History A-Level
AS/A Level History AQA 2040
The course in both Years 12 & 13 follows the AQA approved specifications:
Advanced Subsidiary (AS)
Advanced (A2)
In Year 12 students will take TWO modules to AS Level:
UNIT 1: Understanding change over time
The chosen option is:
HIS1G Britain, 1815-65
UNIT 2: A short period of history studied in depth
The chosen option is:
HIS2L The Impact of Stalin’s Leadership on the USSR, 1924-41
Schedule and Assessment
Six periods per week (three for each unit) and assuming a maximum 30 week course in Year 12, allowing for study leave for both January and June modular exams.
UNIT 1: Understanding change over time (worth 50% of AS and 25% of A Level)
Three periods per week throughout the year, leading to a modular exam in the summer. Assessment is by an exam lasting 1 hour 15 minutes. Two questions to be answered from a choice of three two-part questions.
UNIT 2: A short period of history studied in depth (worth 50% of AS and 25% of A Level)
Three periods per week throughout the year, leading to a modular exam in the summer. Assessment is by an exam lasting 1 hour 30 minutes. One compulsory two-part, source-based question and one structured two-part question from a choice of two.
Skills and Study Methods
Students need to have an enquiring mind and a capacity for hard work. They also need to possess good written skills and be prepared to participate freely in class discussion. There is a lot of directed reading, note-taking, exam practice. This requires high levels of personal organisation and the ability to work independently and in groups.
In Year 13 students will take TWO modules to A2 (full A Level):
UNIT 3: Understanding breadth and depth
The chosen option is:
HIS3G British State & People, 1865-1915
UNIT 4: Coursework (analysis of an historical issue & change over 100 years)
The chosen option is:
The Civil Rights Movement in the USA, 1861-1968
Schedule and Assesment
Seven periods per week and assuming a maximum 30 week course in Year 13, allowing for study leave for both January and June modular exams.
UNIT 3: Depth & breadth (worth 60% of A2 & 30% of full A Level)
Four periods per week throughout the year, leading to a modular exam in the summer. Assessment is by an exam lasting 1 hour 30 minutes. Two questions to be answered from a choice of three, one of which is synoptic.
UNIT 4: Coursework (worth 40% of A2 & 20% of A Level)
Three periods per week throughout the year, leading to the completion of a 3,500-word essay. This will be an historical analysis of Civil Rights in the USA and showing understanding of change over a period of 100 years. The coursework will be marked by the school and moderated by AQA.
Skills and Study Methods
Students will normally be expected to have gained a grade C at AS level before progressing automatically to the second stage of the course. A2 is a big step-up from AS. Students will build on their skills acquired at AS level and they will need to show both development and enhancement of their own study methods. This will be particularly evident in the coursework, which is intellectually very challenging.
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