for AQA, it is unlikely that you can  study a topic set in England between 1485 to 1603. Therefore, if you are setting your own question, ask yourself if it overlaps in date or topic with one of your components. If it does, you will need to find an alternative. Each exam board has slightly different rules, so check on their website to see what the rules are for your exam board.

3. Find your source material early

For your history coursework, you will need to find two types of source material – primary and secondary:

P rimary sources are those that were written at the time and you will also need to find a range of these to support your investigation. To achieve high marks you should look for a variety of primary sources, for example, a letter, a report, a painting, a speech etc.

Secondary sources are scholarly books or articles by historians, or what the a-level exam boards call ‘interpretations.’ this means that your investigation will only be viable if historians have written about the topic and, preferably, argued over it. you will need to understand the arguments that provide a framework for your chosen topic. historians call this the historiography..

Therefore, the question you set yourself will only be able to achieve high marks if you make sure there are both secondary sources (scholarly argument) and primary sources (original material) to support your investigation. If you cannot find these, you should re-think your question.

4. Remember you actually have to answer the question!

It sounds really obvious – but remember that you actually have to answer the question you set yourself!  You need to choose something that is achievable in the time frame and gives you a good chance of success. A good question will give you a framework within which to research and write – you are looking for something that is not too vague nor too wide.

You also need something that you can address in the historical time frame (e.g. around 100 years for AQA) and a topic that you can analyse and evaluate in approximately 3, 500 words (check the word limit for your own exam board). In practice, any question that is too wide, too vague or unlikely to be achievable should be vetoed either by your school/college/independent centre or the exam board. However, this will waste your valuable time and is not totally foolproof, so choose an achievable project to give yourself a fighting chance of achieving that elusive A grade.

5. Choose a good format for your history coursework question

The standard ‘for and against’ question format will always be a good choice and will give you a framework within which to set your investigation. There are various ways to word such a question e.g. ‘How far…’, To what extent…’ ‘Within the context of … how important was…’ which will give you a clear framework and a direction for your investigation. Keep it simple is good advice here. Remember, though, to define your framework by including the date range in your question. For example ‘Within the context of 1790 to 1890, how important was…?’

Done well, the NEA or Personal Investigation will teach you a huge amount about how historians work, how sources are used and how to construct an argument. This will help you enormously when you come to the final exams and it can be a very valuable contribution to your qualification. It can also be enjoyable as it is your first chance to ‘do’ some real historical research. Choose your question with care and you automatically give yourself a head start.

Exam Board History Coursework Guidance

AQA Guidance

Cambridge Pre U Guidance

OCR Guidance

Edexcel Guidance

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GCSE History

Course codes.

OSC1354 / OSC1355

Study something you're fascinated by and gain a recognised qualification in GCSE History from home.

• Achieve an internationally recognised qualification in GCSE History.
• Expand your knowledge of past events that have shaped the world we live in today.
• Develop a solid foundation of historical understanding and prepare yourself for future studies in history at A Level and beyond.
• Choose whether to add exams to your enrolment and we'll book these for you when you're ready!

Course overview Do you love learning about historical events that have shaped the world we live in today? With this GCSE History course, you’ll study topics such as tsardom and communism in Russia, the Cold War, restoration England, and those who have challenged Royal authority over the centuries. This AQA GCSE History course is the same GCSE currently studied in traditional schools throughout the UK, therefore allowing students to gain an internationally recognised GCSE while studying from home. If you choose to add your exams to your enrolment, we will book these for you, saving you the hassle of booking them yourself and giving you more time to dedicate to your studies.   Course Duration Up to 12 months. Course Outcome On successful completion of your exams, you will receive your GCSE History qualification. Entry Requirements There are no specific entry requirements for this course. Assessment Two paper-based exams. Course content

