History AQA GCSE

41 Pages·2016·0.61 MB·English

GCSE
Get help and support
Visit our website for information, guidance, support and resources at aqa.org.uk/8145 HISTORY
You can talk directly to the History subject team
E: [email protected] (8145)
T: 0161 958 3861
Specification
For teaching from September 2016 onwards
For exams in 2018 onwards
Version 1.2 25 January 2019
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AQA GCSE History 8145. GCSE exams June 2018 onwards. Version 1.2 25 January 2019
Contents
1 Introduction 5
1.1 Why choose AQA for GCSE History 5
1.2 Support and resources to help you teach 5
2 Specification at a glance 7
2.1 Subject content 7
2.2 Assessments 8
3 Subject content 11
3.1 Rationale 12
3.2 Understanding the modern world 15
3.3 Shaping the nation 22
4 Scheme of assessment 35
4.1 Aims and learning outcomes 35
4.2 Assessment objectives 35
4.3 Assessment weightings 36
4.4 Assessment structure 36
5 General administration 41
5.1 Entries and codes 41
5.2 Overlaps with other qualifications 41
5.3 Awarding grades and reporting results 42
5.4 Re-sits and shelf life 42
5.5 Previous learning and prerequisites 42
5.6 Access to assessment: diversity and inclusion 42
5.7 Working with AQA for the first time 43
5.8 Private candidates 43
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• We will write to you if there are significant changes to the specification.
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AQA GCSE History 8145. GCSE exams June 2018 onwards. Version 1.2 25 January 2019
1 Introduction
1.1 Why choose AQA for GCSE History
We believe in the importance of learning from history. That's why we've designed a specification
that enables students to study different aspects of the past, so they can engage with key issues
such as conflict, understand what drives change and how the past influences the present.
We’ve worked with teachers and subject experts to include some exciting new topics for today’s
world that will resonate with students, helping them gain new insights into the world around them.
To give you the choice and flexibility to teach the history you want to teach, we’ve included the
most popular and well-established topics. Building on the skills and topics at Key Stage 3, our
GCSE will equip your students with essential skills and prepare them for further study.
You can find out about all our History qualifications at aqa.org.uk/history
1.2 Support and resources to help you teach
We’ve worked with experienced teachers to provide you with a range of resources that will help
you confidently plan, teach and prepare for exams.
Teaching resources
Visit aqa.org.uk/8145 to see all our teaching resources. They include:
• sample schemes of work for two year courses, plus lesson plans to help you plan your
course with confidence
• guidance and materials for the historic environment study
• student textbooks, checked by AQA
• mapping to link Key Stage 3 with Key Stage 4 content
• step-by-step guide to our assessments
• training courses to help you deliver AQA History qualifications
• subject expertise courses for all teachers, from newly-qualified teachers who are just getting
started to experienced teachers looking for fresh inspiration.
Preparing for exams
Visit aqa.org.uk/8145 for everything you need to prepare for our exams, including specimen papers
and mark schemes for new courses.
Analyse your students' results with Enhanced Results Analysis (ERA)
Find out which questions were the most challenging, how the results compare to previous years
and where your students need to improve. ERA, our free online results analysis tool, will help you
see where to focus your teaching. Register at aqa.org.uk/era
For information about results, including maintaining standards over time, grade boundaries and our
post-results services, visit aqa.org.uk/results
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Keep your skills up-to-date with professional development
Wherever you are in your career, there’s always something new to learn. As well as subject-
specific training, we offer a range of courses to help boost your skills.
• Improve your teaching skills in areas including differentiation, teaching literacy and meeting
Ofsted requirements.
• Prepare for a new role with our leadership and management courses.
You can attend a course at venues around the country, in your school or online – whatever suits
your needs and availability. Find out more at coursesandevents.aqa.org.uk
Get help and support
Visit our website for information, guidance, support and resources at aqa.org.uk/8145
You can talk directly to the History subject team:
E: [email protected]
T: 0161 958 3861
6 Visit for the most up-to-date specification, resources, support and administration
AQA GCSE History 8145. GCSE exams June 2018 onwards. Version 1.2 25 January 2019
2 Specification at a glance
This qualification is linear. Linear means that students will sit all their exams at the end of the
course. GCSE History students must take assessments in both of the following papers in the same
series:
Paper 1: Understanding the modern world
Paper 2: Shaping the nation
2.1 Subject content
The GCSE History content comprises the following elements:
• one period study
• one thematic study
• one wider world depth study
• one British depth study including the historic environment.
Paper 1: Understanding the modern world
Section A: Period studies
Options to be declared at point of entry.
Choose one of the following options:
• AA America, 1840–1895: Expansion and consolidation (page 15)
• AB Germany, 1890–1945: Democracy and dictatorship (page 15)
• AC Russia, 1894–1945: Tsardom and communism (page 16)
• AD America, 1920–1973: Opportunity and inequality (page 17)
Section B: Wider world depth studies
Options to be decalred at point of entry.
Choose one of the following options:
• BA Conflict and tension: The First World War, 1894–1918 (page 18)
• BB Conflict and tension: The inter-war years, 1918–1939 (page 19)
• BC Conflict and tension between East and West, 1945–1972 (page 20)
• BD Conflict and tension in Asia, 1950–1975 (page 21)
• BE Conflict and tension in the Gulf and Afghanistan, 1990–2009 (page 21)
Paper 2: Shaping the nation
Section A: Thematic studies
Options to be declared at point of entry.
Choose one of the following options:
• AA Britain: Health and the people: c1000 to the present day (page 22)
• AB Britain: Power and the people: c1170 to the present day (page 24)
• AC Britain: Migration, empires and the people: c790 to the present day (page 25)
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Section B: British depth studies including the historic environment
Options to be declared at point of entry.
Choose one of the following options:
• BA Norman England, c1066–c1100 (page 27)
• BB Medieval England: the reign of Edward I, 1272–1307 (page 29)
• BC Elizabethan England, c1568–1603 (page 30)
• BD Restoration England, 1660–1685 (page 32)
2.2 Assessments
Paper 1: Understanding the modern world
What's assessed
In Section A there is a choice of four period studies, each with a focus on two key developments
in a country's history over at least a 50 year period.
In Section B there is a choice of five wider world depth studies. These focus on international
conflict and tension.
How it's assessed
• Written exam: 2 hours
• 84 marks (including 4 marks for spelling, punctuation and grammar
• 50% of GCSE
Questions
• Section A – six compulsory questions (40 marks)
• Section B – four compulsory questions (40 marks)
• Plus 4 marks for spelling, punctuation and grammar
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AQA GCSE History 8145. GCSE exams June 2018 onwards. Version 1.2 25 January 2019
Paper 2: Shaping the nation
What's assessed
In Section A there is a choice of three thematic studies, which look at key developments in Britain
over a long period.
In Section B there is a choice of four British depth studies incorporating the study of a specific
historic environment.
How it's assessed
• Written exam: 2 hours
• 84 marks (including 4 marks for spelling, punctuation and grammar
• 50% of GCSE
Questions
• Section A – four compulsory questions (40 marks)
• Section B – four compulsory questions (40 marks)
• Plus 4 marks for spelling, punctuation and grammar
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