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About AS Level History
AS Level History is the first year of A Level History, usually taken in Year 12. Students sit the exams at the end of that year. It covers a set period in breadth and a shorter period in depth, and it teaches two skills that run through every paper: reading sources critically and weighing up what historians have argued. It works two ways: as a qualification in its own right, or as the first half of a full A Level.
History marks come from essays, and examiners reward argument over narrative. A strong answer takes a position, uses its sources and knowledge as evidence, and deals with the other side. Students who tell the story of what happened, without answering the question set, lose marks on every paper.
We teach the AS as its own qualification, not a warm-up for the second year. Lessons follow the specification and option your child's school uses, we work from real past papers from their board, and we mark essays the way an examiner would. Parents can follow progress in the Centaurus Academy LMS all year.
Who AS Level History Is For
This course suits Year 12 students who want an AS History grade they can rely on.
- Year 12 students sitting AS History this summer
- Students aiming at history, law, politics or international relations degrees
- Learners pushing from a B up to an A
- Students who know the content but write narrative answers instead of arguments
- Students who lose marks on source and interpretation questions
AS Level History Exam Boards We Cover
AQA and Edexcel are the UK boards, and both examine the AS at the end of Year 12. Cambridge International follows its own syllabus, with exams in June and November and topics that rotate from year to year. Each shapes the papers differently: AQA splits sources and interpretations across two equal papers, Edexcel links its papers into eight fixed routes, and Cambridge weights its two papers 40 and 60. OxfordAQA does not offer History at AS or A Level, and none of the three sets coursework at AS.
AQA
Two components, each a 1 hour 30 minute written exam worth 50 marks and 50% of the AS. Both papers ask just two questions, one of them compulsory. Component 1 is a Breadth Study, covering around 50 years: Section A is one compulsory question on historical interpretations worth 25 marks, and Section B is one essay from two, also 25 marks. Component 2 is a Depth Study: Section A is one compulsory question on primary and contemporary sources worth 25 marks, and Section B is one essay from two, also 25 marks. Students must take a British option in one component and a non-British option in the other, so the two halves always cover different countries. Options include 1A The Age of the Crusades, 1H Tsarist and Communist Russia, and 1K The Making of a Superpower: USA.
Edexcel
Two papers, and the weighting is not equal. Paper 1 is a Breadth Study with Interpretations, a 2 hour 15 minute exam worth 60 marks and 60% of the AS, the longest AS paper of the three boards here. Sections A and B are essay choices, and Section C is one compulsory question analysing historical interpretations. Paper 2 is a Depth Study, 1 hour 30 minutes and 40 marks, worth the other 40%: a compulsory two-part source question, then an essay from a choice. Edexcel links the two papers into eight routes, and schools may not mix options from different routes, so the depth study depends on the breadth option chosen. Options include 1E Russia 1917 to 1991, 1G Germany and West Germany, and 2E.1 Mao's China. All assessment is in May/June in a single year, and there is no coursework at AS.
Cambridge
Two compulsory papers, and the only board here whose first paper is the smaller one. Paper 1 is Historical Sources, a 1 hour 15 minute paper worth 40 marks and just 40% of the AS. Paper 2 is an Outline Study, 1 hour 45 minutes and 60 marks, worth the other 60%. So the outline paper matters more, and that is where most of the marks sit. Topics rotate year by year: each option has three topics, and the one examined in Paper 1 is not used in Paper 2 that same year. A-level students add Paper 3 on historical interpretations and Paper 4, a Depth Study. Exams run in June and November.
How Centaurus Helps AS Level History Students Excel
Source Skills Drilled Properly
Every board here examines sources, whether inside a combined paper or a paper of its own. Your child learns to read provenance and tone, not just content.
Interpretations Made Simple
Historiography confuses students more than anything else. We break it into named schools of thought and show how to use them in an answer.
Essays That Answer the Question
Examiners reward argument, not narrative. Your child practises taking a position and supporting it with evidence.
Option and Route Matching
Schools choose different options, and at Edexcel the two papers are linked into fixed routes. We teach your child's exact combination, so no lesson is wasted.
Classes in Your Local Time
Live sessions scheduled around your time zone, so no late nights or early mornings just to make a class.
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 AS Level History support makes a real difference. Here is how Centaurus Academy compares with typical online providers.
Meet our Team Of Experts
Our expert tutors bring deep subject knowledge and a passion for teaching — helping every student reach their full potential.
What Parents Say About Us
Hear from the parents and students who have experienced our personalised teaching first-hand.
Excellent long-term experience
We have an excellent long-term experience with the academy and Sir Awais. Our three children studied with them during different periods and succeeded well. We highly recommend the academy.
Excellent academy
Centaurus Academy is truly one of the best educational institutions I've come across. The environment is nurturing, the staff are incredibly dedicated, and the quality of education is outstanding. They focus not only on academic excellence but also on character building and personal growth. The teachers are supportive and go the extra mile to ensure every student feels confident and motivated.
My child has gained confidence
I'm very satisfied with the dedication and teaching approach. My child has gained confidence and improved significantly in understanding math concepts, thanks to the teacher's clear explanations and supportive guidance.
Frequently Asked Questions About AS Level History
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