Specification code: 8145

Unit 1 Period studies: Russia 1894-1945 - tsardom and communism

• The end of tsardom
• Lenin’s new society
• Stalin’s USSR

Unit 2 Wider world depth studies: conflict and tension between east and west 1945-1972

• The origins of the Cold War
• The development of the Cold War
• Transformation of the Cold War

Unit 3 Thematic studies: power and the people C1170 to the present day

• Challenging authority and feudalism
• Challenging royal authority
• Reform and reformers
• Equality and rights

Unit 4 British depth studies including the historic environment: restoration England 1660-1685

• Crown, Parliament, plots and court life
• Life in restoration England
• Land, trade and war
• The historic environment of restoration England

To achieve your GCSE History qualification, your knowledge gained during your studies of all four units will be assessed across two exams.

If you add your exams to your enrolment we will book them when you’re ready. If you choose to book your exams through us, our GCSE exam centre locations for this course are as follows:

• St Neots, Cambridgeshire
• High Wycombe

There are two paper-based examinations. A more detailed breakdown of the assessment details is provided below. While you are formally assessed by completing your exams, you will also need to submit tutor-marked assignments to allow your tutor to monitor your progress.

Course Duration

You will have up to one year to complete your GCSE History studies from the date you receive your materials.

With this course, you will have the flexibility to study at your own pace, and your only deadlines are the GCSE exams, which typically take place during the summer exam period (May/June).

Study Method

This course enables you to study your GCSE History course from home. Your course materials will be sent by post or you can study online, so receiving your materials is easy and hassle-free. Full tutor support will be available via email, so help is only a click away!

Course Outcome

Upon successful completion of the exams, you will receive your GCSE History qualification.

The GCSE is awarded by AQA and it is recognised by universities, schools, and employers globally.

Exam details

Paper 1: Understanding the modern world

Type: Written examination

Duration: 2 Hours

Weighting: 50% of the GCSE

Total marks: 84 (including 4 marks for spelling, punctuation and grammar)

What’s assessed:

In section A there is a choice of four period studies, each with a focus on two key developments in a country’s history over at least a 50 year period. Six compulsory questions (40 marks)

In section B there is a choice of five wider world depth studies. These focus on international conflict and tension. Four compulsory questions (40 marks).

Plus 4 marks for spelling, punctuation and grammar

Paper 2: Shaping the nation

In section A there is a choice of three thematic studies, which look at key developments in Britain over a long period. Four compulsory questions (40 marks)

In section B there is a choice of four British depth studies incorporating the study of a specific historic environment. Four compulsory questions (40 marks)

Is this the same qualification as a GCSE from school or college?

Yes!   This course is the same as the GCSEs you would study at a traditional school. The only difference is that this course is designed to be studied from home and you receive full tutor support via email.

What skills are needed to enrol onto this course?

You do not need any previous knowledge to enrol onto this course.

What is included in the cost of the course?

• Dedicated personal tutor support.
• Dedicated learner services.
• Assignment marking and feedback.
• FREE XO Student Discounts membership.
• FREE CV critique service.
• FREE employability guide to help you impress future employers.
• Study pack including pen, highlighter, and notebook*

* Not included with the online study option

Is there a required reading list?

No extra reading is required for the completion of this course.

Do I have to sit an exam?

You will need to take the official GCSE History exams to achieve your qualification. If you choose to add your exams to your enrolment, we will book and pay for them when you are ready. 

Please note, if you choose to add on your exams you will need to sit them at either the Birmingham, Coventry, Doncaster, Bolton, Wimbledon, Taunton, Bristol, or St Neots (Cambridgeshire) examination centre.

Are there any additional costs?

If you don’t add on the exams, you will need to book and pay for these separately.

What if I live outside the UK?

You are still able to study this GCSE History course, but must sit the exams in the UK, as this is the only guaranteed way to access exam centres.

What happens if I lose my course pack?

It's not a problem. We offer a course replacement service, so if you get into trouble and your course pack is lost or damaged, our Student Support Team can provide you with a new set of materials for a one-time additional fee.

