Course information
The History A level is studied over a total of five modules: two at AS level and a further three at A level.
At AS level, you will learn about the transition Britain underwent in the Victorian and Edwardian periods between the mid-19th century and the beginning of the First World War. You’ll then study the events and people shaping the USA from the end of the Second World War, up to the assassination of John F Kennedy in 1963.
At A level, you will take what you have learned further by studying Britain from 1914 to 1964, exploring how two World Wars impacted society and politics in the United Kingdom. Next, you will shift focus again to the USA as the Civil Rights Movement, Reaganism and the Cold War left their marks between 1963 and 1980.
The final module is a unit of coursework on Black American Inequality in the USA, focusing on the period of American slavery, emancipation and abolition between 1780 and 1900.
The History A level course is arranged around the themes of Challenge and Transformation (British modules), and The American Dream (USA). Throughout the course, you will gain a balanced overview of how modern history developed on both sides of the Atlantic, as well as the interplay between the fortunes of Britain and the USA.
As you progress through the modules, you will complete tutor-marked assignments and receive valuable feedback, support and insights into each era you study from your tutor.
Module 1-1G Challenge and Transformation: Britain, c1851–1964
Victorian and Edwardian Britain, c1851–1914
- Victorian and Edwardian Britain, c1851–1914
- Britain in 1851: Pride and Uncertainty
- Social Challenges
- Ireland 1845-1886
- Mid-Victorian Boom – and Flight
- The Working Classes and Self-Help
- Party Politics 1851-1886
- Play the Game: Victorian Sport
- Education
- Waning Power
- The Working Class: Organisation and Representation
- Ireland, 1886-1914
- Politics 1886-1906
- Edwardian Twilight: Liberal Britain, 1906-1914
Module 2 – 2Q: The American Dream: Reality and Illusion, 1945–1980
Prosperity, Inequality and Superpower Status, 1945–1963
- The USA in 1945
- The USA as a Superpower
- Reconstruction and McCarthyism
- Racial Tensions and Civil Rights 1945-52
- Eisenhower
- The US Economy in the 1950s
- USA and the Cold War 1952-60
- Racial Tensions and Civil Rights (2) 1952-60
- Challenges to US Authority internationally, early 60s
- JFK and Civil Rights
- The USA by 1963
1G Challenge and Transformation: Britain, c1851–1964
The World Wars and their Legacies: Britain, 1914–1964
- The Impact of World War One
- Ireland, 1914-1964
- Post-War Challenges, 1919-1929
- The Rise of Labour
- The Role of Women, 1906-1939
- Social and Cultural Change during the Inter-War Period
- The Changing Political Landscape in the Inter-War Period
- The Work of the National Government in Dealing with Economic Crisis
- The Policies and Personalities of the Wartime Coalition Government
- The New Jerusalem: Labour 1945-51
- ‘Never Had it So Good’? Britain, 1951-1964
2Q: The American Dream: Reality and Illusion, 1945–1980
Challenges to the American Dream, 1963–1980
- LB Johnson as President
- Vietnam and US Foreign Policy
- Racial Tensions and Civil Rights
- Social divisions and protest movements
- The 1968 Presidential election and its aftermath
- The restoration of conservative social policies
- Vietnam and the limits of American world power
- The Watergate Affair
- The Ford and Carter Presidencies
- The position of the USA as a world power in the 1970s
- Racial Tensions and Civil Rights (4)
- The USA in 1980
Module 5, Coursework Module: Black American Inequality in the United States,
c1780-1900
- The Founding Fathers and Slavery
- Black Americans before the Civil War
- Causes of the American Civil War
- The Civil War and the End of Slavery
- Presidential Reconstruction
- Congressional or Radical Reconstruction
- The Development of Jim Crow
- The Supreme Court and Jim Crow
- Black Agency
- Working on your Historical Investigation
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Examining board and exams
The course has been written to prepare you for the AQA exam board’s History A level qualification, with the following syllabus codes:
The course is assessed by two 90-minute exams at AS level and two 2.5-hour exams at A level, as well as a unit of NEA (coursework).
In order to do the NEA, you will need to be able to follow the rules for authentication. They can be found here.
What can I do with a History A level?
Studying history teaches students an important set of skills that can be applied in many different situations. You will learn to critically examine material, questioning its reliability and usefulness for a specific purpose. You’ll develop the ability to look at issues through a range of different cultural lenses, and gain confidence in independently researching topics.
Many people study history because they are interested in a particular era, event or theme that they want to delve deeper into when they progress to Higher Education. You may want to study the impacts of trade throughout the ages, or the long-term effects of the Napoleonic Wars on the present day. History is a never-ending subject, and whatever your passion is, you’ll find others in Higher Education who share it and can help you study it in greater depth.
History graduates often pursue academic positions such as researchers, professors, lecturers and university librarians. They may also want to work with museums and galleries all over the country as curators, archivists, assistants and educators.
However, history jobs aren’t always in the academic sphere. A good understanding of history can be a great asset for a role in journalism and media, and in politics and local government.
The critical thinking skills that help you analyse information, and use it to formulate an argument can be useful in fields as diverse as marketing, law and business. A history qualification normally indicates that you are good at communicating your ideas in writing.
Jobs where history qualifications are an asset may be found in:
- Museums and galleries
- Universities and schools
- Newspapers and magazines
- Marketing and advertising firms
- Civil service and local government
- Legal firms
Online Course? Paper Based? Somewhere in between? It’s your choice!
