AQA GCSE History exam papers and weighting (8145)
Guide overview All 16 topics Sample questions Papers and weighting Look inside Questions and answers
What each AQA GCSE History paper assesses
AQA GCSE History (specification 8145) is assessed by two written papers of two hours each, worth 50% apiece. Paper 1, Understanding the modern world, pairs a period study with a wider world depth study; Paper 2, Shaping the nation, pairs a thematic study of British history with a British depth study. A student sits one option from each of the four groups, so four of the sixteen topics banked here.
| Paper | Covers | Length | Marks | Weighting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Paper 1 Understanding the modern world |
America, 1840–1895: Expansion and Consolidation Germany, 1890–1945: Democracy and Dictatorship Russia, 1894–1945: Tsardom and Communism America, 1920–1973: Opportunity and Inequality Conflict and Tension: The First World War, 1894–1918 Conflict and Tension: The Inter-War Years, 1918–1939 Conflict and Tension Between East and West, 1945–1972 Conflict and Tension in Asia, 1950–1975 Conflict and Tension in the Gulf and Afghanistan, 1990–2009 |
2 hours | 84 marks | 50% |
|
Paper 2 Shaping the nation |
Health and the People in Britain, c1000 to the Present Day Power and the People in Britain, c1170 to the Present Day Migration, Empires and the People in Britain, c790 to the Present Day Norman England, c1066–c1100 Medieval England: The Reign of Edward I, 1272–1307 Elizabethan England, c1568–1603 Restoration England, 1660–1685 |
2 hours | 84 marks | 50% |
Every topic, and where it is examined
| Topic | Examined on | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| America, 1840-1895: Expansion and Consolidation | Paper 1 | 105 |
| America, 1920-1973: Opportunity and Inequality | Paper 1 | 100 |
| Conflict and Tension Between East and West, 1945-1972 | Paper 1 | 139 |
| Conflict and Tension in Asia, 1950-1975 | Paper 1 | 99 |
| Conflict and Tension in the Gulf and Afghanistan, 1990-2009 | Paper 1 | 88 |
| Conflict and Tension: the First World War, 1894-1918 | Paper 1 | 93 |
| Conflict and Tension: the Inter-War Years, 1918-1939 | Paper 1 | 123 |
| Elizabethan England, c1568-1603 | Paper 2 | 118 |
| Germany, 1890-1945: Democracy and Dictatorship | Paper 1 | 98 |
| Health and the People in Britain, c1000 to the Present Day | Paper 2 | 165 |
| Medieval England: the Reign of Edward I, 1272-1307 | Paper 2 | 103 |
| Migration, Empires and the People in Britain, c790 to the Present Day | Paper 2 | 158 |
| Norman England, c1066-c1100 | Paper 2 | 114 |
| Power and the People in Britain, c1170 to the Present Day | Paper 2 | 154 |
| Restoration England, 1660-1685 | Paper 2 | 117 |
| Russia, 1894-1945: Tsardom and Communism | Paper 1 | 115 |
Assessment details from the AQA GCSE History 8145, version 1.3, September 2019. AQA specification.
Every paper is covered, because the guide runs the whole specification.Get the guide, £7
AQA GCSE History Active Recall Guide
1,889 questions across every paper on the specification.