AQA GCSE History: specification & assessment

AQA specification 8145 · Version 1.3, 24 September 2019 · for teaching from September 2016, exams 2018 onwards · checked July 2026

AQA GCSE History (8145) is assessed by 2 exam papers. Here's the exam structure, the assessment objectives and what you study — straight from AQA's specification.

Reform watch:England's 2025 Curriculum & Assessment Review doesn't change GCSE or A-level content until reformed specs are first taught (national curriculum September 2028; updated GCSEs from 2029). Your 2026–2028 exams use the current specification. What's changing →

Exam papers

PaperLengthMarksWeighting
Paper 1: Understanding the modern worldSection A: Period studies (choose 1 of 4) - focus on a country's history over at least a ~50 year period. Section B: Wider world depth studies (choose 1 of 5) - international conflict and tension. Both sections national/international modern-world history.2 hours8450%
Paper 2: Shaping the nationSection A: Thematic studies (choose 1 of 3) - key developments in Britain over a long period. Section B: British depth studies with the historic environment (choose 1 of 4) - a period of British history plus a specified historic environment site.2 hours8450%

Assessment objectives

Assessment objectives (AOs) are set by Ofqual for History and describe the skills the exams reward. The weightings are for the whole GCSE.

AOWhat it assessesWeighting
AO1Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the key features and characteristics of the period studied.35% overall (approx). Paper split: Paper 1 16.25%, Paper 2 18.75%.
AO2Explain and analyse historical events and periods studied using second-order historical concepts.35% overall (approx). Paper split: Paper 1 13.75%, Paper 2 21.25%.
AO3Analyse, evaluate and use sources (contemporary to the period) to make substantiated judgements, in the context of historical events studied.15% overall (approx). Paper split: Paper 1 10.0%, Paper 2 5.0%.
AO4Analyse, evaluate and make substantiated judgements about interpretations (including how and why interpretations may differ) in the context of historical events studied.15% overall (approx). Paper split: Paper 1 10.0%, Paper 2 5.0%.

Practical work

Not applicable - GCSE History has no practical assessment component. Assessment is 100% by two written exams (no non-exam assessment / coursework).

Options & set texts

You choose from a menu — this isn't a fixed list. This qualification is OPTION-DEPENDENT: centres/students CHOOSE one option from a menu within each of the four sections; the lists below are choice menus, NOT compulsory content. Paper 1 Section A - choose ONE period study of four (e.g. 'Germany, 1890-1945: Democracy and dictatorship'; or 'America, 1840-1895: Expansion and consolidation'). Paper 1 Section B - choose ONE wider world depth study of five (e.g. 'Conflict and tension: the First World War, 1894-1918'). Paper 2 Section A - choose ONE thematic study of three (e.g. 'Britain: Health and the people: c1000 to the present day'). Paper 2 Section B - choose ONE British depth study of four, each tied to a historic environment (e.g. 'Elizabethan England, c1568-1603'; or 'Norman England, c1066-c1100'). Options must be declared at point of entry. The named historic-environment site for the depth study is specified annually by AQA and rotates year to year."

What you study

The main topics in the 8145 specification:

Your grades in History

See the AQA History grade boundaries (they vary by the option/set texts you sit, so they're shown by option rather than a single mark-to-grade tool), and how GCSE grades work.

Where this comes from

Frequently asked questions

See all AQA GCSE subjects.