AQA 8145 at a glance
| Paper 1: Understanding the modern world | Paper 2: Shaping the nation | |
|---|---|---|
| Time | 2 hours | 2 hours |
| Marks and weighting | 84 marks (incl. 4 SPaG), 50% | 84 marks (incl. 4 SPaG), 50% |
| Section A | Period study, e.g. Germany 1890-1945 or America 1920-1973 | Thematic study, e.g. Health and the people c1000 to the present day |
| Section B | Wider world depth study, e.g. Conflict and tension 1918-1939 | British depth study with a historic environment, e.g. Norman England or Elizabethan England |
| 2027 exam date | Thursday 20 May 2027, morning | Friday 28 May 2027, morning |
Options vary by school
AQA offers four period studies (America 1840-1895, Germany 1890-1945, Russia 1894-1945, America 1920-1973), five wider world depth studies (from the First World War to the Gulf and Afghanistan), three thematic studies (Health, Power, Migration and empires) and four British depth studies (Norman, Edward I, Elizabethan, Restoration). Your school chooses one from each group, so you sit four options in total.
Ask your teacher for the exact paper codes you are entered for and revise only those. Our GCSE History practice questions cover the most widely studied units, plus source and interpretation skills that every option uses.
The historic environment in 2027
Each AQA British depth study includes a historic environment, and the site changes every year. For summer 2027 AQA has named: the Battle of Hastings (Norman England), the Battle of Stirling Bridge (Edward I), the Spanish Armada (Elizabethan England) and the Dutch raid on the Medway, June 1667 (Restoration England). The final 16-mark question on Paper 2 is about this site, so it deserves its own revision time.
See where you stand in 10 minutes
Take the free GCSE History practice test. 15 questions, every answer explained.
Edexcel and OCR compared
- Pearson Edexcel 1HI0 has three papers. Since 2025: Paper 1 thematic study and historic environment (1 hour 20 minutes, 52 marks, 30%), for example Medicine in Britain c1250-present with the Western Front; Paper 2 period study and British depth study (1 hour 50 minutes, 64 marks, 40%), for example the American West with Early Elizabethan England; Paper 3 modern depth study (1 hour 30 minutes, 52 marks, 30%), for example Weimar and Nazi Germany 1918-39.
- OCR offers History A (J410, Explaining the Modern World) and History B (J411, Schools History Project), each with three papers. History B includes a 1-hour History Around Us paper on a local site chosen by the school.
- All boards use the same assessment objectives: AO1 knowledge and AO2 explanation (35% each), AO3 sources and AO4 interpretations (15% each).
Grades and grade boundaries
GCSE History is untiered and graded 9 to 1. Grade 4 is a standard pass and grade 5 a strong pass. Grade boundaries are set after each summer series and change every year, so treat old boundaries only as a rough guide and aim for about 70% in timed practice. History has no November series; if you want to resit, you take the whole qualification again the following summer.
An 8-week revision plan
- Week 1: confirm your four options. Make a one-page timeline for each and list the question types for each section.
- Week 2: period study (e.g. Germany). Learn key dates and practise a 12-mark essay and the three interpretation questions.
- Week 3: wider world depth study (e.g. Conflict and tension). Practise source utility (12 marks) and an account question.
- Week 4: thematic study (e.g. Health and the people). Build factor tables with examples from every century; write one 16-mark factor essay.
- Week 5: British depth study and the 2027 historic environment site. Write the 16-mark site essay.
- Week 6: full timed Paper 1. Mark it and list three weaknesses.
- Week 7: full timed Paper 2. Mark it, then practise your weakest question type daily.
- Week 8: flashcards on key dates, people and terms, plus SPaG on specialist words. Light review only the day before.
Frequently asked questions
How many papers is GCSE History?
AQA has two 2-hour papers. Edexcel has three papers totalling 4 hours 40 minutes. OCR's History A and History B each have three papers.
Can I choose my GCSE History topics?
Usually not. Your school chooses the options, so check the exact units and paper codes you are entered for.
When are the AQA GCSE History exams in 2027?
Paper 1 is on the morning of Thursday 20 May 2027 and Paper 2 on the morning of Friday 28 May 2027. Check your school timetable as well.
Is GCSE History tiered?
No. Everyone sits the same papers and can achieve any grade from 9 to 1.
Are there marks for spelling and grammar in History?
Yes. On AQA there are 4 SPaG marks on each paper, attached to specific essay questions, so 8 marks in total.
Can I resit GCSE History in November?
No. November resits are only for GCSE English Language and Maths. History is resat in the summer series.
Official sources
- AQA GCSE History 8145 scheme of assessment
- AQA GCSE History historic environment sites 2027-2028
- Pearson Edexcel: changes to GCSE History assessment from summer 2025
- OCR June 2027 GCSE final exam timetable
Practice tests for these exams
This guide is general information, checked November 2026, not official exam board guidance. Specifications and dates can change; confirm the details with your school or exam board.
