A-Level History is a two-year course assessed through two written examination papers and a non-examined assessment (NEA) — an independent historical investigation submitted before the exams and worth 20% of the final grade. Unlike most other A-Levels, History retains a significant piece of coursework in its reformed specification.
How is A-Level History assessed?
Under the AQA specification — one of the two most commonly used in England alongside OCR — A-Level History has the following three components.
| Component | Format | Duration | Weighting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Component 1: Breadth study | Written exam with source/interpretation essay | 2.5 hours | 40% |
| Component 2: Depth study | Written exam with essay questions | 1.5 hours | 40% |
| Component 3: Historical Investigation | Independent written coursework (NEA) | Submitted before exams | 20% |
All marks contribute to a single A*–E grade. The Historical Investigation is marked by the school and moderated externally by AQA.
What is the breadth study?
The breadth study in Component 1 covers a period of roughly 100 years and requires students to analyse change, continuity, and causation across a long time span. As well as factual essays, this component includes questions based on historical interpretations — extracts from historians' arguments — which students must evaluate and compare. The ability to argue with and about different historians' views is tested here more explicitly than anywhere else in the course.
Examples of breadth study topics available at AQA include: The making of modern Britain 1951–2007; The Tudors, 1485–1603; Stuart Britain and the Crisis of Monarchy, 1603–1702; and Industrialisation and the people 1783–1885. Schools choose their own topic from the list of approved options.
What is the depth study?
The depth study in Component 2 covers a shorter, more intense period of historical time, typically 30–50 years. The focus is on detailed knowledge of specific events, individuals, and turning points rather than overarching patterns of change.
Component 2 is entirely essay-based. Students answer two extended essay questions from a choice of three, each requiring a sustained argument supported by precise evidence. There are no source-based questions in this component.
Examples of depth study topics include: The French Revolution and the rule of Napoleon 1774–1815; Tsarist and Communist Russia 1855–1964; Democracy and Nazism: Germany 1918–1945; and The USA 1955–1992.
What is the Historical Investigation?
The Historical Investigation (Component 3) is an independent study essay of 3,000–3,500 words on a topic of the student's own choice, agreed with the teacher. It must be on a historical period or event that is different from — or involves a different perspective on — the two examined topics.
The investigation assesses:
- Knowledge and understanding of the chosen topic
- The ability to analyse historical interpretations (students must engage with historians' arguments, not just narrate events)
- Research skills — students are expected to read and reference multiple secondary sources
Students usually begin research in Year 12 and submit the completed investigation in the spring of Year 13. Teachers mark it using AQA's mark scheme; AQA then moderates a sample of scripts from every school.
How is A-Level History graded?
A-Level History is graded A*, A, B, C, D, E. The A* grade requires at least 80% overall and at least 90% on the two written papers combined. The Historical Investigation does not contribute to the A* boundary.
| Component | Marks available | % of A-Level |
|---|---|---|
| Component 1 (breadth + interpretations) | 60 marks | 40% |
| Component 2 (depth essays) | 60 marks | 40% |
| Component 3 (NEA) | 40 marks | 20% |
| Total | 160 marks | 100% |
Because a significant proportion of the final grade comes from the coursework, students who submit a well-researched investigation with a strong interpretative argument give themselves an important head start before the exams.
Frequently asked questions
How long should the Historical Investigation be?
AQA specifies 3,000–3,500 words for the written investigation, excluding footnotes and bibliography. The investigation must engage critically with historians' interpretations, not simply summarise what happened. Students who treat the investigation as a narrative essay rather than a structured analytical argument typically lose marks on Assessment Objective 2 (analysis of different historical perspectives).
Does the coursework essay replace exam preparation?
No — and this is a common mistake. The Historical Investigation is submitted months before the exams, but it accounts for only 20% of the final grade. Students who pour disproportionate effort into the investigation at the expense of exam revision can find themselves disadvantaged on Components 1 and 2, which together account for 80%. Coursework is best completed steadily across Year 12 and early Year 13 so it does not displace exam preparation.
Is A-Level History useful for university if a student is not studying History?
Yes. A-Level History develops essay-writing, source analysis, and extended argumentation — skills valued across law, politics, economics, English, and social science degrees. Many admissions tutors for these subjects view a strong History A-Level as evidence that a student can write clearly under pressure and construct a sustained argument.
What GCSE History grade is needed to take A-Level History?
Most sixth forms require at least grade 6 in GCSE History (or a strong grade in a related humanities subject) to join the A-Level course. Some schools also look for a grade 6 in GCSE English Language, since the course is highly writing-intensive. Requirements vary.
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