History

Assessment

Unit One (25% of A-level) Comprises a substantial and coherent period of British history, for example, Alfred the Great and the Making of England 871–1016, the Later Tudors 1547–1603, or the Early Stuarts and the Origins of the English Civil War 1603–60. It is examined through a combination of traditional essay questions and also source-based questions, which require boys to interpret and evaluate historical evidence. Unit Two (15% of A-level) A coherent period of non-British history, for example, Charlemagne 768–814, the American Revolution 1740–96, or the French Revolution and the rule of Napoleon 1774–1815. It is examined through traditional essay questions. Unit Three (40% of A-level) A thematic study over at least 100 years, and also three in-depth studies of events, individuals or issues that are key points within that theme, for example, English Government and the Church 1066–1216, Rebellion and Disorder under the Tudors 1485–1603, The Ascendancy of the Ottoman Empire 1453–1606 or Britain and Ireland 1791–1921. Boys learn how to treat the whole period thematically but also to use their detailed knowledge of the depth-study topics to evaluate different interpretations of key events. Unit Four (20% of A-level) A 3000–4000-word coursework essay on a topic of their choice, which is marked at Harrow and moderated by OCR.