A Level History: Syllabus Breakdown & Top-Scoring Study Tactics

Preparing for A Level History is challenging but highly rewarding. This guide shares strategies and tips to help you succeed, from understanding breadth and depth studies to exam structures. By the end, you’ll know how to plan your study, sharpen your essays, and use your knowledge and skills effectively.

Introduction

A Level History is one of the most respected subjects in the sixth form. It develops critical thinking, research abilities, and communication skills that are valuable for higher education and law, politics, and journalism careers. However, it also requires careful planning and steady revision.

Success in A Level History comes down to three things: understanding the syllabus, practising with past papers and questions, and critically analysing sources and arguments. This article breaks down the key elements of the course, explains how exam boards structure their assessments, and highlights strategies to help you achieve strong grades.

Breadth vs. Depth Studies Explained

One of the first things students notice about A Level History is that it asks you to study both breadth and depth. These are different types of study but they complement each other.

What are Breadth Studies?

Breadth studies cover long periods of time and look at major changes and themes across decades or centuries. For example, studying the Tudors means examining political, social, and religious developments over more than 100 years. The aim is to understand patterns, continuity, and change.

These studies often involve questions such as:

How did monarchy and parliament evolve over time?
What were the causes of political or social change?
To what extent did reforms succeed?

What are Depth Studies?

Depth studies focus on a shorter period and require much more detailed knowledge. For instance, studying Democracy and Nazism in Germany between 1918 and 1945 means looking at events like the Weimar Republic, Hitler’s rise to power, and the Second World War in detail.

Here, you need to know key events, figures, and dates. The analysis is closer, with greater attention to cause and effect, and the evidence you use needs to be precise.

Why are both important?

Studying both breadth and depth gives you balance. Breadth develops your ability to see long-term trends and connections, while depth strengthens your skills in close analysis and detailed argument. Both are needed for higher-level study and for meeting the assessment objectives.

Mastering both breadth and depth studies gives you the balanced knowledge and analytical skills needed to excel in A Level History.

Topics Covered by Major Exam Boards

The content and structure of A Level History depend on the exam board. Each has its balance of breadth, depth, source work, and coursework.

AQA

Breadth Study: For example, The Tudors: England, 1485–1603
Depth Study: For example, Democracy and Nazism: Germany, 1918–1945
Coursework (NEA): Independent historical investigation (3500–4500 words; 20% of the final grade).
Assessment: Two written exams (80%) plus coursework (20%).

Edexcel (Pearson)

Paper 1: Breadth study
Paper 2: Depth study
Paper 3: Themes in breadth with depth focus
Coursework: 20% independent investigation (3000–4000 words)

OCR

Paper 1: British period study and enquiry (source analysis included)
Paper 2: Non-British period study (example: USA, China, or Russia)
Paper 3: Thematic study and historical interpretations
NEA: Independent investigation (3000–4000 words)

Cambridge International (CIE)

Paper 1: Source-based international option
Paper 2: Depth study (example: The Holocaust or South Africa)
Paper 3: Interpretations and historiographical debates
Paper 4 (Optional): Coursework, if approved by the school

Each exam board has its structure and focus, so understanding these differences is key to effectively planning your A Level History study and revision.

British, European, American and Global Options

Across all boards, students can explore a wide range of topics. This is one of the strengths of A Level History because it gives you a choice.

British History

Common options include the Tudors (1485–1603), Stuart Britain and the crisis of monarchy, and Modern Britain with topics such as Thatcher and the end of consensus. These areas test your knowledge of politics, monarchy, religion, and society across different periods of British history.

European History

Popular options include the French Revolution and Napoleonic period, Democracy and Nazism in Germany, and the Russian Revolution with Stalin’s USSR. These topics often centre on revolutions, ideology, and major political changes.

American History

Typical subjects include the origins of the Civil War, Reconstruction and civil rights, and the Great Depression with the New Deal. Together, these topics build understanding of the USA’s political conflict, race relations, and economic change.

Global and Non-Western History

Students may also explore international relations from 1870–1945, the history of China and Japan, or South Africa under apartheid. These topics broaden your understanding of world history and help you build a strong global perspective.

These options give students a broad and flexible choice of historical perspectives, allowing them to develop depth and range in their A Level History studies.

Coursework vs Exam Balance

History is assessed through both exams and coursework. The exact weighting depends on the exam board, but most have around 20% coursework and 80% exam.

Non-Examined Assessment (NEA / Coursework)

The NEA is an independent investigation where you choose your historical question, allowing you to explore a topic that interests you. It’s usually 3000–4500 words and is designed to strengthen your research skills, your ability to evaluate and interpret sources, and your capacity to build a well-structured, sustained argument. This project also develops skills highly valued at university, such as independent study and critical thinking.

