What is covered by the course?
Year 1
Component 1 - The Soviet Union: From Lenin To Yeltsin 1917-91
This is covered in a thematic approach across the period 1917-85:
- Soviet government
- Industrial and agricultural change
- Control of the people
- Social developments
Additionally, the fall of the USSR c.1985-91 is studied as a historical interpretation
Component 2 - The German Democratic Republic 1949-90
The study of Communist government is developed through a study of the German Democratic Republic, looking at key developments;
- Establishing and consolidating Communist control
- The development of the East German state
- Life in East Germany
- Growing crises and the collapse of Communist rule
Year 2
Component 3 - Historical Interpretations of The Origins of The Cold War 1945-53
The study of interpretations of the origins of the Cold War Superpower rivalry through the works of a range of historians;
- Was it the Soviet Union or the USA that was responsible?
- Was it Stalin or Truman?
- Was it an inevitability in the unique circumstances of the time – the destruction of Germany?
Component 4 - Britain: Losing and Gaining an Empire 1763-1914
The study of how Britain lost one empire in North America through the American Revolution and then gained a far wider and diverse empire over the following century. It combines breadth and depth studies over the whole period;
- The changing nature and extent of trade
- The changing nature of the British navy
- The loss of the American colonies
- Canada, Australia, India, the Nile Valley
How is it examined?
Paper 1 - Written Assessment (2 hours and 15 minutes)
- This unit is examined through a combination of essay and source-based questions
- There are two essay questions from a selection of four on depth and breadth aspects of the Soviet Union 1917-85
- There is a source question on historians’ interpretations as to why the Soviet Union collapsed under Gorbachev in the years 1985-91
- 30% of the total A-Level
Paper 2 - Written Assessment (1 hour and 30 minutes)
- This unit is examined through a combination of essay and source-based questions
- There is one essay from a choice of two on developments in the GDR over the period 1949-90
- There is a source question on the value of two accounts on a particular event or development in the GDR during the years 1949-90
- 20% of the total A-Level
Paper 3 - Written Assessment (2 hours and 15 minutes)
- This unit is examined through a combination of essay and source-based questions
- There are two essay questions from a selection of four on depth and breadth aspects of the British Empire, 1763-1914
- There is a source question on the value of an accounts on a particular event or development of the British Empire, 1763-1914
- 30% of the total A-Level
Paper 4 - Externally Set Assessment
- Origins of the Cold War coursework
- This is marked internally and moderated externally by the examination board
- 20% of the total A-Level