OCR A Level History A (H505)
OCR A Level History A (H505) offers students the opportunity to study a wide range of British and world history while developing analytical, evaluative and research skills. The qualification allows schools and colleges to create a personalised course by selecting one option from each of three unit groups, alongside a compulsory independent research essay.
The course is designed to develop historical knowledge, source analysis, interpretation skills and independent thinking, preparing students for higher education and careers that require critical analysis, communication and research.
Course Structure
The OCR A Level History qualification consists of four components.
| Component |
Assessment |
Weighting |
| British Period Study and Enquiry |
1 hour 30 minutes |
25% |
| Non-British Period Study |
1 hour |
15% |
| Thematic Study and Historical Interpretations |
2 hours 30 minutes |
40% |
| Topic-Based Essay (Coursework) |
Non-Exam Assessment |
20% |
Students study:
- One British Period Study and Enquiry
- One Non-British Period Study
- One Thematic Study and Historical Interpretations option
- One compulsory Topic-Based Essay (NEA)
Unit Group 1 – British Period Study and Enquiry
Students choose one of the following units:
- Alfred and the Making of England 871–1016 (Y101/01)
- Anglo-Saxon England and the Norman Conquest 1035–1107 (Y102/01)
- England 1199–1272 (Y103/01)
- England 1377–1455 (Y104/01)
- England 1445–1509: Lancastrians, Yorkists and Henry VII (Y105/01)
- England 1485–1558: the Early Tudors (Y106/01)
- England 1547–1603: the Later Tudors (Y107/01)
- The Early Stuarts and the Origins of the Civil War 1603–1660 (Y108/01)
- The Making of Georgian Britain 1678–c.1760 (Y109/01)
- From Pitt to Peel 1783–1853 (Y110/01)
- Liberals, Conservatives and the Rise of Labour 1846–1918 (Y111/01)
- Britain 1900–1951 (Y112/01)
- Britain 1930–1997 (Y113/01)
This component combines a British period study with a source-based historical enquiry.
Unit Group 2 – Non-British Period Study
Students choose one of the following units:
- The Rise of Islam c.550–750 (Y201/01)
- Charlemagne 768–814 (Y202/01)
- The Crusades and the Crusader States 1095–1192 (Y203/01)
- Genghis Khan and the Explosion from the Steppes c.1167–1405 (Y204/01)
- Exploration, Encounters and Empire 1445–1570 (Y205/01)
- Spain 1469–1556 (Y206/01)
- The German Reformation and the Rule of Charles V 1500–1559 (Y207/01)
- Philip II 1556–1598 (Y208/01)
- African Kingdoms c.1400–c.1800: Four Case Studies (Y209/01)
- Russia 1645–1741 (Y210/01)
- The Rise and Decline of the Mughal Empire in India 1526–1739 (Y211/01)
- The American Revolution 1740–1796 (Y212/01)
- The French Revolution and the Rule of Napoleon 1774–1815 (Y213/01)
- France 1814–1870 (Y214/01)
- Italy and Unification 1789–1896 (Y215/01)
- The USA in the 19th Century: Westward Expansion and Civil War 1803–c.1890 (Y216/01)
- Japan 1853–1937 (Y217/01)
- International Relations 1890–1941 (Y218/01)
- Russia 1894–1941 (Y219/01)
- Italy 1896–1943 (Y220/01)
- Democracy and Dictatorships in Germany 1919–1963 (Y221/01)
- The Cold War in Asia 1945–1993 (Y222/01)
- The Cold War in Europe 1941–1995 (Y223/01)
- Apartheid and Reconciliation: South African Politics 1948–1999 (Y224/01)
This component focuses on a coherent period of non-British history and develops students' knowledge, understanding and historical judgement.
Unit Group 3 – Thematic Study and Historical Interpretations
Students choose one of the following units:
- The Early Anglo-Saxons c.400–800 (Y301/01)
- The Viking Age c.790–1066 (Y302/01)
- English Government and the Church 1066–1216 (Y303/01)
- The Church and Medieval Heresy c.1100–1437 (Y304/01)
- The Renaissance c.1400–c.1600 (Y305/01)
- Rebellion and Disorder under the Tudors 1485–1603 (Y306/01)
- Tudor Foreign Policy 1485–1603 (Y307/01)
- The Catholic Reformation 1492–1610 (Y308/01)
- The Ascendancy of the Ottoman Empire 1453–1606 (Y309/01)
- The Development of the Nation State: France 1498–1610 (Y310/01)
- The Origins and Growth of the British Empire 1558–1783 (Y311/01)
- Popular Culture and the Witchcraze of the 16th and 17th Centuries (Y312/01)
- The Ascendancy of France 1610–1715 (Y313/01)
- The Challenge of German Nationalism 1789–1919 (Y314/01)
- The Changing Nature of Warfare 1792–1945 (Y315/01)
- Britain and Ireland 1791–1921 (Y316/01)
- China and its Rulers 1839–1989 (Y317/01)
- Russia and its Rulers 1855–1964 (Y318/01)
- Civil Rights in the USA 1865–1992 (Y319/01)
- From Colonialism to Independence: The British Empire 1857–1965 (Y320/01)
- The Middle East 1908–2011: Ottomans to Arab Spring (Y321/01)
This component explores long-term historical developments and requires students to evaluate different historical interpretations.
Topic Based Essay (Coursework)
All students complete the compulsory:
Students independently research and write a 3,000–4,000 word historical essay on an approved topic. This coursework accounts for 20% of the overall A Level.
Assessment at a Glance
| Component |
Duration |
Weighting |
| British Period Study and Enquiry |
1 hour 30 minutes |
25% |
| Non-British Period Study |
1 hour |
15% |
| Thematic Study and Historical Interpretations |
2 hours 30 minutes |
40% |
| Topic-Based Essay (Coursework) |
3,000–4,000 words |
20% |