A-Level guide · checked October 2026
A-Level History, explained simply
Big periods of history in breadth and in depth, chosen by your child's sixth form, plus an independent coursework essay. This page shows how each board sets the papers, the marks typically needed for each grade, and how to master sources, interpretations and essays.
- 2 or 3 exams
- Coursework essay (20%)
- Topics chosen by the school
- Grades A* to E
Exam board
Not sure which board? Ask your child's school, or check the front of a mockA practice exam, usually set by school a few months before the real thing. paper.
The exams at a glance
AQA A-Level History (7042). 2 exams and coursework, 5 hours of exams and 200 marks in total.
Specification: AQA A-Level History (7042)
What's in the exams
Each sixth form chooses its own periods from the board's list, so ask which ones your child is studying. The shares are each part's weight in the final grade.
- Breadth study (about 100 years)40%
- Depth study40%
- Historical investigation (coursework)20%
How the grading works
How the grading works
Everyone sits the same papers. The marks are added up and the total decides the grade, from A* down to E. Every board includes a coursework essay worth 20%. Because sixth forms choose different topics, each board publishes separate boundaries for every combination, so there is no single table to show here.
The marks needed in June 2026
Across all topic combinations (all out of 200): AQA needed 153 to 168 for an A*, 130 to 145 for an A and 109 to 122 for a B. Edexcel needed 172 to 176 for an A*, 158 to 161 for an A and 135 to 138 for a B. OCR needed 146 to 157 for an A*, 130 to 141 for an A and 110 to 120 for a B.
Past paper mock builder
Pick an exam series and we'll set out the full AQA mock: which papers to sit, how long to allow and where to download them. Then type in your marks to see your total and percentage.
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Component 1, June 2026 · Breadth study · 2 hours 30 minutes
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Component 2, June 2026 · Depth study · 2 hours 30 minutes
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Non-exam assessment, June 2026 · Historical investigation, 3,500 to 4,500 words
Download the papers and mark schemes: AQA official past papers or Save My Exams past papers. Exam boards keep the most recent series for schools only for a while, so if the newest one isn't there, take the one before.
Enter your marks for each paper to see your total and percentage.
What History is really about
Where the word comes from
"History" comes from the Greek historia, "inquiry" or "knowledge gained by investigation".
Where it comes from
Modern academic history owes much to 19th-century historians such as Leopold von Ranke in Berlin, who insisted on studying original documents. In Britain the Public Record Office, now The National Archives at Kew, was founded in 1838 to keep the government's records, which A-Level students can still explore today.
Why it's still taught
History builds the ability to research, weigh evidence and argue a case, skills prized in law, journalism, politics and business. It is respected by universities for a wide range of degrees, especially history, law, politics and English.
How to do well in A-Level History
Read widely around each period
Top answers show knowledge beyond the textbook. Read a range of historians.
Learn to handle interpretations
Several papers ask students to judge historians' views. Practise explaining and weighing them.
Use precise evidence
Dates, names and statistics make arguments convincing.
Plan the coursework carefully
The coursework essay is 20%. Choose a focused question and start early.
Write with a clear judgement
Essays need a clear argument from the first paragraph to the last.
Practise timed essays
History papers are essay-heavy. Practise planning and writing to time.
The three best places to revise
Our teachers' picks. We have no connection with these sites.
The National Archives education service
Free original sources and lessons on many A-Level topics.
History Today
Articles by historians, great for wider reading; some free.
Massolit
Short video lectures by academics on many A-Level history topics. Often free through schools.
Questions parents ask
Not sure where your child stands?
Our free 45-minute assessment often uses a real past paperA real exam from a previous year, used for practice., so you'll know their likely grade and exactly what to work on. Lessons online across the UK, or at our seven London hubs.