All of our History A level students receive:
- Traditional printed learning materials
- Access to our online resources with on-the-go access to all your regular lessons
- Unmatched support by a fully qualified teacher online and by phone
How much does it cost?
Our History A level course fee is £525 with a £105 deposit, payable in eight instalments of £52.50.
You will receive support from a fully-qualified tutor holding either a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) or a degree in education. This support includes:
- Marking all assignments for the course
- Written answers to specific study problems
- Tutor contact via telephone, email and skype
- Marking and moderation of your NEA project
When you begin this course, you will agree on an examination date or dates with your Student Adviser. Your support period lasts up to this examination date.
Meet Our Tutors
The study of History has always been my hobby as well as my career. I have always loved American history and politics, and enjoy visiting and researching in US cities. I write History textbooks and have written A-level textbooks on the Vietnam War, US race relations, and US politics from 1918-2009. I have also written books on the Cold War and race relations in the Americas for students of the International Baccalaureate.
In 2008, I went to Boston and Chicago to research the presidential election. I visited Barack Obama’s campaign headquarters in Chicago and was struck by the fact that it was not very plush! I did some canvassing for him by Boston Common, although there wasn’t really much need for that, because most people in Massachusetts vote Democrat anyway.
Vivienne Sanders
Prerequisites
Normally we expect students to have at least four good GCSEs to begin the History A level, ideally including a grade C or above in English GCSE/IGCSE or equivalent. However, a History GCSE is not necessary.
If you believe you have other relevant qualifications or experience which would allow you to start a History A level course, please contact one of our student advisers on 0800 975 75 75.
Due to the stringent NEA requirements, the last application date for this course’s summer 2025 exams is the 15th September 2024
Books
History, more than any other A level, requires you to read around the subject you are studying. The books below are a good start and individual modules will mention each of them. Each module will also recommend other texts you might wish to read. If you can’t get hold of the exact text mentioned in the course, don’t worry, your tutor will be able to recommend other texts and resources.
FAQs
Why Should I choose Oxford Home Schooling?
- Oxford Home Schooling is a long-established educational trust that prides itself on
- treating every student as an individual
- customer service
- course quality.
- We’re rated ‘Excellent’ on Trustpilot by students who have studied with us.
- We provide online and printed resources so you can study your way – other providers do not give you that choice.
- We make it easy for you to home-educate your children with our flexible schedule, tutor support, and interest-free payment plan.
- Every year we help hundreds of children who have left mainstream education obtain the qualifications they need to progress and achieve their goals.
- Oxford Home Schooling is part of a not-for-profit trust so you can be sure that your course fees are spent on either your child’s tuition or on improving our courses.
When can I enrol?
You can enrol any time you like, the earlier the better. The important thing to consider is when you wish to sit your exam and give yourself plenty of time to work through your materials and revise successfully. Our cut-off dates for enrolment on to History A level are slightly earlier than for most A levels. This is due to the Non-examination assessment (NEA) or what would once have been coursework. This work must be completed by mid-March and is situated in the second half of the course.
Once you have enrolled, you will get access to your English Literature A level course online immediately and your printed course materials will arrive a few days later.
Can I complete the History A level exam in one year?
Our cut-off for enrolling on an A level History course for the following summer examination series is mid-September each year. So yes you can.
However, remember that you will still need to
- fit 700 hours of study time into your schedule before the examination in May.
- Complete the Non-examination assessment (NEA) by mid march
- Have completed enough other work by this point for our tutors to authenticate and mark your NEA.
The earlier you enrol, the less study you must do each week and the better chance you give yourself of achieving a top grade.
Can I just enrol on the AS level History course?
Yes, you can. The fee to enrol on the History AS course is just £300. If you decide to upgrade to a full A Level later on, then you may do so for an additional fee of £350.
The results from your AS Level exam cannot be carried forward to your A level and you will need to take the full A level exams which test the full spectrum of topics from the AS and A level specification
The AS does not require you to carry out a Non-examination assessment (NEA).
When will I sit my exam?
The History A level papers may be sat in the Summer examination series. The Summer series typically runs from mid-May to late June.
Since 2016 there has not been an autumn examination sitting.
How and when do I book an exam?
The final date for booking summer exams with the exam board without incurring late entry fees is the 21st of February. You should book your place at an exam centre well in advance of this date. Start looking once the autumn term begins.
In the case of English Literature A level you will make your examination entry with Oxford Home Schooling and find a host centre locally. This is because Oxford Home Schooling is responsible for marking your coursework.
All the information you need to book an exam centre can be found in our Exams Hub. Here you will find
- detailed instructions
- entry codes needed to book exams
- our map of examination centres where our students have sat in recent years.
Tutors & Exams offers discounts to Oxford Home Schooling students and has nine current exam venues across the UK: Belfast, Birmingham, Bolton, Coventry, Doncaster, High Wycombe, Romford, St Neots, Taunton and Wimbledon.
Pearson Edexcel also publishes a list of exam centres that accept private candidates. This won’t cover every available centre, so if there’s nothing shown in your area, we recommend contacting local schools and colleges directly.
How much does a History A Level examination cost?
Your exam fees aren’t included in the course cost as they’re paid directly to the exam centre. They will vary depending on which centre you choose.
Oxford Homeschooling will
- make your exam entry for a cost in the region of £100
- mark your NEA which is included in the course fee
- Transfer your exam papers to your host centre for a cost in the region of £50
You will need to find your host centre and they will make a charge for you to sit the exam.
Generally speaking, dedicated examination services will be more expensive than a local school or college. Further details on the costs can be found on our Non-examination assessment pages
Delve into British and American History! Apply now
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