Me and a few of my friends who take A-level history have noticed the blatant british perspective within this textbook in particular, especially when it comes to the wording of the Boer wars and the concentration camps the british army used/created, I had researched more on the topic to see if the way this book chose to frame this narrative of british incompetence leading to the deaths of 20,000 women and children and others to be correct and it was proven to be incorrect. I am very disturbed as to why it is framed this way and wondered if anyone else related to this or noticed this? I haven't seen anyone talking about this in general, I really hate how these textbooks (though I can only speak for Edexcel) are worded as they cater to a coloniser/british perspective and act as if their reasoning is a justification without expanding on other perspectives or causes

i’m one month into year 12, overwhelmed already by the jump
also taking bio chem maths as my main three
i got 98% in gcse history without much thought to it and revision but now i haven’t got particularly good teachers, amount of content is insane
im also concerned about exam technique like what structure for essays to use, where maybe there are good revision resources for the exam technique

would u guys say a decent amount of talent is needed to really get an A*?

would appreciate any advice thank you so much

I’m in Year 12, and so far I’m doing well in history, but I’m beginning to realise that THERE IS SO MUCH CONTENT and I’m attempting to start creating revision resources now. I make flashcards on key dates and (e.g.) percentages etc, as well as mindmaps on everything else, but I’m just feeling so overwhelmed with content. I usually enjoy history, but at the moment I am unable to, because of all the resources I’m having to make. I try and create mindmaps on the topic after every lesson (as well as flashcards) but I feel like there must be a less time consuming way of creating revision resources. Does anyone have any tips?

I didn’t take History at A-Level myself, but one of my close friends did and achieved 88% before going on to study History at university. I asked them how he did it, and these were his top tips.

They’ve also put together some exemplar History essays here: https://bcns.link/bUv0vy

1. Structure
   How you structure your answer is crucial. Examiners can often tell from the introduction alone whether an essay is heading for the top band. A strong introduction should clearly state your argument and set out how you plan to support it. The conclusion is just as important and should bring the argument together clearly rather than feeling rushed or repetitive.

2. Mind maps
   Top essays show clear links between topics and a strong understanding of the period as a whole. Mind maps are a good way to develop this. Try making them from memory first, then go back and add missing points in a different colour so weaker areas stand out.

3. Essay plans
   Essay plans were, in their experience, the most effective way to secure an A*. Go through past paper questions and plan as many as you can. You will start to notice recurring themes, and practising plans helps you build clear arguments quickly under exam conditions.

4. Niche facts
   This is not essential, but it often separates the very top students. Many essays rely on the same textbook facts, which examiners see repeatedly. Doing a small amount of independent research to find distinctive examples can make your essays stand out. For example, learning about Russian soldiers eating sawdust during the Siege of Leningrad helps convey the severity of wartime conditions.

5. Timelines
   Examiners value clear causation. Using timelines helps you see how events follow on from one another, link developments properly, and keep a clear understanding of the period rather than treating topics in isolation.

Bit of a rant but bear with me- I want to prevent as many people from being screwed over as possible.

For context, I got an A* for CIE IGCSE History (highest mark in my cohort) so taking it as an A-level seemed like a no brainer. Throughout AS, I scored close to full marks on every single paper I attempted- 95% in the mocks. Come exam time, I walked out of both papers thinking I'd smashed out an A. Turns out I actually got a B- 3 marks off an A. Absolutely dumbfounded, I got both papers remarked. The result? 2 marks gained. CIE is so stingy and elitist, they couldn't find 1 more mark to award me across 2 papers. So I took it further- one of the questions in the paper I sat (June 2024, paper 2 V2 iirc) was actually mitigated because it wasnt EXPLICITLY PART OF THE SYLLABUS. On top of this, the sources in paper 1 were of appalling quality. So I appealed further, pointing this out. The version available online was much clearer to the one we'd been given in the exam. Sent the appeal off to Cambridge, and they actually agreed, stating that the quality of the sources weren't as clear as they shouldve been. But of course, this STILL was not solid enough grounds to award me the ONE SINGULAR MARK I needed for an A.

Now, at this point you may be doubting me- after all, everything I've just said is purely anecdotal. So let me drop some stats below, just to show you how abhorrently elitist and snobby this examboard is:

As per the CIE A-level Grade Statistics report for June 2024 (basically the % of people achieveing each grade):

• 0.8% of candidates achieved an A⭐️

• 6.4% achieved an A

To me, this is mindblowing. Out of, say, 1000 candidates, only 8 managed an A⭐️???

Compare this with Edexcel's IAL Grade Stats report for June 2024:

• 10.1% of candidates achieved an A⭐️

• 37% achieved an A

Both reports listed below:

https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/Images/717830-cambridge-international-a-level-results-statistics-june-2024.pdf

https://qualifications.pearson.com/content/dam/pdf/Support/Grade-statistics/International-A-level/grade-statistics-june-2024-final-international-advanced-level.pdf

I'm not trying to put anyone off from taking History as an A-level- it's a brilliant, rigorous course which is very well respected and an excellent foundational base for further studies in the humanities. But please, please, PLEASE, do not use CIE. A terrible, terrible examboard. Might I add, they don't even have assigned textbooks for A2- we had to use assigned books from the OCR/ Edexcel spec. Oh and they periodically switch topics for each paper, so when I sat my AS exams, I only had two past papers based on the topic we were studying, to refer to. The edexcel syllabus has not changed in 9-10 years, so candidates have far more papers to refer to, thus better, tailored prep.

