Subject(s) – HISTORY A (Explaining the Modern World)
Examination Board - OCR
Assessment
Component 1
Unit
Period Study and
Non-British Depth
Study
Weighting
50% of the total GCSE
Component 2
Thematic Study
25% of the total GCSE
Component 3
British Depth Study
and a Study of the
Historic Environment
25% of the total GCSE
Duration
Assessed through a 1
hour and 45 minute
examination
Assessed through a
1hour examination
Assessed through a
1hour 15 minute
examination
Your course in History will give you opportunities to practise and improve the skills you have been
developingin previous years. You will become more confident in developing and extending your
knowledge andunderstanding of specified key events, periodsand societies in local, British and wider
worldhistory; and of the wide diversity of humanexperience.
The external examination board, OCR, will award you a numerical grade based solely on the
examinations that you will sit at the end of year 11. Grade 1 will be the lowest, and grade 9 will be the
highest possible result.
You will sit 3 separate examinations for each component in history. You will then be awarded 1 GCSE
qualification. All students will be entered for all 3 examinations.
Period Study and Non-British Depth Study – Key Content Features
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Students will study the period ‘International Relations: the changing international order 1918–
2001’.A period study focuses on a substantial and coherent medium time span of atleast 50
years and requires learners to understandthe unfolding narrative of substantial
developmentsand issues associated with the period.
This period study will help learners to ‘Explain the Modern World’ especially with regard to: the
struggle between different types of government,how ideology can impact politics and the idea
of powers and super-powers.
Students will focus on thesynthesis and interpretation of history.
Thematic Study – Key Content Features
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The thematic studies require learners to understand change and continuity across a long
sweep of British history, including the most significant characteristics of different ages. They
reveal changes and aspects of continuity in society over the centuries and allow comparisons
to be made between different periods of history.
Students will focus on analysis, explanation and interpretation of history.
British Depth Study and a Study of the Historic Environment – Key Content
Features
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The study of the historic environment will be linked to the thematic paper and will be assessed
alongside the British depth study.
Students will focus on the interpretation of the historical environment using a number of key
sources.
For further information, please speak to MrSingh.