AS & A Level History

This History specification encourages candidates to develop their capacity for critical thinking and to see relationships between the different aspects of history in its broader perspectives, such as between its political, economic, social and cultural dimensions, and to appreciate the diversities of societies, developments affecting different groups, the significance of events and issues, and the role of individuals within them. It has been designed to build upon the skills and concepts of History which are an integral part of GCSE and many candidates may be expected to have achieved an appropriate level of attainment in GCSE History.

The specification encourages candidates to :

1. Advanced Subsidiary (AS)

This alternative focuses on revolution and its impact on major European states.  The political, social and economic impact of the French Revolution and the nature of Napoleonic rule in France and Europe are key issues.

The Alternative also studies post-Napoleonic Europe's diplomatic reconstruction amid the tension between the forces of conservatism and liberal-nationalism.  The Key Questions raise important issues about the relative strengths of the revolutionary and conservative forces and the nature and impact of great change in national and continental contexts.  Candidates will also assess the importance of key individuals such as Robespierre, Napoleon, Metternich and Tsar Alexander I.   The issues reflect the social, political, cultural, diplomatic and economic dimensions of a period that created new, revolutionary forces.  Their effects on leaders and peoples, states, institutions and policies generate opportunities for debate and the nature, impact and outcomes of such great change.

This alternative provides the opportunity for study in depth of a relatively short period of British history, whilst providing breadth across political, social, economic and cultural change. The central content considers the changing nature and fortunes of the three major political parties; social and political reforms; the changing relationship between the state and its citizens; Britain’s international and imperial roles, foreign policy before the outbreak of the First World War, and the extent of social, economic and cultural change during that war. The key questions direct focus to the process and causes of change. The period contains issues of major historical debate and has extensive appropriate material for the consideration of different interpretations and evaluation of sources.

The purpose of the AS Course Essays is to enable candidates to undertake a manageable amount of personal investigation of historical questions, facilitating progression from the GCSE and preparing for the more demanding modules 4, 5 and especially 6 in A2. Each Course Essay will encourage the development of Key Skills in a clearly defined historical context. Each Course Essay will be externally set and marked by the Board and completed under timed conditions.

The Board will set one question for each topic within every subject content Alternative each academic year. All of the questions will be issued on or near 1 April in the year of assessment. It is expected that the candidates will have undertaken some class and personal study of the specific content focus of the selected Module 3 topic material.

Once the questions have been issued, candidates have 2 term-time weeks in which to undertake more focused study in preparation for the two Course Essays. Each Course Essay must be undertaken in examination conditions during class time, with a maximum time allowance of 1 1/2 hours for each essay. This time may be in a single session for each Course Essay or may be split across available lesson times. Candidates may take their personal notes (but not books or prepared essays) into the examination room but these notes must be submitted to the examiner with the completed Course Essays. The notes must not include any substantial sections (i.e. more than six lines) of prepared essay and must be the candidate’s personal notes and not notes prepared by others. The assessment requires each candidate to make an individual response to the question.

The A Level (A2) course develops the themes introduced at AS and studies the importance of nationalism in the period following the 1848 revolutions with particular synoptic focus on the development of France in the period 1814-1914 in Section A.  The key questions reflect debates about the political, social, cultural and economic factors of change that both challenged and attempted to defend the impact of individuals such as Bismarck, Cavour, Garibaldi, Napoleon III and Tsar Alexander II for the synoptic element in Section B.

Candidates study the core topic on France and alternative C in Section B (on Germany). Comparisons of state development and assessments of foreign policy are included.

The A level (A2) course develops from the AS in terms of linear content, understanding, interpretation and evaluation. It provides a relatively longer period of British history in the twentieth century, in which breadth of study across political, economic, social and also cultural change is maintained, thus fostering a synoptic understanding. However, breadth is complemented by a more thematic approach focusing on significant economic change both in the interwar period and after 1945, the most evident social developments, the role of the state, the changing fortunes of the major political parties, and Britain’s international role from 1918-39 and after the Second World War. These themes are exemplified in the form of the five key questions. Themes and content are studied in terms of acquiring knowledge and understanding, but also crucially to develop further judgement and the reaching of conclusions based on evidence. The period contains issues of major historical and historiographical debate such as the decline of the Liberal Party and the rise of Labour, or appeasement.

1. Why, and how far, did Britain’s economy and society change during this period?

A2 MODULE 6: THE PERSONAL STUDY

Candidates will need to produce a Personal Study which will be weighted at 20% of the total marks. All Personal Studies will be prepared, supervised and assessed in accordance with the instructions in the Personal Study handbook (to be issued at the end of the AS course in the Lower Sixth).

Candidates will be required to submit a Personal Study based on the personal investigation of an historical issue arising from either one of the Alternatives chosen for study (i.e. either European History or British History), and to:

The Plan & Record of Procedure must identify the nature of the historical issue and states the limits of the Study which the candidate has set him/herself. The Plan should also state the procedure which the candidate has planned to follow, outlining the proposed investigation, the way in which time and resources are to be allocated and the places and sources in which the candidate expects to be able to obtain the relevant information. If the candidate has found it necessary to depart from his/her original plan, such changes should be described in the Plan together with the circumstances which made the changes necessary and the reasons for, and the consequences of, the adoption of the revised procedure.

The Plan should also record any action from guidance provided by the supervising teacher and from the moderator’s instruction or guidance in the instances in which this has been sought. The most effective Plan & Record of Procedure is one which illustrates the development of the Study; for this reason, it should not be written at a specific point in time or as a summary document. The early period of initial investigation will be recorded first, followed by the response to the moderator’s or teacher’s comments and any consequent changes to the issue. Any particular methodological problems should be commented on, and the Plan should conclude with a review of the Study and the candidate’s reflections on the effectiveness, or otherwise, of the procedure followed.