History

You might choose History if you are curious about the past, why things happened and why they are important; you want to better understand why the world is the way it is now and how change has happened over time; or if you would like to develop your essay writing and independent thinking.

What will I study?

Unit 1: British study and enquiry – Britain, 1930-1997

- Enquiry topic: Churchill, 1930-1951

- British Period Study: Britain, 1951–1997

Unit 2: Non-British study – The French Revolution and Napoleon, 1774-1815

- The French Revolution, 1789

- The French Revolution, 1789-1799

- Napoleon Bonaparte to 1807

- The Decline and Fall of Napoleon, 1812-1815

Unit 3: Thematic study and historical interpretations - The Middle East, 1908-2011

Depth Studies:

- British Policy and the Middle East, 1908-1948

- Arab-Israeli Conflict, 1948–1956

- Nasser’s Egypt, 1952–1970

Key topics:

- The Role of the Great Powers in the Middle East, 1908-2011

- Zionism, Israel and the Palestinian issue

- Statehood and Pan Arabism in the Middle East

- Religious, Ethnic and Political Minorities in the Middle East, 1908-2011

Unit 4: Individual assignment - 4,000-word essay – student choice of topic [20%]

Explanation and analysis of different interpretations on a clearly-stated historical issue, drawing on a range of primary and secondary material.

How will I be assessed?

Unit 1: British study and enquiry – Britain, 1930-1997 [90-minute written exam - 25% of the course]

Unit 2: Non-British study – The French Revolution and Napoleon, 1774-1815

[60-minute written exam - 15% of the course]

Unit 3: Thematic study and historical interpretations - The Middle East, 1908-2011

[150-minute written exam - 40% of the course]

Unit 4: Individual assignment, 4,000-word essay – student choice of topic [20%]

Where might it lead?

Skills of analysis and forming an opinion are valued by employers who require people to make difficult decisions. A Level History supports degree study in History, Law, Politics, English, Journalism and Languages.