Grade 4 at GCSE History, Grade 4 at GCSE English if History has not been studied at GCSE.

This Edexcel A Level has four components:

In search of the American Dream: the USA c.1917-96 and South Africa 1948-94: from apartheid state to “Rainbow Nation” share the common theme of “Searching for rights and freedoms in the Twentieth Century". They examine the challenges faced by people in the USA and South Africa. “Ireland and the Union, c1774–1923” looks at the fight of the Irish people in wresting control from the British Empire, and equal treatment for Catholics in Ireland, one of the most complex, impassioned and fundamental conflicts in British and Irish history.

The coursework unit focusses on one of the big historical questions – why did the Holocaust happen? Initially, we study the context together before choosing a particular aspect to focus on for the coursework question. The 4000-word essay is written following work to develop analytical and evaluative skills. Students research and choose three main academic works to evaluate in the course of developing their own view of why the Holocaust happened.

In Year One you will study the USA and South Africa. Work on the Coursework unit starts at the end of the year.

In Year Two you will study Ireland, while also completing the coursework.

80% Examination, 20% Coursework

This A Level course has been designed to be highly engaging, focusing on periods of history when people were fighting for their rights, and so has a more social and political flavour. It will develop your critical thinking skills and encourage you to analyse and evaluate historical events, sources and people. The structure of this course will enable you to make and understand links between social, cultural and political change through evaluation of events, theories and individuals. You should take this course if you are fascinated by people from the past, and enjoy studying the past through evidence.

History is highly valued by universities as a robustly academic subject. In studying History you will learn valuable skills such as written communication, research and essay writing skills, how to construct an argument, investigation and problem-solving skills and analytical and interpretation skills.  Choosing History at A Level is a good pathway into careers in Law, Journalism, Teaching, Art History, the Media, Politics, Archaeology, Heritage and Museums, Civil Service, Business and Marketing.

1. How hard is A Level History?
   This A Level is content heavy compared to other subjects, which can make it quite hard if that's not what you're used to.
2. What is A Level History about?
   History is the study of the past. It examines the political, economic, social and cultural issues of different eras and cultures.
3. What can I do with an A Level in History?
   Those who study A Level History will be practised in applying lessons from the past to help resolve problems of the present, therefore applicable to every known industry.
4. Which area of history does the course focus on?
   This is a modern history course. The earliest period studied is the end of the eighteenth century in Ireland.