A Level: History
Course title: Advanced GCE in History
Exam board: AQA
Subject specific entry criteria: Grade 7 in GCSE History.
Course overview
Unit 1: Breadth study
Tudors, England 1485-1603
- Henry VII, 1485–1509
- Henry VIII, 1509–1547
- Edward VI, 1547-1553
- Mary I, 1553-1558
- Elizabeth I, 1558–1603
Unit 2: Depth study
The American Dream: Reality and Illusion, 1945-1980
- Truman and Post-war America, 1945–1952
- Eisenhower: tranquility and crisis, 1952–1960
- John F Kennedy and the ‘New Frontier’, 1960–1963
- The Johnson Presidency, 1963– 1968
- Republican reaction: the Nixon Presidency, 1968–1974
- The USA after Nixon, 1974–1980
Unit 3: Historical Investigation NEA (Non-Exam Assessment)
- A personal study based on the causes of the Holocaust. This should take the form of a question in the context of c.100 years.
- 3000-3500 words.
Assessment overview
Unit 1: written exam: 2 hours 30 minutes
(40% of A Level).
Unit 2: written exam: 2 hours 30 minutes
(40% of A Level).
Unit 3: Marked by teachers and moderated by AQA
(20% of A Level).
Future progression
History can be studied at university in its own right, as well as in combination with other subjects such as Languages, Politics or Economics. There are also a range of related degrees such as International Relations or American Studies.
Potential careers
The majority of students who take History degrees do not enter a field connected to History. Those who do can be teachers, archaeologists, archivists or professional historians. Others enter a wide range of professions including the law, marketing, journalism, the armed forces, and management roles to name just a few. In fact, many of the skills you develop make it an ideal training for almost any profession. It is a highly regarded subject.
How to succeed in History
You will need a genuine interest in the subject and a passion for debate and argument. You should be prepared to work hard and to read and write extensively.