Key Stage 5
At Key Stage 5, students follow the OCR specification, following a linear two-year qualification. Students will study the following topics:
Unit 1: British period study and enquiry – The early Stuarts and the origins of the Civil War, 1603-1660
Weighting: 50 marks (25% of A-Level)
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Unit 2: Non-British period study – The French Revolution and the rule of Napoleon, 1774–1815
Weighting: 30 marks (15% of A-Level)
Duration: 1 hour
Unit 3: Thematic study and historical interpretations – Civil Rights in the USA, 1865–1992
Weighting: 80 marks (40% of A-Level)
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
Unit 4: Topic-based essay
Weighting: 20% of A-Level
3,000–4,000-word essay. Non-exam assessment.
History is a highly respected academic qualification. It is respected by universities and goes well with any combination of subjects for any professional career. University admissions tutors know that if you have done history you have completed a challenging, rigorous and very independent qualification. It encourages you to study independently which is a valuable skill to have in the modern world. ‘The Telegraph ranks History as one of the top 10 subjects for employability’.