Pathways Guide 2024 - Flipbook - Page 6
History GCSE
What we aim to achieve
What skills do I need?
History is an exciting and interesting subject
to study. Knowledge of the past is essential in
helping us to understand and make sense of what
is happening now. Through the study of key events
and individuals from the past, you will learn how
they have shaped the world we live in today. You
will not only gain valuable general knowledge
about the past and the present, but also learn a
range of useful skills that will help you with your
post-16 studies. These include improving your
communication and writing skills, how to construct
an argument, research and problem-solving skills
and analytical and interpretation skills. All these
skills are also valued and extremely useful for any
future careers.
History is a challenging subject at GCSE requiring good
reading and writing skills. You will continue to develop
many of the skills you have already begun to use in
KS3 History; such as answering key questions using
evidence and well developed explanation, analysing
sources and interpretations and constructing
arguments to justify different views on events and
people in the past. GCSE History is very important in
helping support the skills necessary in other subjects,
as well supporting post 16 education choices and
careers.
Course outline
You will be studying the Edexcel GCSE course,
which includes five key areas of study:
• A development of the study of medicine from
1250AD to the present day
• A study of an historic environment – the British
sector of the Western Front
• An in depth study of Weimar and Nazi Germany
from 1919 - 1939
• An in depth study of Elizabethan England from
1558 – 1588
• A period study of the Cold War from 1941- 1991
How will I be assessed?
You will study GCSE History over two years and the
course is assessed through three examinations in
the summer of Year 11.
• Paper 1 is on the development of medicine through
time and the British sector on the Western Front
• Paper 2 combines Elizabethan England and the
Cold War
• Paper 3 is on Germany 1919-1939
Mr D Day – Team Leader – History
daniel.day@attrust.org.uk