AQA and OCR A-level History both combine breadth and depth study with an independent coursework investigation, but differ in how topics are grouped, what period choices are available, and how the written papers balance compulsory against optional content. Both are linear qualifications and carry equal weight with UK universities.
What does AQA A-level History involve?
AQA A-level History (specification 7042) is a two-year, linear qualification assessed at the end of Year 13. It is structured around three assessed components: a breadth study (covering a long period of approximately 200 years, assessed in Paper 1), a depth study (covering a shorter period in greater detail, assessed in Paper 2), and a historical investigation (a 3,500-word independently researched essay that forms the Non-Exam Assessment, or NEA, worth 20% of the final grade).
AQA offers a wide menu of topic options within each component. Schools select one breadth study and one depth study from the available choices, giving departments significant flexibility. Popular AQA breadth options include The Tudors, Stuart Britain, and Tsarist and Communist Russia; popular depth options include The French Revolution and the Weimar Republic and the Rise of the Nazis, though the full menu is broader.
What does OCR A-level History involve?
OCR A-level History (specification H505) is similarly linear and assessed at the end of Year 13. It organises content across three components: a British period study (Paper 1), a non-British period study assessed alongside an enquiry (Paper 2, which combines a thematic breadth question with a source-based enquiry), and an independent investigation (the NEA, worth 20% of the final grade and approximately 3,000–4,000 words).
OCR places particular emphasis on historical interpretations — historians' changing views on a period or topic — as a distinct assessment focus. Paper 2 includes a dedicated section on the interpretation of sources over time, which requires students to evaluate why historians have disagreed and how historical understanding has evolved. This adds an extra layer of intellectual demand that distinguishes OCR from AQA's approach.
How do AQA and OCR A-level History compare?
| Feature | AQA A-level History (7042) | OCR A-level History (H505) |
|---|---|---|
| Assessment model | Linear, end of Year 13 | Linear, end of Year 13 |
| Number of exam papers | 2 | 2 |
| NEA / coursework | 20% (3,500 words) | 20% (~3,000–4,000 words) |
| Breadth study | Yes — Paper 1 (long period, ~200 years) | Yes — British period study, Paper 1 |
| Depth study | Yes — Paper 2 (shorter, detailed period) | Yes — non-British period study, Paper 2 |
| Historical interpretations focus | Present across both papers | Particularly prominent in Paper 2 |
| Source-based enquiry | Yes — elements in both papers | Formal enquiry section in Paper 2 |
| Topic choice menu | Extensive — large number of options | Good range — British and non-British |
How is coursework weighted in each specification?
The NEA accounts for 20% of the final A-level grade on both AQA and OCR. Students produce an independently researched essay of approximately 3,500 words (AQA) or 3,000 to 4,000 words (OCR) on a topic related to but distinct from their taught content. The essay is marked by teachers and moderated by the exam board.
The NEA is a genuine piece of historical research — students are expected to identify a historical question, locate and read secondary sources (books and academic articles, not just Wikipedia), evaluate different historical interpretations, and form their own evidenced conclusion. Schools typically begin NEA work in Year 12 and complete it in early Year 13 to leave enough time for exam revision. The NEA rewards intellectual independence and is often cited by teachers as one of the more satisfying elements of A-level History, regardless of which board is sat.
What topic choices does each board offer?
AQA's topic menu is extensive. Breadth study options span British and European history from the medieval period to the late twentieth century, giving schools a good chance of finding topics that align with their teachers' specialisms. Depth study options similarly range widely, with both British and world history represented.
OCR organises its British period study and non-British period study more explicitly as paired components, and its interpretations focus means that topic choice should be made with an eye to the availability of substantial historical debate. Topics where historians have actively disagreed — the causes of the First World War, the nature of Stalinist Russia, the legacy of Thatcherism — suit OCR's Paper 2 enquiry format better than topics where the historiography is thin or settled.
Does the board choice affect UCAS applications or university History?
No. Universities do not distinguish between AQA and OCR A-level History for admissions purposes. Both qualifications are assessed by grade, and a grade A in AQA History is treated identically to a grade A in OCR History. Russell Group universities with competitive History courses look at the overall A-level grade alongside the UCAS personal statement and, where applicable, written work submitted at open day.
A-level History, regardless of board, is highly regarded for Law, English, Politics, PPE, and social science degrees as well as History itself.
Frequently asked questions
Is AQA or OCR A-level History harder?
Neither board is demonstrably harder. OCR's historical interpretations requirement adds a distinct intellectual layer — students must evaluate why historians disagreed rather than simply what they concluded — which some students find stimulating and others find abstract. AQA's two-paper structure is slightly more conventional in format. Grade outcomes, controlled by Ofqual's comparable outcomes policy, are broadly similar across boards each year.
How long is the NEA, and when is it submitted?
Both AQA and OCR NEAs run to approximately 3,500 words (AQA) or within the 3,000–4,000 word range (OCR). Submission deadlines are set by the exam board and typically fall in the spring term of Year 13. Schools generally run NEA preparation through Year 12, with formal drafting in the autumn term of Year 13. Students should confirm the exact deadline with their school in Year 12.
Can I switch from AQA to OCR A-level History mid-course?
In practice, switching boards between Year 12 and Year 13 is very difficult because the topic content and exam skills required differ enough to require significant re-teaching. If a student changes schools and moves to a different board's A-level History mid-course, they should speak to the new school's History department about what bridging work is needed. The underlying skills of essay writing, source analysis, and historical argument are fully transferable even when the specific topics and board requirements differ.
What is the best way to revise for A-level History essays?
A-level History essays — at AQA and OCR — reward argument-first writing: stating a clear overall judgement in the introduction, developing it with well-chosen evidence in each paragraph, and sustaining it through to the conclusion. Students who practise writing timed essay plans before writing full essays build the structural habit more quickly than those who write full essays from a blank page every time. Reading examiner reports (available on both boards' websites) is the most direct way to understand what distinguishes high-band from mid-band answers.
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