Welcome
A Level History
Make a difference
Contents
• Introduction to OCR
• Introduction to History
A Level
History
Make a difference
• Why change to our specification?
• Support and training
• Next steps
About OCR
•
Part of Europe’s largest assessment
agency, Cambridge Assessment
•
UK’s leading awarding body
•
Over 13,000 centres choose our
qualifications
•
Qualifications are developed in
consultation with teachers
Our Mission
Our commitment is to provide qualifications which engage
learners of all ages whether at school, college, in work and part time training
programmes so they achieve their full potential
make a difference
Practical
Accessible
Innovative and exciting
Our Credentials
•
Leading the way with new ideas
•
Dedicated to offering respected
qualifications
•
Engaging and relevant qualifications
•
Comprehensive support framework
Choices in A Level History
•
We offer two distinct specifications for
A Level History
History A
The ‘new’ History B
A Level
History A
History A Credentials
•
Redeveloped in consultation with a
cross section of teachers
•
The new specification has been
developed to maintain the ethos and
strengths of the original specification,
but in a new four-unit format
•
Reduces the volume of assessment for
teachers and learners alike
•
Maintains the already proven depth
and breadth of content
Key points of the specification
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Opportunity to specialise in selected
historical periods
Flexibility to match the topics to your
interests, expertise and resource
Learners can develop and practice the
skills of a historian
Ancient and contemporary issues
Comprehensive coursework topic list
History A | AS Structure
Teaching units
and Assessment
method and
weighting
F961 British History Period Studies
Learners enter for one of two
components: Medieval and Early
Modern 1035-1642, or Modern 17831994. A wide range of study topics is
available, from the Anglo-Saxons up to
Post-War Britain
F962 European and World History
Period Studies
Learners enter for one of two European
and World History components: Medieval
and Early Modern 1095-1609 or Modern
1815-1945
History A | AS Structure
Teaching units
and Assessment
method and
weighting
F963 British History Enquiries
Learners entered for one of two components:
Medieval and Early Modern 1066-1660 or Modern
1815-1945. This is a document studies unit where
learners are presented with 4 to 5 sources in the
exam. Learners should have knowledge of the
prescribed topic and acquaintance with the kinds
of sources available for the topic.
F964 European and World History
Enquiries
Learners enter for one of two European and World
History components: Medieval and Early Modern
1073-1546 or Modern 1774-1975. This is a document
studies unit where learners are presented with 4 to 5
sources in the exam. Learners should have knowledge
of the prescribed topic and an acquaintance with the
kinds of sources available
for the topic.
History A | A2 Structure
Teaching units
and Assessment
method and
weighting
F963 British History Enquiries
Learners entered for one of two components:
Medieval and Early Modern 1066-1660 or Modern
1815-1945. This is a document studies unit where
learners are presented with 4 to 5 sources in the
exam. Learners should have knowledge of the
prescribed topic and acquaintance with the kinds
of sources available for the topic.
F964 European and World History
Enquiries
Learners enter for one of two European and World
History components: Medieval and Early Modern
1073-1546 or Modern 1774-1975. This is a document
studies unit where learners are presented with 4 to 5
sources in the exam. Learners should have knowledge
of the prescribed topic and an acquaintance with the
kinds of sources available
for the topic.
Stretch and Challenge
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Stretch and Challenge is a new QCA initiative for A Levels:
Included in A2 assessment
Reflected in the style of question asked which invite a greater variety of thinking
Questions are structured to show more connections between different sections of
the specification
Extended writing is encouraged in all subjects (except Maths0
A wider range of question types – like case studies and open ended questions
More synoptic assessments – exploring connections between different areas and
levels of a subject
A Level
History B
History B Credentials
•
We are the only awarding body to
offer this innovative specification
•
Redeveloped in consultation with a
cross section of teachers and the
Historical Association
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Developed to follow on from the GCSE
Schools History Project
Key points of the specification
•
Exciting and innovative study topics
•
The new specification has been
developed to maintain the ethos and
strengths of the original specification,
but in a new four-unit format
•
Reduces the volume of assessment for
teachers and learners alike
•
Maintains the already proven depth
and breadth of content
History B | AS Structure
Teaching units
and Assessment
method and
weighting
F981 Historical Explanation – British
History or
F982 Historical Explanation – NonBritish History
Learners will explore the theory and
practice of explanation – of ideas, actions
and events – located in topics spanning 2040 years (British and non-British options
available)
Options include: The End of the Consensus:
Britain 1945-90; Russia in Turmoil 19001921
History B | AS Structure
Teaching units
and Assessment
method and
weighting
F983 Using Historical Evidence – British
History or
F984 Using Historical Evidence – NonBritish History
This unit considers the theory and use of evidence.
Learners will for example, consider the distinction
between historical sources and historical evidence,
and between primary and secondary sources. They
will cover the wide range of different types of
historical sources – for example, written, pictorial and
statistical – and the different issues they raise as well
as the different uses they have.
History B | A2 Structure
Teaching units
and Assessment
method and
weighting
F985 Historical Controversies – British History
or
F986 Historical Controversies – Non-British
History
Building on earlier units, learners will study how and why
historians disagree about the past – exploring how
different methodologies lead to different interpretations.
They will consider different approaches to their chosen
topics.
F987 Historical Significance
In this final unit, learners will examine the
vocabulary of significance. They will prepare a
Personal Study )of up to 3,000 words) backed by
a Research Diary to demonstrate their
understanding and research methods.
What’s in it for you?
• Easy to administer
• Rewarding to deliver
• Flexibility in teaching topics top
match your interests
What’s in it for your learners?
•
Enjoyable and motivational
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Improving performance through
passion and a new approach
•
Stretch and challenge opportunities
What’s in it for your school?
• More student enrolments
• Flexibility in curriculum planning
and delivery
• Good progression routes into
HE/FE
Support
• Overarching scheme of work and
sample lesson plans
• E-community
• Exemplar candidate work
• Coursework guidance documents
• Past papers on line for you to
download
• Exam quest
• INSET
Publishers
• We are working with publisher
partner Heinemann to provide
further resources to support these
specifications. The student books
and teacher resources are
specifically tailored to the new
specification.
Next Steps
• Book training/events - www.ocr.org.uk/training
• Bookmark website for further information/future updates –
www.ocr.org.uk
Other qualifications
•GCSE History
(Modern World)
•GCSE History Schools
History Project
•A Level Critical Thinking