Skip to content ↓

GCSE History Years 10 & 11

Specification

AQA - The specification and assessment structure can be found at the link: https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/history/gcse

What will I study?

The GCSE History content comprises the following elements:

  • One period study
  • One thematic study
  • One wider world depth study
  • One British depth study including the historic environment.

Paper 1: Understanding the modern world

Section A: Russia 1894-1945: Tsardom and Communism

Section B: Conflict and Tension in Asia, 1950-1975

Paper 2: Shaping the nation

Section A: Britain: Health and the People: c1000 to present day

Section B: Norman England c1066-c1100

What skills and qualities are required?

  • Analytical Skills.
  • Communications skills – both verbal and written.  A good command of the English language is particularly important.
  • Evaluation skills.
  • Organisational skills.
  • Initiative.
  • Independent learning and research skills.
  • Working with others.

How will I learn?

You will learn through reading, writing, discussions, listening, analysing data, developing presentation skills and group work.

Skills you’ll develop through studying History

  • Written and oral communication.
  • Logical thinking and decision making.
  • Analysis.
  • Research and deciding between relevant and irrelevant information.
  • Understanding how a complex series of events interact.
  • Interpretation, distinguishing between cause and consequence, identifying changes.
  • Questioning, attention to detail and using evidence.
  • Evaluating.
  • Balancing strengths and weaknesses and drawing conclusion.

How will I be assessed?

Both Paper One and Paper Two will be assessed by written examination at the end of Year 11.  Both exam papers are 2 hours long and are both worth 84 marks. 

Where could it lead?

Employers and universities really value History as it is viewed as a “rigorous” subject which provides students with a wide range of useful skills.  The strengths of History as a qualification lie in the possibilities and opportunities it opens up. Employees and universities alike will appreciate the variety of transferable skills provided through study of the subject, chiefly the ability to understand and analyse issues and events to a high level.

Additional Requirements/Information

The syllabus aims to build on Key Stage 3 and to lay a foundation for advanced study. A GCSE in either Geography or History is necessary to achieve the English Baccalaureate.

Year 10

From Tsardom to Communism: Russia 1914-24; Stalin’s Dictatorship: USSR 1924-41; The Korean War 1950 and The USA and Vietnam: failure abroad and at home, 1954-75. 

  Topic Further details about the topic Skills
Autumn Term
1 Tsardom to Communism

The collapse of Tsar’s rule.  Bolshevik’s seizure of power.  Lenin

Causation

Source analysis

Interpretation

Inference

2 Stalin’s Dictatorship

How Stalin became dictator.  How Stalin enforced his dictatorship.  Evaluation of Stalin’s economic policies

Causation

Source analysis

Interpretation

Inference

Spring Term
1

The Korean War

The USA and Vietnam

The causes and events of the Korean War.

Evaluation of guerrilla tactics.

Media coverage of the Vietnam war in the USA

Causation

Source analysis

Interpretation

Inference

2 The USA and Vietnam

Evaluation of the USA’s attempts to end the Vietnam War

Causation

Source analysis

Interpretation

Inference

Summer Term
1 Norman Conquest and Life under the Normans

Causes and events of the Norman invasion

Feudalism and government role.

Economic and social changes

Research

Source Analysis

Interpretation

Inference

2

Norman Church and Monasticism

Historic Environment

The Church

The Monasteries

Norman buildings

Research

Source Analysis

Interpretation

Inference

Year 11

Norman England and Health and Medicine 1000-Present Day

  Topic Further details about the topic Skills
Autumn Term
1

Norman Church and Monasticism

Historic Environment

The Church 

The Monasteries

Norman buildings

Research

Source Analysis

Interpretation

Inference

2 Health and Medicine

1000-1750

Source Analysis

Interpretation

Similarity and Difference

Causation and Consequence

Spring Term
1

Health and Medicine

1750-1900

Source Analysis

Interpretation

Similarity and Difference

Causation and Consequence

2 Health and Medicine 1900-Present day

Source Analysis

Interpretation

Similarity and Difference

Causation and Consequence

Summer Term
1 Revision

Revision

Revision

Assessments

Resources Topic Type of assessment
CAT 1 Tsardom to Communism Examination Paper
CAT 2 The USA and Vietnam Examination Paper
CAT 3 Norman England End of Year Examination
CAT 4 Norman England 16 mark Question
CAT 5 Mock Examination Questions set from a previous exam paper
CAT 6 Health and Medicine Questions set from a previous exam paper

Main Resources

Resource Details
Text books

AQA GCSE History: Understanding the Modern World - £17.99

AQA GCSE History: Health and the People: Amazon.co.uk: Wilkinson, Alf: 9781471864216

AQA GCSE History: Norman England, 1066-1100: Amazon.co.uk: Clarke, Helena: 9781471863424: Books

Recommended Reading

William I by Marc Morris

Vietnam by Max Hastings

Blood and Guts, a short history of medicine by Roy Porter 

Recommended websites

http://www.schoolhistory.co.uk/

http://www.johndclare.net/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/examspecs/zxjk4j6

Free Homework & Revision for A Level, GCSE, KS3 & KS2 (senecalearning.com)

Enrichment opportunities

   
   
 

 

Where Next

;