A-Level History

• Course Code: OLL100
• Award Level 3, Similar to - A-Level

An interesting and insightful subject that delivers a broad knowledge of modern history and politics.

• Gain the skills to analyse and discuss past and future periods and gain an extended knowledge and conversational ability.
• Look back at historical figures such as Reagan, Churchill, Stalin and Kennedy.

Course Content

AS Level

Historical Themes in Breadth

Unit 1: A World Divided: Communism and Democracy in the 20th Century

• Stalin's Russia 1924-1953
• The struggle for power - the making of the vozhd in 1924-1929: personalities and policies.
• Transforming the Soviet Union: the collectivisation of agriculture and it's social and economic impact; industrialisation and it's economic and social impact; the three five year plans; changing social policies.
• Persecution and control: the origins and course of the purges; culture and the arts in the service of the totalitarian regime.
• The making of a superpower: the Great Patriotic War, devestation, war production; victory.

Politics, Presidency and Society in the USA, 1968-2001

• The presidencies of Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush and Clinton; reasons for the outcomes of elections; Watergate and constitional issues to which it gave rise.
• Social issues and their political impact; feminism, the rights of minorities; religious belief; the importance of the Supreme Court.
• Popular culture: the media, flim, television, radio and journalism; the importance of sport for race relations.
• The debate over the role of the state in the economy - Reagan and the New Right: 'Reaganomics' and free market ideas.

Exam Format:
Candidates must choose 1 questions from two on each of the above topics. The examination is one hour and 20 minutes long in total, with each question allocated 40 minutes.

British History Depth Studies

Unit 2: Britain in the Later 20th Century: Responding to Change

British Political History 1945-1990: Consensus and Conflict

• The Labour election victory of 1945: reasons for it and key features of domestic policy of Labour governments of 1945-1951; extent to which this was an 'age of austerity'.
• The Conservative governement of 1951-1964; extent of continuity with Labour objectives; key features of deomestic policy (economic management, housing, unemployment); rising living standards.
• Labour and Conservative governments 1964-1979: reasons for growing domestic problems (inflation, wages policy, relations with trade unions).
• The Conservative election victory of 1979; reasons for it and key features of the demotic policy of Thatcher government; domestic achievements; reasons why the Thatcher era was controversial; reasons for her fall in 1990.

Exam Format:
Students will be required to answer two source-based questions. There will be approximately 7-9 unseen courses of approximately 550 words in total. These sources will only be made available with the exam paper and not beforehand.

The first question is worth 20 marks and will focus on the student reaching a judgement by analysis, cross-referencing and evaluation of source material. The second question is worth 40 marks and asks candidates to address a historical view or claim using two of the sources along with their own knowledge. There will be a choice of questions.

The examination is one hour and 20 minutes long in total.

AS total examining time - 2 hours and 40 minutes (50% of full A-Level)

A2 Level

Unit 3: War and Peace: 20th Century International Relations

A World Divided: Superpower Relations 1944-1990

• The post Stalin thaw and bid for peasful coexistence; Khrushcev and the response of Dulles, Eisenhower and Kennedy.
• The arms race, 1949-1963: Nuclear technology; delivery systems, the Cuban missile crisis; the Test Ban Treaty.
• Sino-Soviet relations, 1946-1976: alliance to confrontation in Asia and it's impact on US policy.
• Detente, 1969-1980: the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) and agreements; Helsinki Accords; the impact of economic realities
• Associated controversies: Why did the Cold War between the superpowers emerge in the years to 1953? Why did the Cold War come to an end on the 1980's.

Exam Format
There are two sections - A & B. Candidates are required to answers one questions from Section A and one questions from Section B. Section A is worth 30 marks while section B is worth 40 marks.

In section A, the essay question will have an analytical focus and will require candidates to reach substantiated judgements on a historical issue or problem.

In section B, candidates are provided with between five and six unseen secondary sources of approximately 400 words in total per question.

