AQA Level 3 Advanced GCE in History

Why choose History at A level?

• Enjoyment. It’s fascinating to learn about things that are ‘foreign’ or different from our own lives. Recognising what we share with people in the past, while simultaneously thinking about how profoundly their lives differed from our own, is intriguing and rewarding.

• Understanding humanity and the world we live in. Everyone is strongly influenced by his or her understanding of history; a deeper knowledge of history will enable you to put the contemporary world, people’s thoughts and actions, into context. You should study history if you wish to learn how and why the world and its peoples came to be as there are today.

• Essential skills. History provides us with the skills to analyse and explain issues in the past, present and future and communicate our ideas clearly; it helps us think and write properly (the bits machines can’t do in a service economy). Any career that rewards clear thinking, good writing, articulate speaking and the ability to ask and answer complicated questions about how the world works will be open to a History student.

How is A level History viewed by universities?

The Russell Group of Universities (russellgroup.org.uk) offer advice on which A level subjects open doors to more degrees and more professions than others; they call them ‘facilitating subjects’. History is a facilitating subject.

How does A level History affect my life chances?

Positively History embeds the thinking and writing skills that are critical in a wide range of professions, from law to business to medicine and everything in-between. There’s no substitute for being able to evaluate evidence and make clear, concise and convincing arguments.

What do we study in History?

The Age of the Crusades, c1071-1204

The Making of Modern Britain, 1951-2007

Y12

The Age of the Crusades, c.1071-1149

The Making of Modern Britain, 1951-1979

Y13

The Age of the Crusades, c.1149-1204

The Making of Modern Britain, 1979-2007

What exam board do we use? AQA (www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/history/as-and-a-level)

How will A-level History be assessed? A-level History is a combination of exams and coursework:

The Age of the Crusades, c1071-1204 The Making of Modern Britain, 1951-2007

2 hour 30 minute written exam 2 hour 30 minute written exam

40% of final grade 40% of final grade

Historical Enquiry or coursework (non-examined unit).

Approximately 4000 words 20% of A-level grade.

GCSE History grade 5

How is AS and A level History viewed by universities?

• The Russell Group of Universities (www.russellgroup.org.uk) offer advice on which A level subjects open doors to more degrees and more professions than others; they call them ‘facilitating subjects’. History is a facilitating subject.

How does A level History affect my life chances?

• Positively. History embeds the thinking and writing skills that are critical in a wide range of professions, from law to business to medicine and everything in-between. There’s no substitute for being able to evaluate evidence and make clear, concise and convincing arguments.