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About AQA A Level History
AQA A Level History is code 7042, entered with letters that identify the options chosen for Components 1 and 2, with a DfE discount code of 4010. It is linear. Component 1 is a Breadth Study and Component 2 is a Depth Study, each worth 40% of the A-level, and Component 3 is a Historical Investigation worth 20%. The A Level is graded on a six-point scale of A star, A, B, C, D and E.
The two written papers are not two versions of the same exam. AQA designs Component 1 to test AO1 and AO3, and Component 2 to test AO1 and AO2. The weighting table makes that literal: AO2 is zero on Component 1 and AO3 is zero on Component 2. So the Breadth Study is where interpretations are analysed and evaluated, and the Depth Study is where the value of primary sources is assessed, and neither paper can compensate for weakness in the other.
Component 1 is built around a compulsory question of 30 marks on three extracts containing historical interpretations, followed by a choice of two essays from three at 25 marks each. AQA notes that knowledge which does not relate to the extracts will receive no credit. The essays must cover a minimum of 20 years, which is why questions with a narrow focus on specific events are not set.
Knowledge dominates the qualification. AO1 is 60% overall, with 25 on each written paper and 10 on the investigation. That is the highest knowledge weighting of the three objectives by a wide margin, and it means an answer that is well argued but loosely evidenced will lose more than one that is accurate but plain.
Component 3 is a personal study of between 3,500 and 4,500 words carrying 40 marks. It must take the form of a question in the context of approximately 100 years, must not duplicate the content of the options studied for Components 1 and 2, and all three components together must cover a chronological range of at least 200 years. AQA requires a non-examined assessment title approval form by 20 October in the year before the intended completion of the course, and states that failure to comply will invalidate the entry and that no A-level result will be issued. If you want to see how A Level History compares across boards, that page sets them side by side.
Who AQA A Level History Is For
This course suits Year 13 students sitting AQA A Level History 7042 who need two papers prepared differently, because one is about historians and the other is about sources.
- Year 13 students sitting AQA A Level History 7042
- Students who revise interpretations and sources as one skill when the papers test them separately
- Students who choose a Breadth and a Depth option that overlap or breach the prohibited combinations
- Students who leave the investigation title until the second year, after the approval deadline
- Private candidates, who need a centre able to approve a title and moderate the investigation
AQA A Level History: The Board We Cover
AQA is the board this page covers. Every fact here comes from AQA's own 7042 specification.
AQA
AQA's A Level History is code 7042, with a Breadth Study and a Depth Study at 40% each and a 40 mark Historical Investigation at 20%. AO1 carries 60%, and AO2 is zero on one paper while AO3 is zero on the other.
How Centaurus Helps AQA A Level History Students Excel
Two Papers, Two Skills
Component 1 is prepared for interpretations and Component 2 for primary sources, because AO2 is zero on the Breadth Study and AO3 is zero on the Depth Study.
Knowledge Weighed Properly
AO1 is 60% of the qualification, so accurate dates, events and detail are secured before argument is layered over them.
Option Pairs Checked First
A British option is required on one paper only, and two named combinations are prohibited, so the pair is verified before teaching begins.
The Title Deadline Tracked
The investigation title form is due by 20 October in the year before completion, and missing it invalidates the entry.
The 200 Year Rule Planned
All three components together must span at least 200 years, so the investigation question is chosen to close a gap rather than duplicate one.
24/7 Progress Reporting
Families get access to the Centaurus Academy LMS, with attendance, progress and lesson notes available to parents, students and teachers at any time.
Why Centaurus Stands Out
Choosing the right AQA A Level History support makes a real difference. Here is how Centaurus Academy compares with typical online providers.
Meet our Team Of Experts
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What Parents Say About Us
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AQA A Level History: Frequently Asked Questions
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