AQA Syllabus

GCSE History at Better EdSpace

AQA Syllabus

2-Years Course

Next Cohort - Starting September 2026

Exam Sitting:

May/June 2028 for 2 yrs

Hands-on Learning

Ideal for ages 14+

Two 1 hr Sessions Weekly

REGISTER HERE

A Bit About the Course

Discover the Past. Understand the Present. Shape the Future.

GCSE History at Better EdSpace is more than just a timeline of dates and events—it's an immersive journey into the people, power struggles, movements, and decisions that shaped the world we live in. This two-year course offers students the opportunity to explore British and global history through major turning points, deep-dive studies, and long-term themes that continue to resonate today.

Through engaging teaching, small group discussions, and critical analysis, students build skills in evidence evaluation, argument building, and historical interpretation—skills that are essential not just for exams, but for life.

AQA Specification at a Glance

What You'll Study:

Paper 1:

Understanding the Modern World

Paper 2:
Shaping the Nation

Assessment Overview:

The AQA GCSE History course is structured into two major papers:

Section A – Period Study
Explore a country’s transformation over time, such as:
- Germany, 1890–1945: Democracy and dictatorship
- America, 1920–1973: Opportunity and inequality
Section B – Wider World Depth Study
Focus on international conflict and diplomacy with topics like:
- Conflict and Tension between East and West, 1945–1972
- The First World War, 1894–1918

Section A – Thematic Study
Trace long-term change in Britain through options like:
- Health and the people: c1000 to the present day
- Migration, empires and the people: c790 to the present day
Section B – British Depth Study + Historic Environment
Delve into focused studies such as:
- Elizabethan England, c1568–1603
- Norman England, c1066–c1100

All topics will be selected at the start of the course based on student interests and cohort strengths.

Paper 1: Paper 2:

Understanding the Modern World Shaping the Nation

Content 1: Content 2:

Period study & wider Thematic British History &

world conflict study depth study

Weighting 1: Weighting 2:

50% 50%

Exam 1: Exam 2:

2 hours (84 marks) 2 hours (84 marks)

Each paper includes a mix of short and extended written answers, testing historical knowledge, analysis, and written communication. Spelling, punctuation, and grammar are also assessed (4 marks per paper).