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International A Level History Course

International A Level History Course has been designed to help students understand the significance of historical events, the role of individuals in history and the nature of change over time.

Our qualifications will help you to gain a deeper understanding of the past through political, social, economic and cultural perspectives. The topics given throughout the course will provide you with the knowledge and skills you require to succeed as AS and A-level historians.

General Certificate of Education in History

Enrolment Fee:

£495.00

Get 10% discount when ordering multiple A Level courses. Use the coupon code: ALEVEL10 at checkout

  • Cambridge
  • Full recognised qualification
  • IAS and/or IA2 Content Available
  • Enrol & start studying anytime.
  • Up to 24 months support
  • 360 Study Hours
  • Fast track available
  • Access to the online portal 24/7
  • eBooks provided
  • Practice exam papers
  • Predicted grade & reference
  • Same qualification as college

Description

The International A Level History course with Cambridge encourages learners to develop their independent thinking skills which in turn allows them to make informed judgements on historical issues.

Learners will also build upon their understanding of cause and consequence, continuity and change, similarity and difference, significance, interpretations and use of historical evidence.

The course will help learners build a strong foundation of knowledge and skills for further study within the subject area.

Please note: from 2027 this syllabus is not available to learners within the USA. If you require an A Level in History and want to sit exams within the USA, please contact us for other options.

Progression

If you are looking to complete a degree in History, there are many organisations who are keen to take on History graduates.  These firms include heritage organisations, museums and libraries.

The government and the public services also attract history graduates including the civil service, NHS, police and armed forces.

Courses which complement the A Level in History course include Classical Studies, English Language and English Literature.

Cambridge Specification

Awarding Body: Cambridge

Course Code: 9489

Study Hours:  Recommended 300 – 360 hrs

Exams Available: June & November (also March in India only)

Cambridge International Examinations (CIE)

This A’ Level History Course will help you understand the significance of historical events, the role of individuals in history and the nature of change over time. You will gain a deeper understanding of the past through political, social, economic and cultural perspectives. The engaging topics available will provide you with the knowledge and skills you require to succeed as AS and A-level historians.

Cambridge International A Level History provides a foundation for the study of history or related courses in higher education. Equally it is suitable as part of a course of general education.

How will I benefit from the International A Level History Cambridge course?

The aims of this course are to enable learners to:

  • expand their knowledge and understanding of key historical periods and events
  • develop their interest in the past and an appreciation of the collective efforts and achievements that have shaped our present
  • build confidence in working with historical concepts such as cause and consequence, change and continuity, similarity and difference, significance and interpretations
  • appreciate the nature and diversity of historical sources available, and how historians use them
  • discover a wide variety of approaches to different aspects of history and different interpretations of particular historical issues
  • develop independent thinking and make informed judgements on historical issues
  • develop an empathy with people living in different places and in different time periods
  • build a strong foundation of knowledge and skills for further study of history.

Key Concepts

The key concepts for Cambridge International AS & A Level History are:

Similarity and difference

The patterns of similarity and difference that exist between people, lived experiences, events and situations in the past.

Cause and consequence

The relationship in history between events, circumstances, actions and beliefs (cause) and the result, event or action that follows (consequence).

Change and continuity

How some aspects have changed over time (change) and how some have stayed the same (continuity) within a given time frame.

Significance

The importance given to events, individuals or ideas from the past. One person’s view of historical significance may not be the same as another’s, and views may change over time.

Interpretations

How the past is interpreted and presented by historians.

Cambridge History Content Overview

YEAR 1 – IAS

International option: International history, 1870–1945

  • Empire and the emergence of world powers, 1870–1919
  • The League of Nations and international relations in the 1920s
  • The League of Nations and international relations in the 1930s
  • China and Japan, 1912–45

Note: AS Level topics rotate between papers 1 and 2 year-on-year. The prescribed topic for Paper 1 in any given year is not used for Paper 2.

YEAR 2 – IA2

The Holocaust

  • The background of European and German anti- Semitism and racist theories
  • Nazi anti-Semitism and persecution of the Jews, 1933–41
  • The impact of war on Nazi policy towards the Jews
  • Ghettoisation and Jewish responses to the Holocaust
  • The development of Nazi extermination policies towards Jews and other minorities
  • Contemporary reactions to the Holocaust

European option, Depth study 1: European history in the interwar years, 1919–41

  • Theme 1: Mussolini’s Italy, 1919–41
  • Theme 2: Stalin’s Russia, 1924–41
  • Theme 3: Hitler’s Germany, 1929–41
  • Theme 4: Britain, 1919–39

Cambridge Assessment

There are three routes learners can take when completing exams for the History course with Cambridge

  1. AS Level Qualification only – Learners take all AS exam papers (Paper 1 & Paper 2) in one exam sitting.
  2. Full A Level over 2 years – At the end of year 1, learners take all AS exam papers (Paper 1 & Paper 2) in one exam sitting.  In a separate exam sitting at the end of year 2, learners then take all A2 papers (Paper 3 & Paper 4).  If learners achieve a pass in all four papers, they will be awarded their Full A Level in History.
  3. Full A Level – Learners take all papers for AS and A2 in one sitting (Paper 1, Paper 2, Paper 3 & Paper 4).

Exam Papers

Paper 1: Document question

Written Examination: 1 hour 15 minutes

Availability: June and November

Assessment Overview: Candidates answer one two-part document

question on one of the options given.

