AQA GCSE History: everything you need to know

If you’re taking AQA GCSE History, this guide will walk you through exactly what to expect, from how the exam is structured to how to prepare effectively.

Whether you’re just starting revision or getting closer to exam day, understanding the exam format, mark schemes, and key topics will help you feel calm, confident, and in control.

Key takeaways

• AQA GCSE History is made up of two exam papers, testing different historical skills.
• You’ll be assessed on knowledge, source analysis, and extended writing.
• Grade boundaries change each year, but past data can help you set realistic targets.
• Practising exam-style questions is one of the best ways to improve your marks.

What’s the format for AQA History GCSE?

The AQA GCSE History exam consists of the following:

• Two written exam papers with a total of 168 marks available
• Both papers are 2 hours long
• Each paper is worth 84 marks

There is no non-exam assessment (coursework). Your final grade is based entirely on the two exams.

What’s the difference between Papers 1 and 2 for AQA History?

The two papers are the same percentage of your overall grade, but they test different parts of the History course and different historical skills.

Paper 1: Understanding the modern world

This paper focuses on modern history (from around 1700 to the present day) and examines how events unfolded in Britain and the wider world.

The paper is split into two parts:

• Period study
  You’ll answer questions following key developments in a specific time period (for example, Germany or Russia in the late 19th and 20th centuries).
  
• Wider world depth study
  You’ll answer questions on an international topic, often linked to conflict and tension, studied in more detail (such as the First World War or the Cold War).

In this paper, you’ll be asked to:

• Answer a range of short and longer questions
• Analyse historical sources
• Explain causes, consequences, and significance of events

Examiners are looking for clear explanations of what happened and why, backed up with strong evidence.

Paper 2: Shaping the nation

This paper focuses on British history across time, helping you understand how Britain changed and why those changes matter. It includes both long-term themes and an in-depth study of a specific period, with the historic environment linked to that period.  

You’ll answer questions in two main parts:

• Thematic study
  You’ll answer questions on how one theme (such as health, power, or migration) changed over hundreds of years.
  
• British depth study (including the historic environment)
  You’ll answer questions about a specific period of British history and a historic site associated with it. 

In this paper, you’ll be assessed on:

• Explaining change and continuity (what changed and what stayed the same over time)
• Analysing historical interpretations
• Writing clear, structured, extended answers that use evidence and explain historical ideas

Overall, it assesses how well you can link historical ideas over time and explain them in depth.  

What are examiners looking for?

AQA History examiners assess your work using clear assessment objectives. In simple terms, they want to see that you can:

• AO1: Show accurate knowledge and understanding of historical events, people, and periods
• AO2: Explain and analyse historical concepts such as cause, consequence, similarity, difference, and significance
• AO3: Analyse and evaluate sources and historical interpretations

To reach the top grades, you’ll need to:

• Use specific factual detail

Examiners want to see that you really know the topic. This means naming key people, dates, laws, events, and places rather than writing in vague terms. Precise facts help prove your understanding and push your answer into the higher mark bands.

• Answer the question directly

Always focus on exactly what the question is asking. Read it carefully, underline key words, and keep referring back to them in your answer. Avoid writing everything you know; only include information that helps answer that specific question.

• Structure your answers clearly

Well-structured answers are much easier for examiners to reward. A clear way to do this is to use the PEEL structure (Point, Evidence, Explain, Link), which helps you stay focused and fully develop your ideas.

You can learn how to use this effectively in our guide: How to use the PEEL technique to write an effective essay.

• Explain why events happened, not just what happened

Top answers go beyond describing events. You need to explain the reasons behind them and, where relevant, their effects or importance. 

Ask yourself: Why did this happen? What did it lead to? Why does it matter?

What are the grade boundaries for AQA History?

It’s important to remember that the exact grade boundaries for your GCSE exams will change every year. Exam boards adjust grade boundaries after an exam, depending on the exam's difficulty and how the cohort performed.

This is so students don’t have an advantage or disadvantage because of the year they took the paper. For example, if your paper were harder, grade boundaries would be lowered so that a grade 5 reflects the same level of knowledge as in previous years.

