History AS A2

Exam Board EDEXCEL

Course Content

In addition to equipping students with critical thinking and enquiring skills there remains another fundamental reason to study history. To understand the world today students have to understand how we have arrived where we are.
Topics studied throughout this course are:

AS Unit 1
Historical themes in depth (2 topics)

Russia in revolution 1881-1924
Stalin’s Russia 1924-1953

AS Unit 2
British history depth studies (1 topic)
‘Britain and the nationalist challenge in India’ 1900-1947

A2 Unit 3
Depth studies and associated historical controversies
‘A world divided’
Superpower relations 1944-1990

A2 Unit 4
Internally assessed personal enquiry

Assessment

AS Unit 1 – 1 x 1 hour 20 minute exam
(50% of AS mark, 25% of total A Level mark)

AS Unit 2 – 1 x 1 hour 20 minute exam
(50% of AS mark, 25% of total A Level mark )

A2 Unit 3 – 1 x 2 hour exam
(30% of total A Level mark)

A2 Unit 4 – 2 x extended essays
(20% of total A Level mark)

Possible Careers

History is particularly relevant to any career that requires critical thinking, an awareness of past and present political, social and economic issues or an ability to ‘read between the lines’. This could include jobs in journalism, research or the law.