40 marks

Paper 2: Outline Study

Time: 1 hour 45 minutes

Availability: June and November

Assessment overview: Section A: Three data response questions (30 marks)

Section B: One structured question from a choice of three (30 marks)

60 marks

Paper 3: Interpretations question

Written examination: 1 hour 15 minutes

Availability: June and November

Assessment overview: Candidates answer one interpretations question on one of the options given in the syllabus.

40 marks

Paper 4: Depth Study

Practical examination: 1 hour 45 minutes

Availability: June and November

Assessment overview: Candidates answer two questions on their chosen depth study.

60 marks

Q&A

You do not need any prior learning knowledge or experience to take this course. This course is openly available to anyone who wishes to take part in a highly rewarding home study course, although you would be expected to have a reasonable standard of literacy.

You have the freedom to start the course at any time and continue your studies at your own pace for a period of up to 2 years from initial registration with the full support of your Tutor. You do not have to wait until September, when a traditional school starts. 

Once you enrol, you will have access to our online portal 24/7. Here you will find study materials that have been specially prepared by your tutor, there will be assessments, study notes, eBooks and assignments all relating to your course. Everything in this course is structured to follow the course specification, so all topics and units cover everything you need to learn. Your tutor will mark your work and give you written feedback on areas you need to improve or explain what you have done well. You can also ask your tutor questions if you get stuck on a topic or need something explaining a little more. 

When you approach the exams, your tutor will set you a series of practise exam papers so that you can know what to expect in your exam, and you can go into them feeling confident.

You will be provided with eBooks for this course. If you want to purchase physical books in addition, then we can provide you with the book ISBN numbers.

Students will be required to arrange and pay for their examinations (including any practicals they wish to take) at an approved centre. We can provide an extensive list of these centres for you.

Most of our A Levels are available internationally. We offer A Levels with three different awarding bodies, AQA, Cambridge and Edexcel. If the course is only available via the AQA awarding body then of course you can still take our course, however the exams must be taken in the UK.

Cambridge, and Edexcel both have international exam centres, so you may be able to take the exams locally to you. Should you need any help, then please do get in touch and we can assist you on this. 

We recommend that you are able to dedicate between 300 and 360 hours’ study time, plus additional time for completing assignments.

Yes, you can work at your own pace to complete this course. Despite having 24 months Tutor Support, once you enrol you will be asked when you wish to complete, and your tutor can work along side you to achieve this.

For example, any A-Level course undertaken has a recommended 360 guided learning hours. Breaking down a 360 hour course into 12 weeks, you would need to be able to commit to 30 hours per week of studying. It is entirely up to you the amount of time you can commit to studying. But with online learning, having the flexibility is a real advantage. This allows you to set the pace. Take your time or Fast-track, get the qualification when you need it.

Yes you will gain UCAS points and these depend on your final grade once you have completed your exams. 

For more information about UCAS points, please click here

All of our A Level awarding bodies will give you a full A Level qualification. There will be slight differences between the specifications and what you will actually learn. 

For the Science courses (Biology, Chemistry, and Physics), there would be a difference in how you sit practical elements. 

AQA offers practicals but they are optional.

With the Cambridge exam board, you will be expected to perform the practical elements, they are compulsory. Which means finding an exam centre that has a lab for you to complete this. 

With Edexcel, the practical elements are all taught in theory and are assessed via a written exam, therefore you can sit your full exam at a typical Edexcel approved exam centre. 

More information about science practicals can be found here. 

In most cases yes, what we would ask is for the course codes that you have taken in sixth form/college and we will see if we can match them up. 

In most cases you can, If you go to the individual course page you should be able to see if this option is available for you. 

It is recommended that you aim to book your examinations 4/6 month prior to sitting them to avoid late entry fee charges.  Additionally, we would advise that you contact a few exam centres and find out the best price, as they can fluctuate greatly. 

You will sit the same exam as thousands of students across the country in an exam centre, and achieve the same qualification as everyone else. A-Level qualifications are recognised by the world’s best universities and employers, giving students a wide range of options in their education and career.

Just like sitting your A Levels in a school, your tutor will be able to provide you with predicted grades, and references for university applications. 

Of course, all of our courses are tailored to cover the entire specification and are split into topics. You will have assignments to complete on every topic where your tutor will give you feedback. If you are struggling with an aspect then you can message your tutor and they can provide more information for you.

As your exams approach, your tutor will set a series of exam papers for you to take, so you can get a feel for the real thing.

If you complete all of your assignments, and your practise exam papers then there is no reason why you shouldn’t achieve a top grade. 

What support will I receive?

The course will be delivered online and it will include Tutor Support for two years. All assignments are marked by one of our professional tutors who will offer regular feedback and guide you through your course. Postal assignments cannot be accepted without prior permission from the tutor and you must have access to email in order to contact your Tutor.

Throughout your course, you’ll have the support of a Tutor to guide you. Additionally, you can reach out to your Student Liaison Team for help with any other questions you may have. You can be assured that you will receive unlimited support for your home study course, so there is no need to struggle or feel isolated during your studies.

How do International Online A Levels work?

If you are a learner based outside the UK wishing to complete A Levels, you would need to opt for our International A Levels with either Cambridge or Edexcel. These awarding bodies allow you to sit exams worldwide.

For International A Levels, you will receive two years access to the learner portal along with tutor support. Marked and graded assignments are included with the course along with practise mock exam papers.

Learners applying to university can receive help with references and predicted grades. We provide support for UCAS, the Common App or direct applications.

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