WHY SHOULD YOU STUDY A LEVEL HISTORY?
Studying Cambridge A Level History allows you to make connections between the world of today and the world of the past. When we analyse important historical events, we learn about the consequences of people’s actions and we can apply this knowledge to our understanding of current affairs, learning valuable lessons for the future.
Our Cambridge A Level History course is flexible and wide-ranging, covering modern history in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. It will enable you to pursue a wide range of courses at university, including Archaeology, Politics, Classical Studies, English Literature, Law and Economics, to name just a few. Students of History at A Level often go on to work in careers such as Academia, Business, Economics, Law, Politics, Archaeology and Journalism.
WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW TO ENROL?
The home study course in A Level History builds directly on the work you will have done for IGCSE/GCSE or a local equivalent in the subject. Grade B or 6 at IGCSE/GCSE or local equivalent is required before starting on the A Level. We also require all A Level students to have secured a Grade C or 4 in GCSE/IGCSE English and Maths.
Our course will prepare you for the Cambridge International Examinations Syllabus 9389 (until 2021) or 9489 (from 2021 onwards). The full A Level qualification comprises exams at AS and at A Level, which may be taken together or separately.
Exams take place in June and November (for Syllabus 9389 – final sitting in 2021).
Exams take place in March (India only), June and November (for Syllabus 9489 – first sitting 2021 onwards).
For 2020 and 2021* (syllabus 9389) the AS Level course covers: The Search for International Peace and Security, 1919 – 1945 and International Relations, 1871 – 1945.
For 2020 and 2021* (syllabus 9389) at A Level the course covers: The Origins and Development of the Cold War, 1941 – 1950 and The History of the USA, 1945 – 1990.
For the AS in History you will sit the following 2 papers: Paper 1: Document Question worth 40% of the AS level or 20% of the full A Level. (1 hour) Paper 2: Outline Study worth 60% of the AS level or 30% of the full A Level. (1 hour and 30 minutes).
For the full A Level, in addition to the above, you will take: Paper 3: Interpretations Question worth 20% of the full A Level. (1 hour) Paper 4: Depth Study – The History of the USA, 1945-1990 worth 30% of the full A Level. (1 hour and 30 minutes).
There are Cambridge exam centres in over 150 countries. We can provide details of the most convenient.
*November 2021 is the final sitting of the 9389 syllabus, including retakes. This syllabus cannot be combined with the newer version, 9489.
In 2021, a new syllabus (9489) will be introduced.
The AS Level course covers: American Option: The history of the USA, 1820–1941 (Papers 1 and 2)
– The origins of the Civil War, 1820–61
– Civil War and Reconstruction, 1861–77
– The Gilded Age and Progressive Era, 1870s to 1920
– The Great Crash, The Great Depression and the New Deal policies, 1920–41
N.B. From 2021 onwards, the AS Level topics rotate between Papers 1 and 2 year-on-year. The prescribed topic for Paper 1 in any given year is not used for Paper 2.
At A Level, the course covers:
Paper 3 – Topic 2: The Holocaust
Paper 4 – European option, Depth study 1: European history in the interwar years, 1919–41:
Theme 1: Mussolini’s Italy, 1919–41
Theme 2: Stalin’s Russia, 1924–41
Theme 3: Hitler’s Germany, 1929–41
Theme 4: Britain, 1919–39
For the AS in History you will sit the following 2 papers:
Paper 1: Document Question worth 40% of the AS level or 20% of the full A Level. (1 hour and 15 minutes)
Paper 2: Outline Study worth 60% of the AS level or 30% of the full A Level. (1 hour and 45 minutes).
For the full A Level, in addition to the above, you will take:
Paper 3: Interpretations Question – worth 20% of the full A Level. (1 hour and 15 minutes)
Paper 4: Depth Study – worth 30% of the full A Level. (1 hour and 45 minutes).