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History – GCSE

Exam Board: Edexcel
Specification Number: 1HIB GK

What will be studied

Paper 1 – Crime and Punishment
Paper 2 – Elizabeth I and Cold War
Paper 3 – Weimar and Nazi Germany

Learning Methods

Source analysis, evaluation based, skills are crucial at GCSE history. Historians must question
evidence critically from a range of views. It is this process that allows us to learn about the
past. To do this, historians must question what the source offers: who made it, where was it
made, when was it made and why may it have been made? Are there signs of bias? Is the
source propaganda? By linking their analysis to their knowledge of the period surrounding
the source, they are able to effectively analyse information.
In their own written responses in history, reaching a justified judgement requires the ability
to produce a balanced answer before reaching a conclusion. Well-supported explanations,
based on facts from the period in study, is a necessity; chronological awareness is central to
factual arguments in history.

Expectations of Students

Historians must enjoy writing and developing their opinions via their written responses.
Likewise, they must be willing to discuss their opinions and develop them wherever possible.
Extra work, outside of class, will allow for any responses to be based on facts and good
knowledge of the topic being studied.

How is the course assessed

x4 written examinations.

What websites are recommended

BBC History Bitesize
www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/zj26n39
www.johndclare.net/
https://quizlet.com/en-gb/content/gcse-history-revision

Career Paths/Next Steps

History is a great subject for any career. It demonstrates good communication skills,
academic ability and offers you to look at life from a range of viewpoints more effectively.
Some career choices include law, teaching, journalism and politics, but these are just some of
many.