History
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Examination Board: Edexcel Qualification: A level Teacher Contact: Mr Moore
Entry Requirements: Grade 6 or above in GCSE History is preferred, but the course is also open to students who did not study History in Years 10 and 11, in which case a minimum grade 6 in English is required.
What will I study? The A level course is divided into four units; two will be studied in Year 12 and two in Year 13. Year 12 Units – Communist states in the 20th century Unit 1: Russia, 1917–1991: from Lenin to Yeltsin Unit 2: Mao’s China, 1949–1976 Year 13 Units Unit 3: Britain: losing and gaining an empire, 1763–1914 Unit 4: Independent Historical Enquiry Some units may be subject to change, based on examination board adjustments. Units 1–3 are assessed by external examinations at the end of Year 13, whilst Unit 4 is a coursework unit assessed internally. Over the four units students will undertake a series of breadth and depth studies, including the examination of historical interpretations and the evaluation of sources. The coursework unit will be independently researched but mentored and assessed by the class teacher.
Am I suited to this course? You would be well suited to studying History at A level if you: — enjoy learning about key events using a rich variety of learning resources and stimuli including film, literature, personal memoirs and original sources — are interested in studying and comparing developments in both Britain and the wider world — like finding out about individuals in the past, and how they changed people’s lives — enjoy expressing yourself with the written word, and reading around the subject. What other subjects does it complement? English, Sociology, Politics and Psychology combine particularly well with A level History. The skills required in Biology, Mathematics and Geography also support the study of History in Year 1. Where can it lead? History can lead to a wide range of university courses. It is equally acceptable as a general A level qualification for post-18 employment. There are a number of careers directly related to History: teaching, careers in government archives, museums and art galleries, libraries and information services and in archaeology. The ‘heritage industry’ is also a growing area of employment. Law and media are sectors that value History students as they usually have good discussion skills.
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