What if I still have questions?

That's not a problem. We want to make sure you're 100% confident about enrolling on the course and starting your study. So, just give our team of education specialists a call on 03300 563 100 and they'll do their best to help.

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A-level History

A-level history aqa online course.

Are you fascinated by the past and the power it holds to help us understand the present? Then you’ll enjoy delving into some of the most fascinating periods of British and American history when you study A-level History online.

You’ll explore the USA from 1865 to 1975, the compelling period between the end of the American Civil War and World War Two and how the USA came to be the superpower it is today. Moving on, you’ll examine one of the most tumultuous periods in British history, the Wars of the Roses, before undertaking your own independent historical research on a subject of your choosing .

What you will learn

Unit 1 - the making of a superpower part 1: from civil war to world war.

• The Era of Reconstruction
• The weaknesses of the Federal Government
• Political corruption in the Gilded Age
• Social, regional and ethnic divisions
• Economic growth and the rise of corporations
• Laissez Faire Dominance and Consequences
• Foreign affairs and Isolationism
• Populism, Progressivism and Imperialism, 1890–1920

Unit 2 - The Wars of the Roses Part 1: The Fall of the House of Lancaster

• The origins of the conflict, 1450-1459
• The War of the Barons, 1459-1461
• The Triumph of the Yorkists, 1461-1471

Unit 3 - The Making of a Superpower Part 2: Crises and the Rise to World Power

• Domestic Politics in the 1920s
• Underlying economic problems
• Government response to The Great Depression
• Social change and development
• The War and new opportunities
• International Relations 1920-45
• Crisis of identity, 1920–1945
• The Superpower, 1945–1975
• Domestic Politics, 1945-60
• Domestic Politics, 1961-74
• Economic Change & Developments, 1945-75
• The USA and International Relations

Unit 4 - The Wars of the Roses Part 2: The Fall of the House of York

• ‘The Sun in Splendour’: The Reign of Edward IV, 1471–1483
• The Downfall of the Yorkist Monarchy, 1483–1486
• The End of the Yorkist Dynasty, 1486–1499

Preparation for Paper 1K

• Component One: Breadth Study
• Component Two: Depth Study
• Component Three: Historical Investigation

Awarding Body

AQA qualifications are internationally recognised and taught in 30 countries around the world, highly valued by employers and universities and enable young people to progress to the next stage of their lives. AQA qualifications suit a range of abilities and include  GCSE courses ,  IGCSE courses  and  A-level courses .

Recognised through UCAS

This course carries UCAS points . This means that it can be used to gain direct access to University courses and other Higher Education, through the UCAS system.

Course Outcome

Upon successful completion of this home learning course, you will receive an A-level in History, issued by AQA. Your certificate is identical to that issued to students at any other school, college or university.

Oxbridge has chosen this syllabus ( 7042 ) because it is the best suited to online learning and we believe it provides the best chance of success.

How is this course assessed or examined?

You’ll be required to complete three assessments as part of this course: 

Written Exams:  

• Paper 1: 2 hours 30 minutes, 40% of A-level, 80 marks
• Paper 2: 2 hours 30 minutes, 40% of A-level, 80 marks

Non-Exam Assessment (NEA):  

• Coursework Task 1: 3,500-4,500 words, 20% of A-level, 40 marks

The exams contain questions linked to primary sources given and sources relevant to the period studied. The coursework is a personal study based on a topic of the student’s choice to be completed in their own time. Coursework is marked by a tutor and moderated by AQA.

Entry requirements

A GCSE or equivalent in History is recommended for this course. This History A-level syllabus is a difficulty level three: the equivalent difficulty of an A-level or BTEC, which is usually suitable for most learners of all ages.

Past Papers

You can access past papers for this course . They are free to access and cover a range of exam boards.

Find out more about the exams here .

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