To give a sense of what to expect, here are the grade boundaries for AQA History GCSE from the last year:

‍

What key topics do I need to know for AQA History?

The exact topics are chosen by your school, so you’ll only study one option from each list below.

Period studies (Paper 1)

These focus on a medium-length time period and follow key developments.

Your school will choose one of:

• America, 1840–1895 (expansion and consolidation)
• Germany, 1890–1945 (democracy and dictatorship)
• Russia, 1894–1945 (tsardom and communism)
• America, 1920–1973 (opportunity and inequality)

These topics primarily cover modern history (the late 19th and 20th centuries).

Wider world depth studies (Paper 1)

These focus on international conflict over a shorter, more detailed time period.

Your school will choose one of:

• The First World War, 1894–1918
• The inter-war years, 1918–1939
• East–West relations (Cold War), 1945–1972
• Conflict in Asia, 1950–1975
• The Gulf and Afghanistan, 1990–2009

These topics are all 20th- and early 21st-century global history.

Thematic studies (Paper 2)

These examine long-term change in Britain, often spanning hundreds of years.

Your school will choose one of:

• Health and the people (c1000–present)
• Power and the people (c1170–present)
• Migration, empires and the people (c790–present)

These topics help you understand how and why things changed over time, and what stayed the same.

British depth studies (Paper 2)

These focus on a specific period of British history, studied in detail and linked to the historic environment.

Your school will choose one of:

• Norman England, c1066–c1100
• Medieval England: Edward I, 1272–1307
• Elizabethan England, c1568–1603
• Restoration England, 1660–1685

These topics mainly cover medieval and early modern Britain.

Remember: You don’t need to learn all of these options, just the four topics your school has chosen. 

Where can I find past papers and mark schemes?

Practising with past papers and mark schemes is one of the most effective ways to prepare for GCSE History.

Past papers help you understand question styles, see how marks are awarded, and build confidence with real exam timing and structure.

Head to the AQA website to find past papers and mark schemes from previous History exams. 

How can I prepare for AQA History?

Here are 5 top tips to help you prepare confidently for your AQA GCSE History exams.

1. Master your historical explanation skills

GCSE History isn’t just about knowing facts, it’s about explaining them clearly.

When you revise a topic, always ask yourself:

• Why did this happen?
  
• What were the causes or consequences?
  
• Why is this event important?

Make sure you can link events together and explain how one thing led to another.

Top tip: Try explaining a topic out loud as if you’re teaching someone else; it’s a great way to check whether you really understand it.

2. Practise writing little and often

History exams involve extended writing, so regular practice really matters.

• Practise writing PEE/PEEL paragraphs (Point, Evidence, Explain, Link) to keep your answers focused
  
• Use specific facts (dates, names, events) as evidence
  
• Get used to writing under timed conditions

Top tip: Short practice answers done regularly are more effective than long revision sessions once in a while.

3. Get confident with sources and interpretations

In both papers, you’ll be asked to work with sources and interpretations.

When practising:

• Look closely at what the source shows
• Think about who created it, when, and why
• Always link your answer back to the question

For interpretation questions, focus on why historians might disagree, not just what they say.

Top tip: Don’t describe the source, explain what it shows and why that matters.

4. Practise with past papers and mark schemes

Past papers are one of the best ways to improve your exam performance.

• Use them to understand question wording
• Practise planning answers before you write
• Check your work against the AQA mark schemes to see what examiners reward

Top tip: After each paper, note which question types you found hardest and focus your revision there next.

5. Mimic test conditions

The more familiar the exam feels, the calmer you’ll be on the day.

• Sit full papers under timed conditions
• Avoid using notes while practising
• Afterwards, reflect: Did I manage my time well? Did I answer every question fully?

Top tip: Break each question down and decide how many minutes you’ll spend on it before you start writing.

AQA GCSE History rewards clear thinking, strong structure, and confident explanation. With the right preparation and regular practice, you’ll go into the exam knowing exactly what’s expected and how to show it.

Save this guide and come back to it as you revise. You’ve got this.

‍