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The Heathland School

The Heathland School

Key Stage 4

GCSE History

Assessment Details

Paper One: 1 hour 15 minute examination. This paper asks questions on the British Thematic Study and the Historic Environment. (30% of final grade.)
Paper Two: 1 hour 45 minute examination. This paper tests on The Period Study and the British Depth Study. (40% of final grade.)
Paper Three: 1 hour 20 minute examination. This paper tests on the Modern Depth Study.  (30% of final grade.)

Course Information

Paper One-

  • Thematic Study
    • Crime and punishment in Britain, c.1000-present
    • A sweeping study across a thousand year period to assess the nature of crime and punishment over time
  • Historic Environment
    • Whitechapel, c.1870-1900: crime, policing and the inner city
    • Enquiry into an historic area in fine detail
    • Investigate the lives of people in this area, as well as some of the crimes that took place, such as those carried out by Jack the Ripper

Paper Two-

  • Period Study
    • Superpower relations and the Cold War, 1941-91
    • Investigate how two super powers were created after the Second World War, and a period of tension between these two powers
  • British Depth Study
    • Early Elizabethan England: 1558-88
    • Analyse how Elizabeth established herself as a successful and popular female monarch

Paper Three-

  • Modern Depth Study
    • Weimar and Nazi Germany, 1918-39
    • Assess the formation of democracy, then dictatorship, in post-World War One Germany

Steps to Success in GCSE History

  1. Ensure all your notes are up-to-date. After each lesson re-read your notes and ensure you understand them. If you are absent, copy up work missed immediately.
  2. Organise your classwork clearly and neatly. Use underlined headings, different coloured pens, etc.
  3. Ensure homework contains sufficient detail and uses correct historical language and concepts.
  4. Revise thoroughly for tests, assessments and examinations. Make your own separate revision notes. These can be used again later.
  5. Make sure you understand the different examination techniques for answering different types of questions.
  6. Use the History Department website by accessing the FROG site.
  7. History teachers will be available in 117R during lunchtime.  This is a good time to come and ask for guidance or help if required.
  8. Use timelines to develop your sense of chronology.
  9. When answering source based questions, always support the detail of the source with your own knowledge.
  10. Make mind maps at the end of each topic and complete practice questions.
  11. Make use of the past papers that are available on the Edexcel website. Use the mark schemes to help to check understanding and improve examination technique.
  12. Make keyword dictionaries and make sure that you know how to use each word in an examination answer.
  13. Make sure you know which topics could come up on Paper One, Paper Two and Paper Three.
  14. Be aware of the different styles of questions that appear on Paper One, Paper Two and paper Three.

Useful websites:

www.activehistory.co.uk (user name: heathland, password: history546)
www.schoolhistory.co.uk
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/history
http://www.johndclare.net
http://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-gcses/history2016

  1. GCSE History OverviewPDF File

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