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Why Choose A Level History?

You enjoy History, that’s why you chose it for GCSE, right? You were interested in what you studied for GCSE; you liked finding information for yourself, questioning historical sources, looking at both sides of the argument and making your own.

History is both interesting and useful. As a History student, you will never experience the events that you study; instead you have to build up a picture from the evidence that remains. You have to become skilled at asking questions, so that you do not take everything at face value. You have to develop empathy and understanding of the actions and achievements of others; you have to be prepared to put your case and argue it well; you have to draw conclusions and make judgements.

Historians are trained to look for bias and prejudice in all the evidence they study. History helps you to make decisions about people and to decide if you trust what they say. These skills are highly desirable in many different careers and A Level History is excellent training for any career where you have to use evidence or make decisions, especially where those decisions affect other people.

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AQA

Component One: The Early Tudors (1485-1547) – 25%

You will be introduced to the lives and policies of the Early Tudor Monarchs, including Henry VII and VIII, Edward VI and Mary I.

Component Two: Democracy and Dictatorship in Germany (1919-1963) – 15%

You will begin to explore how the Nazis came to power, how they ruled and how a cultured nation could be responsible for such acts of inhumanity.

Component 3: Civil Rights in the USA (1865-1992) – 40%

This course tracks the development of the civil rights of 4 different groups of people; African-Americans, Native-Americans, Women and Workers.

Component 4: The NEA (coursework) – 20%

In addition to the taught units above, you will also write a 4,000-word piece of

If you enjoy History, it can lead you to a great future. Consider Dermot Murnaghan (journalist), David Sainsbury (Sainsbury’s), Anita Roddick (founder of The Body Shop), Jonathan Ross, Louis Theroux, Melvin Bragg, Gordon Brown, Sacha Baron Cohen (Ali G/Borat), Al Murray, Michael Palin (Monty Python), Prince Charles, Lord Coe, Chris Martin of Coldplay and Shakira — all History graduates!

Grade 7 or above in GCSE History. Grade 7 or above in GCSE English.

Classics, English and Religious Studies.

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