GCSE History

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GCSE History

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About This Course

Cultivate your historical knowledge as you achieve an incredibly popular GCSE History qualification, right from the comfort of your own home.

This GCSE History online course seeks to nurture a solid base of historical knowledge that you can use to achieve further study, from A Levels to university. Our curriculum covers a wide range of important topics in modern world history, with a special emphasis on the historical developments of the United Kingdom and other contemporary European nations. It has been crafted to align with the curriculum followed in UK schools, ensuring that you can achieve the same qualification even while studying from home.

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Experience a stress-free revision journey, and embrace unlimited tutor support, comprehensive study guides, and personalised exam prep tailored to your needs. We even help with booking your exams, allowing you to focus entirely on your studies.

Please note: You are able to complete this course without sitting exams; however, in order to achieve a full GCSE History qualification, exams are mandatory.

Course Benefits

Split into 4 units, this course will allow you to understand and recall various historical events, including their causes and outcomes. You will also:

  • Achieve an internationally recognised GCSE qualification
  • Study on your own terms, no classrooms, and no stressful quizzes or deadlines
  • Receive high-quality support and feedback from our team of exam-expert personal tutors

Course Units

Qualification Number: 601/8217/9

3.2 Understanding the Modern World Section A – Period Studies 

Students will have a choice to study ONE of the following period studies:

  • America 1840-1895: Expansion and Consolidation
  • Germany 1890-1945: Democracy and Dictatorship
  • Russia 1894-1945: Tsardom and Communism
  • America 1920-1973: Opportunity and Inequality

3.2 Understanding the Modern World Section B – Wider World Depth Studies 

Students will have a choice to study ONE of the following wider world depth studies:

  • Conflict and Tension: The First World War, 1894-1918
  • Conflict and Tension: The Inter-War Years, 1918-1939
  • Conflict and Tension between East and West, 1945-1972
  • Conflict and Tension in Asia, 1950-1975
  • Conflict and Tension in the Gulf and Afghanistan, 1990-2009

3.3 Shaping the Nation Section A – Thematic Studies 

Students will have a choice to study ONE of the following thematic studies:

  • Britain: Health and the People: c1000 to the Present Day
  • Britain: Power and the People: c1170 to the Present Day
  • Britain: Migration, Empires, and the People: c790 to the Present Day

3.3 Shaping the Nation Section B – British Depth Studies 

Students will have a choice to study ONE of the following British depth studies:

  • Norman England: c1066-c1100
  • Medieval England: The Reign of King Edward I, 1272-1307
  • Elizabethan England: c1568-1603
  • Restoration England: 1660-1685

Assessment

GCSE History requires students to complete 2 written exams. They’re referred to as Paper 1, and Paper 2.

You will need to sit your exams under supervision at an exam centre. There is a separate fee for booking your exams, which will be paid directly to the exam centre at the time of booking. We’ll help you to book your exam when you feel ready to do so, however, we recommend booking as soon as possible to ensure your place. Exams take place in May and June.

Paper 1:

  • 2 hours written exam
  • 50% of overall GCSE History marks
  • Section A: Understanding the Modern World – Period Study
  • Section B: Understanding the Modern World – Wider World Depth Study

Paper 2:

  • 2 hours written exam
  • 50% of overall GCSE History marks
  • Section A: Shaping the Nation – Thematic Study
  • Section B: Shaping the Nation – British Depth Study

Required Knowledge

There are no knowledge or skill requirements to enrol on GCSE History.

Awarding Body

Upon successful completion of this course, you will receive an AQA GCSE History qualification.

Support

We know revision can be a daunting concept, but we believe it doesn’t have to be.

When you enrol to study your GCSE History online with us, you’ll benefit from the support of our dedicated exam-expert personal tutors, who will provide you with exam tips, helpful feedback, and self-assessment exercises.

Similarly, our friendly student support team are always on-hand to assist with any queries, big or small. They’ll also assist you in the booking of your exams, ensuring you’ll only have to focus on your studies.

It’s never been easier to study internationally recognised qualifications from home!

Frequently Asked Questions

This is a question that our team are often asked, there are many reasons but here are the main reasons to choose Association of Learning:

  • No hidden charges, the price you see includes everything, from tutoring to certification.
  • Our average tutor marking time is 3 working days (most providers are 10+).
  • Our customers have rated us ‘Excellent’ on Trustpilot.
  • Our courses are up to date. Many providers create course content and fail to keep it up to date.
  • We are open later than any other home learning provider.
  • As many submissions as you need to complete, many providers cap how many times you can submit work.
  • All courses are fully endorsed by external awarding organisations.
  • 14 day money back guarantee or course switch.

If you need any more reasons to choose Association of Learning, contact our team!


You have 2 years to complete this course, but can complete at a faster pace without any additional costs.

You will be able to take your exams at the nearest possible exam centre to you. We’ll assist in the booking of your exams and make sure you can get to the most practical location!

There are two payment options, pay in full for your course or monthly. Our monthly payment option allows you to spread the cost of your course over a 10 month period.

If you choose to pay using a payment plan, to apply you must be able to answer yes to the following:

  • Your billing address is based in the UK
  • You have a UK based bank account
  • Bill payer must be 18 or above.

No, all of our courses are distance learning which means your tutor will mark your work and send it back to you via email or by using our online portal.

Students who reside outside of the United Kingdom are able to study our GCSE courses. However, examinations must occur within the UK.


There are no prerequisites or required qualifications to study this course.

In other words, if you’re reading this, you’re ready!


This is a government-regulated qualification, with certification provided by an Ofqual-regulated awarding body.

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