Getting Ahead in A-Level History
The A-Level History Curriculum
For international students interested in studying A-Level history, there are two options with regard to history curricula: Pearson Edexcel and Cambridge International Education (CIE). Those wishing to study A-Level history should make sure that they are clear as to which exam board their school offers, as well as establish some familiarity with the content covered by either curriculum. Put simply, to avoid confusion, it’s best to be clear on what you are studying.
For candidates taking their history A-Level with Pearson Edexcel, the curriculum is divided into four units. Within each unit there are four topics. Students will study one topic from each of the four units. These four units and their associated topics are as follows:
1. Depth Study with Interpretations
France in Revolution, 1774–99
Russia in Revolution, 1881–1917
Germany, 1918–45
Britain, 1964–90
2. Breadth Study with Source Evaluation
India, 1857–1948: The Raj to Partition
China, 1900–76
Russia, 1917–91: From Lenin to Yeltsin
South Africa, 1948–2014
3. Thematic Study with Source Evaluation
The USA, Independence to Civil War, 1763–1865
The British Experience of Warfare, 1803–1945
Germany: United, Divided and Reunited, 1870–1990
Civil Rights and Race Relations in the USA, 1865–2009
4. International Study with Historical Interpretations
The Making of Modern Europe 1805–71
The World in Crisis 1879–1945
The World Divided: Superpower Relations, 1943–90
The Cold War and Hot War in Asia, 1945–90
For CIE, the history curriculum is somewhat different. The curriculum is divided into three sections and from each section, students must study one topic.
1. Section One
European option: Modern Europe, 1750–1921
France, 1774–1814
The Industrial Revolution in Britain, 1750–1850
Liberalism and nationalism in Germany, 1815–71
The Russian Revolution, 1894–1921
American option: The history of the USA, 1820–1941
The origins of the Civil War, 1820–61
Civil War and Reconstruction, 1861–77
The Gilded Age and Progressive Era, 1870s to 1920
The Great Crash, The Great Depression and the New Deal policies, 1920–41
International option: International history, 1870–1945
Empire and the emergence of world powers, 1870–1919
The League of Nations and international relations in the 1920s
The League of Nations and international relations in the 1930s
China and Japan, 1912–45
2. Section Two
The origins of the First World War
The Holocaust
The origins and development of the Cold War
3. Section Three
European option, Depth study 1: European history in the interwar years, 1919–41
Theme 1: Mussolini’s Italy, 1919–41
Theme 2: Stalin’s Russia, 1924–41
Theme 3: Hitler’s Germany, 1929–41
Theme 4: Britain, 1919–39
American option, Depth study 2: The USA, 1944–92
Theme 1: The late 1940s and 1950s
Theme 2: The 1960s and the 1970s
Theme 3: The 1980s and early 1990s
Theme 4: Foreign policy, 1944–92
International option, Depth study 3: International history, 1945–92
US–Soviet relations during the Cold War, 1950–91
The spread of communism in East and Southeast Asia, 1945–91
Decolonisation, the Cold War and the UN in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1950–92
Conflict in the Middle East, 1948–91
What to Expect on the Exam
As both the Edexcel and CIE curricula cover different content, it is no surprise that their exam papers are different, too. Again, if students wish to excel in A-Level history, it is vital that they have a clear understanding of the ways in which exam papers are organised.
First, the Edexcel exam breaks down to four exam papers, corresponding to the four units listed above. Each of these papers is equally weighted at 25% and timed at 2 hours. The tasks history students will be required to complete comprise a mixture of source analysis and essay questions, with an emphasis on the latter.
Next there is the CIE history examination. While this, too, is made up of four papers, they differ in timing and the percentage of a student's overall grade that they are worth. While paper 1 and paper 2 are 1 hour and 15 minutes in length and weighted at 20% each, papers 3 and 4 are both 1 hour and 45 minutes long and make up the remaining 60% of a student's total grade, each being valued at 30%. Across these papers, CIE history candidates will also be expected to engage in source analysis and essay writing.
To gain the best possible understanding of what to expect on the exam papers, A-Level history students should consult either the Edexcel subject guide or the CIE subject guide.
How Best to Revise
This is always a difficult question to answer. Every student has their own unique approach to learning, making it a challenge to recommend any one technique over another. However, it is fair to say that reading the textbook is not enough. A-Level history students should make sure to create their own notes, placing the information from textbooks and teacher material into their own words. This process assists in memorisation. Additionally, A-Level history learners must gain familiarity with past exam papers and get used to writing essays under timed conditions. While it may be tedious to write, edit, and rewrite the same essay—in some cases multiple times—this is how students develop the necessary skills to excel in their examinations.
Resources for A-Level History
There are a number of essential resources for both international A-Level history curricula with which students should become familiar. As noted above, an excellent starting point are the subject guides. In addition to this, Pearson offers sample assessments and exam materials, as well as a variety of teaching and learning materials on their A-Level history webpage. Similarly, the CIE A-Level history webpage contains a wealth of valuable resources, such as past papers, examiner reports, and specimen papers are available to view and download.
The Importance of Secondary Reading
Unlike other A-Level subjects for which this is not a requirement, all history students should engage in secondary reading. This practice will allow for a greater understanding of not only the topic being examined, but also the associated historical debates.
Often, teachers will facilitate this through handouts of book chapters or journal articles. If this is not the case, history candidates must do the work themselves. To buy a new book for every topic being revised would become quite costly quite quickly, so students should make use of the materials available in their local libraries. If it turns out that a certain book is not available, libraries can typically order it in if requested to do so. Moreover, students should investigate as to whether or not their school can supply them with access to online platforms like Jstor, which is a digital library housing books and journal articles.
The Most Common Student Pitfall
Rarely is it possible to say that one pitfall occurs more than any other. Yet, in the case of A-Level history, it can be done. The most commonly occurring pitfall among history students is emphasising narrative over analysis in their history essays. Indeed, all students will, at some stage, fall into the trap. What must be understood, however, is that it is not enough to simply write out a list of dates and names in a kind of ‘this happened, then that happened’ linear narrative. Rather, A-Level history candidates must analyse historical events through a specific lens or as dictated by the questions they are answering. Arguments must be put forth rather than listing progressions through time. While such an approach may be challenging at first, it is crucial if a student hopes to reach the higher end of the mark band.
TBartyED and A-Level Support
Regardless of the exam board, A-Level history is a challenging subject. It requires a significant amount of dedication that translates to time reading and writing history such that even the most adept student can become overwhelmed. Consequently, to ease the burden it is recommended to engage an expert history tutor to guide students through their exams.
At BartyED, our team of experienced A-Level history tutors have supported countless learners in their development as students of history. We work to establish not only content mastery, but to develop essential essay writing and examinations skills. If you think that you or your child could benefit from the expertise of a BartyED history tutor, contact us today via our Contact page, email address (enquiries@bartyed.com), or telephone number (+852 2882 1017).
Frequently Asked Questions
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This depends on what exam board a student is taking. There are two curricula, Pearson Edexcel and Cambridge International Education, both covering different content.
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Yes, both Edexcel and CIE have four exam papers. However, the runtimes and values differ.
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Past paper study is extremely important for A-Level history. Making use of past papers means students will be more familiar with the layout of the exam and the types of questions asked.
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While it is hard to say just what aspect of the exam is most difficult, students commonly struggle to avoid narrative writing within their essays.