The question will require candidates to compare the source material while exploring an issue of historical debate, and then reach substantiated judgements in the light of their own knowledge of the issues of interpretation and controversy. The examination is 2 hours in total.

Total A2 Level examining time - 2 hours (excluding coursework)

Unit 4: Coursework

At A2 level students must complete compulsory coursework but students can choose the area of History they wish to study. Full details of the coursework and the suggested subject option for this module can be found on pages 61-95 of the Edexcel website. (www.edexcel.com)

Students must complete their coursework programme in two parts:
Part A - Involves the completion of an in-depth enquiry into the short term significance of a key event, individual, development or movement within the period of their chosen study.
Parb B - Requires the student to set their chosen event or individual in a broader context, exploring the process of change of a wider historical timeframe.

Total A-Level examining time - 4 hours 40 minutes (coursework additional)

Assessment

Unit One (AS Level) Worth 25% of total A-Level
Unit Two (AS Level) Worth 25% of total A-Level
Unit Three (A2 Level) Worth 30% of total A-Level
Unit Four (A2 Level) Worth 20% of the total A-Level (Coursework)

Study Method

The course is designed for study by distance learning at home or at work. Students receive course materials via an online student campus plus tutor support for 2 years. Student logins for the online student campus will be sent within 5 working days.

PLEASE NOTE
You will recieve your registration to your online learning campus and student community and a licence to print your course materials. Students will recieve the licence for one print only, so please ensure that you have enough paper and ink to print the full course materials if required.

Students will need one of the following packages on your computer to access the online campus.

Windows: Windows 98, 2000, XP, Vista, Windows 7 - Acrobat Reader 4.0 and above.
Mac: Mac OS X, Mac OS 9.2 - Acrobat Reador 4.0 and above.

Qualifications

This course prepares students for A-Level History for examination in 2012 and later years. Once you have successfully completed the examinations you will receive an A-Level in History.

Course Questions & Answers

Q: Is this the same as an A-Level from a School or College?

Yes! You study the same coursework, take the same examinations and get the same qualification, the difference is that the course is designed to be studied from home and our expert tutor support is available via email.

Q: What skills are needed to enrol onto this course?

You will preferably have a reasonable grade GCSE or "O" Level in History as the concepts in the A-Level History course follow on and use some of the knowledge you will have gained, this is not essential and don't be discouraged if you don't have this qualification already.

Q: Is there a time limit for completion of this course?

We provide you with a full 24 months to complete your home learning course, this is a lot more time than you need so that you can study at your own pace and in your own time without the pressure of tight deadlines – this course is truly flexible and aimed at being adaptable around your lifestyle.

Q: What is included in the cost of my course?

• Study guide
• Access to the online student campus
• Personal tutor support
• Assignment marking and feedback
• Accreditation

Q: Do I have to sit an exam?

Yes, you will need to take the standard A-Level examinations in order to fully complete this course. The examinations run on specific dates which can be obtained by visiting the EDEXCEL website. Students will be required to book and pay for examinations and manage the coursework element if the subject requires this.

Q: Is there a required reading list?

Yes, you will be required to study from the following textbooks:

• Britain Since 1945: A political History. Fifth Edition, Childs, D (Routledge, 6th ed, 2004)
• Access to History: Politics, Presidency & Society in the USA 1968-2001, Vivienne Sanders (Hodder & Stoughton, Oct 2008)
• Access to History: Stalin's Russian, 1924 -1953, Lynch, M (Hodder Murrary, July 2009)
• A2 Edexcel GCE History: A World Divided: Superpower Relations, 1944-1960 (Heinemann, July 2009)

Textbooks can be purchased from any good bookshop or you can purchase them directly from us.

Q: Are there any additional costs?

You may want to purchase additional recommended books and you will generally be required to pay a small fee to take your examinations at the examining centre that you choose. Arrangements for taking exams need to be made by the student.

Q: What do I do if I still have questions?

For further information please contact us.