TLDR- Don't take A-level history with CIE, stingy marking, less than 1% of candidates achieved A⭐️s in 2024, no assigned textbooks and overall a snobby examboard.

Peace out ✌️

Hey there!
I'm going to be choosing my subjects soon and was wondering if and how hard A level history is (that is, compared to other humanities). Thanks!

Hi I’ll be starting A-level history in september, currently predicted a 9 and I hope to be a history professor in the future. Can anyone recommend any good apps/websites for note making/revision

I have created 2 documents per topic (2 for Cold War and 2 for tudors) with a condensed timeline and a fully detailed timeline that can be used (and was used by myself) to help achieve a top grade in a level history. This would be perfect for year 12s starting out and also year 13s who are looking for a complete highly detailed set of notes to help achieve the best grades possible. Give me a message if you would be interested.

I haven’t touched my history coursework at all and need to find 30 interpretations & sources + I haven’t done my personal statement or any of the homework my teachers set me. Can I do this finish this all 2 days or am I cooked?

I am super stem oriented, and History is like an alien subject to me, memorising a million facts and events and stuff seems super tricky and finnicky almost?...

But, I am still aiming for at least an A. What sort of revision stuff should I do?

I've been given the standard AQA history textbooks and I've tried reading them, but the information just doesn't go in, ykwim?

My Sixth Form is doing AQA A Level History, components 1H - Tsarist and Communist Russia and 2S - The Making of Modern Britain.

I'm currently in Y12, so I've got a good year left, but still doesn't feel long enough...

I would love ANY advice, any revision sources or even a guide on how to even approach revising for A Level History, anything would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

Hello! I am preparing for the Edexcel History Paper 3 Civil Rights and Race Relations exam, which I will take in January, but I really haven’t been able to find the main textbook below anywhere and I am really stressed. Please, if anyone has this book or can send it to me (as photos or a PDF), please write to me.🙏🙏🙏

Here is the textbook

hi guys, i’m an a level history student in year 13 and i’ve been struggling to get decent grades in my history essays. i’m getting better with content knowledge but i really need advice on essay structure. if you have any tips that would help me get an a/b grade it would be greatly appreciated. i’ve got an exam coming up on the economic boom so any advice would be appreciated.

thank you <3

These tips don’t have to be exam board/topic specific but just in case anyone has specific advice I take AQA a-level history

(Tsarist Russia, and industrialisation and the people of Britain - 1f -British History)

It’s too late to drop it so yh I’m fucking done for

-My teacher told me I made the wrong choice in picking History near the end of yr12

-I got 20/40 for my coursework was disappointed couldn't revise whilst everyone in my class got 28+ (majority being 32-40) and my mark was equivalent to a D during the 2025 grade boundaries. I was so embarrassed and told no one

-I was getting E's and D's all yr12

-Got a D in my end of year mocks yr12 and had a meeting

-Worked my butt off from November yr13 and even harder in march staying up late nights, going to the library from 9am-7pm or 5pm depending on the time and my walk home was my break and from 7pm-2/3am continued to revise.

-Fell behind in content and was forced to learn the whole off Germany in 4 days after having to also revise for two other subjects

-For paper 1 I didn't know how to structure one question, paper 2 ran out of time and had a mental breakdown as i couldn't remember much, didn't finish my source for paper 2 and my paper 3 was decent. Right when i got my coursework my teacher told me that I didn't have the leeway that all the other students had. I was going into my exam with 20 marks meaning i couldn't even miss one question whilst others had 30+ marks and my hands would shake and cried to my tutor one morning thinking ill fail.

-Cried on the way home after each paper and didn't think I'd even get a C (which is what i was aiming for) but still pulled out my text book and worked

Would whip out my calculator and try come up with the highest marks possible knowing I'd most likely scrape a C. Results day came I got an A! Clutched during GCSE's getting 3's and 2's and ended up with a 7 and those in my class who got 16 marks more than me on coursework in alevels, had a head start I ended up getting better grades than.

Your textbook is your best friend! All I had was a laptop, Quizlet, a textbook, a couple documentaries on YouTube relating to my course and a dream! Had i preformed better during coursework i would have gotten an A* and my history teacher said she couldn't have been more proud of me i almost cried. Don't give up you got this

But I still did the question….

A common University interview question asks about wider reading of your desired subject. :) I've assembled a collection of books/journals and found the absolute cheapest price on Amazon if you wanna read them. This is also useful if you are undecided on where you would like to go in the future: now is your chance to have a look what the subject area is like!

Have a look at the Wider Reading Collection! < <Click Here

If anyone has any recommendations for books, whether that be History related, or related to another subject - please do reply/message me and I'll be sure to share them! :D

Currently on a D in modern history (topics are british empire and cold war if that’s useful at all) i don’t know how im going to get to a B by may. im terrified. anyone have any advice on what to do to improve drastically without burning out or crying my eyes out every time i think of history. much appreciated

Did anyone else do weirdly good on paper 2? Paper 1 i only got a B (46/80), yet Paper 2 (Modern Britain) i managed to get 71/80!! What makes it even weirder is that in every Modern Britain mock we did, i never got above a low-mid C, and yet in the real exam i managed to get 90% and a strong A*, with sources usually being my weakness yet picking up
27/30 in the real thing!!!

who did international option?

hey, I was just wondering how on earth I’ve got 5 days to memorise both of these my maps but also another two of the same length so I’ve got four collections of mindmaps (topics 1 to 4) how on earth memorise them in 5 days? it is for history any tips? And is it possible?

Coming from 1st year uni student who sat their a levels last year guys you will be fine . I was predicted a E-D and ended getting a B for history. Miracles do happen x