Fast Track A Level History

Fast Track A Level History Course Content

The whole ‘A’ level has SIX (6) specific units of study, with their own TMAs with the final unit (unit 6) being the coursework component. Units of learning are:

Fast Track A Level History Units: One & Two –  Communist States in the Twentieth Century –

Russia 1917–91: from Lenin to Yeltsin

These two units comprise a study in breadth, in which you will learn about the key political, social and economic features of communist rule in Russia and the USSR during the twentieth century. This era saw the authority and influence of Russia rise to the status of a superpower, only to diminish and decline later in the century. This option also contains a study in depth of historical interpretations on a broad key question: the reasons for the fall of the USSR, c1985–91.

Fast Track A Level History Unit: Three –  Communist States in the Twentieth Century –

Mao’s China

This unit comprises a study in depth of the transformation of communist China in the years 1949–76. The aftershocks of these changes are still being felt today as China emerges as a great economic and political power on the world stage. By studying this unit, you will gain an in-depth understanding of the nature and extent of change in this period, the effects of Mao Zedong’s policies on the lives of the Chinese people, and Mao’s role in driving dramatic political, social and economic changes.

Fast Track A Level History Unit: Four – The British Experience of Warfare c1790-1918 –

The Napoleonic Wars and the Crimean War

This unit comprises two parts: the Aspects in breadth focus on long-term changes and contextualise the Aspects in depth, which focus in detail on key episodes. Together, the breadth and depth topics explore the British experience of war in different aspects of major overseas conflicts; in this unit we study the Napoleonic Wars and the Crimean War and the changing relationship between the state and the people as the government attempted to create an effective fighting machine and prepare the people for war. Within the primarily military focus on the experience of warfare, this option also gives students the opportunity to explore its political, social and economic dimensions and their part in generating pressure for change.

Fast Track A Level History Unit: Five – The British Experience of Warfare c1790-1918 –

The Second Boer War and the First World War

This unit comprises two parts: the Aspects in breadth focus on long-term changes and contextualise the Aspects in depth, which focus in detail on key episodes. Together, the breadth and depth topics explore the British experience of war in different aspects of major overseas conflicts; in this unit we study the Second Boer War and the First World War and the changing relationship between the state and the people as the government attempted to create an effective fighting machine and prepare the people for war. Within the primarily military focus on the experience of warfare, this option also gives students the opportunity to explore its political, social and economic dimensions and their part in generating pressure for change.

Fast Track A Level History Unit Six: – Historical Enquiry

Coursework unit

All candidates wishing to obtain an A level in History through Pearson Edexcel Awarding Body must complete the coursework option. With guidance from the tutor, a student is able within the framework set, able to choose a topic of interest that is coherent with the syllabus.

Oxford College advise students to choose a topic from units one to five, and with the expertise of the course tutor team, will be able to present a coherent piece of coursework.

The coursework component is marked initially at OLC (Completed internal TMA’s do not form part of this final grading outcome for the student). As stated above, once the coursework is marked, the college submit your work to the examiner for the final moderated grade which will be added to the aggregate of your final award.

Further Reading

Although the course programme is ‘self contained’ the student may wish to obtain further materials in regards to learning. The following materials are in the main useful, but not essential to guide learning: –

Textbooks for Learning Methods

Andrew Northedge – The Good Study Guide Open University

All of the above can also be obtained in an electronic format.

Assessment

Awarding Body Syllabus

The course does not as standard have any ‘course work’ element and is therefore, has an end loaded final assessment by a THREE (3) papers across the four syllabus units of learning, that amount to 6 hours in total examination time.

To ensure that the three assessment objectives (AOs) are clearly placed and assessed prior to the final examination, the TMA’s are weighted in accordance with these AO statements below:

AO1: Demonstrate, organise and communicate knowledge and understanding to analyse and evaluate the key features related to the periods studied, making substantiated judgements and exploring concepts, as relevant, of cause, consequence, change, continuity, similarity, difference and significance

AO2: Analyse and evaluate appropriate source material, primary and/or contemporary to the period, within its historical context

AO3: Analyse and evaluate, in relation to the historical context, different ways in which aspects of the past have been interpreted