Notice

Popular documents

	Specification (updated February 2008)	PDF, 1174 Kb
	Guide to what has changed	PDF, 1028 Kb
	Notice to centres - Revised versions of the specification	PDF, 16 Kb
	Specimen assessment materials - All units	Zip, 7080 Kb

View all documents associated with this qualification.

Overview

These specifications aim to introduce more 'stretch and challenge' into History at AS/A level. Candidates develop expertise in historical skills and acquire knowledge and understanding through the ability to study a wide range of topics in British, European and American History from the medieval period through to the late twentieth century.

Benefits to you and your learners of teaching this qualification

• The ethos and strengths of OCR's previous specification have been maintained in a new four unit (two at AS level, two at A2) format.
• The best features of existing units have been retained, maintaining the possibility to specialize in particular periods.
• New areas have been added to the specification making it possible to construct more coherent courses. For example, at AS, there are new Enquiries (document studies papers) on Gladstone and Disraeli, Churchill, Dictatorship and Democracy in Germany 1933-63, and the Cold War in Asia; and new period studies on China and the Middle East, providing exciting new opportunities to study 20th Century history. Alternatively, it is still possible to study an entirely medieval course.
• There is a new style of coursework, which separates assessment into two smaller tasks (interpretations and investigations) and so makes the coursework unit more accessible to candidates and easier for teachers to facilitate. Preparation to teach this revised unit will be straightforward as much of the existing specification will continue and the style of assessment will be largely unchanged. For the interpretations element of the coursework, candidates from one centre can all analyse the same set of passages or sources and the tasks are set by OCR. For the investigation element, OCR will provide suggested essay titles with bibliographies of books in print, plus useful websites.
• While the study of British History comprises a substantial element, candidates will study the history of more than one country or state.

Ask a question

Do you have a question that is not covered here and needs subject specialist knowledge? If so please get in touch with our Customer Contact Centre.