Exam Component

Exams test breadth, depth, and source analysis. Depending on the paper, you’ll answer essay, document-based, or interpretation questions requiring you to engage with different perspectives. These components usually account for most of your final grade and reflect how well you can apply your knowledge, think critically, and construct clear arguments.

Why This Balance Matters

The combination of coursework and exams means you’re assessed on independent research and timed performance. Coursework allows you to explore a topic in depth and show your ability to construct a well-researched argument.

At the same time, exams test how effectively you can think critically and apply your knowledge under pressure. Some students naturally excel in one area, but to achieve top grades you need to develop the skills to perform well in both.

Striking a balance between coursework and exams lets you prove thorough research skills and strong timed performance, which lift your overall grade.

Assessment Objectives (AO1–AO3) Explained

All exam boards use the same assessment objectives. Understanding these helps you see exactly what examiners are looking for.

AO1: Knowledge and Understanding

You need to show accurate knowledge of events, dates, people, and themes. Strong answers use precise detail and avoid vague generalisations. To master this:

Create timelines to link events in chronological order.
Use flashcards for key dates, figures, and terms to test recall quickly.
Summarise each topic in your own words to check understanding.
Practise writing short factual paragraphs without notes to spot gaps in knowledge.

AO2: Analysis and Evaluation

This is about explaining significance, causes, and consequences. You must construct clear arguments, weigh up evidence, and make judgements. Strong essays always answer the question directly and stay focused. Here are some tips:

Practise planning essays before writing them to develop clear arguments.
Use essay skeletons with topic sentences and evidence to practise structure.
Debate different interpretations with classmates or tutors to sharpen evaluation.
Regularly review mark schemes and examiners’ reports to understand how high-level analysis is rewarded.

AO3: Use of Sources (Document Analysis)

Here, you evaluate primary and secondary sources. This means looking at provenance, context, and reliability, not just repeating what the source says. Examiners want to see you engaging critically with evidence. To improve AO3:

Always read the provenance first (author, date, audience, purpose) before the content.
Practise comparing two sources and explaining why one might be more valuable than the other.
Annotate past paper sources, highlighting reliability, bias, and context clues.
Use the “content + context + evaluation” method to structure source answers.

Mastering AO1, AO2, and AO3 will give you the balanced knowledge, analytical skills, and source evaluation abilities needed to achieve top marks in A Level History.

Need Help With A Level History? Get Personalised Tutoring Support

Studying A Level History is demanding. Many students benefit from working with an effective tutor who can explain complex topics, guide them through past papers, and give feedback on essays.

TutorsPlus offers one-to-one online and in-person tutoring with experienced teachers. With our tailored support, you can strengthen your knowledge, improve your analysis, and build confidence ahead of your exams.

Here’s a heartfelt testimonial from one of our students:

“Having the support of a teacher like Miss Melina, who genuinely enjoys teaching history, has also helped me foster an even greater love for the subject than I had before. This experience has been incredibly helpful, not only for my future academic work and applications but also in helping me feel confident for my upcoming exams.”

FAQs About A Level History

Is A Level History hard?
Yes, it’s considered challenging because of the volume of content and the need for analytical essays. However, with consistent study and practice, many students achieve excellent results.

How many hours should I study per week?
Most teachers recommend 4–6 hours outside of lessons. Increase this during revision periods.

What books or sources are recommended?
Start with the textbooks linked to your board. Supplement with historians’ works, academic articles, and trusted sites like BBC Bitesize or History Learning Site.

Can I revise history effectively without memorising everything?
Yes. Focus on understanding themes and practising essays. Use memory aids like flashcards for key dates but spend more time on analysis and argument.

How important is historiography in essays?
Very important for higher grades. Examiners look for awareness of different historical interpretations and debates.

What degree programmes does A Level History support?
It’s a facilitating subject valued by top universities. It supports applications for History, Law, Politics, International Relations, English, and many more.

Conclusion

A Level History requires organisation, critical thinking, and the ability to write strong arguments under exam conditions. By balancing breadth and depth studies, using resources effectively, and focusing on assessment objectives, you’ll build the skills you need to succeed.

You can reach us at +41 022 731 8148 or to start your journey towards academic success. With the right practice, tailored strategies, and expert support, you’ll gain the confidence to manage exams and coursework effectively and achieve the results you’re aiming for.

By Sara Lloyd

Sara has been an education consultant for TutorsPlus for 15 years, and is an expert on international education. She is also a parent of two lively children.