A-level History₇₀₄₂

A-level students must take assessments in all three of the following components in the same series:

• Component 1: Breadth Study
• Component 2: Depth Study
• Component 3: Historical Investigation (Personal study)

Students must:

• study the history of more than one country
• study a British history option for Component 1 or 2
• study a non-British history option for Component 1 or 2
• study topics from a chronological range of at least 200 years

Subject content

Component 1: Breadth study

1A The Age of the Crusades, c1071–1204

1B Spain in the Age of Discovery, 1469–1598 (A-level only)

1C The Tudors: England, 1485–1603

1D Stuart Britain and the Crisis of Monarchy, 1603–1702

1E Russia in the Age of Absolutism and Enlightenment, 1682–1796 (A-level only)

1F Industrialisation and the people: Britain, c1783–1885

1G Challenge and transformation: Britain, c1851–1964

1H Tsarist and Communist Russia, 1855–1964

1J The British Empire, c1857–1967

1K The making of a Superpower: USA, 1865–1975

1L The quest for political stability: Germany, 1871–1991

Component 2: Depth study

2A Royal Authority and the Angevin Kings, 1154–1216

2B The Wars of the Roses, 1450–1499

2C The Reformation in Europe, c1500–1564 (A-level only)

2D Religious conflict and the Church in England, c1529–c1570

2E The English Revolution, 1625–1660

2F The Sun King: Louis XIV, France and Europe, 1643–1715 (A-level only)

2G The Birth of the USA, 1760–1801

2H France in Revolution, 1774–1815 (A-level only)

2J America: A Nation Divided, c1845–1877

2K International Relations and Global Conflict, c1890–1941 (A-level only)

2L Italy and Fascism, c1900–1945

2M Wars and Welfare: Britain in Transition, 1906–1957

2N Revolution and dictatorship: Russia, 1917–1953

2O Democracy and Nazism: Germany, 1918–1945

2P The Transformation of China, 1936–1997

2Q The American Dream: reality and illusion, 1945–1980

2R The Cold War, c1945–1991

2S The Making of Modern Britain, 1951–2007

2T The Crisis of Communism: The USSR and the Soviet Empire, 1953–2000 (A-level only)

Component 3: Historical Investigation

Assessments

Through the topics studied in Components 1, 2 and 3 (Historical investigation), A-level students must cover a chronological range of at least 200 years.

Prohibited combinations

Students must study a British history option for either Component 1 or Component 2. If a British history option is chosen for Component 1, it must be combined with a non-British option for Component 2. If a British history option is chosen for Component 2, it must be combined with a non-British option for Component 1. Any British option may be combined with any non-British option, other than the following:

• 1C The Tudors may not be combined with 2C The Reformation in Europe
• 1D Stuart Britain and the Crisis of Monarchy may not be combined with 2F The Sun King: Louis XIV, France and Europe

This is because there is a strong conceptual emphasis which runs across both breadth and depth options which would result in a narrowing of the student’s experience.

The following are designated British history options:

Component 1

1C The Tudors: England, 1485–1603

1D Stuart Britain and the Crisis of Monarchy, 1603–1702

1F Industrialisation and the People: Britain, c1783–1885

1G Challenge and Transformation: Britain, c1851–1964

1J The British Empire, c1857–1967

Component 2

2A Royal Authority and the Angevin Kings, 1154–1216

2B The Wars of the Roses, 1450–1499

2D Religious Conflict and the Church in England, c1529–c1570

2E The English Revolution, 1625–1660

2M Wars and Welfare: Britain in Transition, 1906–1957

2S The Making of Modern Britain, 1951–2007