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HISTORY
EXAMINATION BOARD
:
AQA
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF COURSE
“Those who ignore History are condemned to repeat it.”
History allows students to gain knowledge and understanding of the world in which they live today. Topics
are chosen for their relevance to modern society and links to events taking place around the world. History
encourages students to think independently and to ask questions and make judgments. History students train
their minds to assemble, organise and present facts and opinions.
Students will encounter a variety of teaching techniques from role-play, discussion and debate to group work
and personal reflection. They will also see the subject brought to life through ICT and authentic footage.
Students will have numerous opportunities to take part in extra-curricular activities. The department wishes
to organise out of school learning opportunities for all GCSE and A-Level students both in the UAE and
abroad.
METHODS OF ASSESSMENT
The two externally assessed examined units will be sat in summer 2018. These examinations all require
students to develop their writing skills, and in this respect History can be as challenging as English. As
well as being assessed on specific historical skills, students will be expected to use all they have learned
in English to produce a high standard of written communication. Source analysis skills are essential and
students will be taught to rigorously evaluate evidence to form an opinion and answer questions. The two
distinct parts to the course are outlined below;
Paper 1 Understanding the modern world (50%)
America, 1920–1973: Opportunity and inequality
Conflict and tension, 1918–1939
Paper 2 Shaping the nation (50%)
Britain: Health and the people: c1000 to the present day
Elizabethan England, c1568–1603
ENTRY INFORMATION
This is an open entry subject with no higher/lower tiers. All students will attempt common examination
papers, which will contain questions of graded difficulty requiring answers of varying lengths.
CAREERS
History is accepted as an academic subject by all universities and educational institutions. It provides an
excellent training for anyone interested in following a career that involves working with people and an
understanding of what motivates them. These might include law, journalism, personnel management, the
police force and positions in local and central government.
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