gcse history coursework

GCSE History by Clever Lili!

Turbocharge your history revision with our revolutionary new app! Clever Lili is here to help you ace your exams.

Alex Hak - co-creator of Clever Lili introduces the app.

Ask Lili allows you to ask questions about your chosen unit of study. Our intuitive guide - Lili - uses sophisticated AI to provide relevant, detailed but short answers.

Enhanced Learning

Advanced visual and voice learning is the enhanced learning part of our app. All Lili’s answers to your questions will be spoken aloud as well as highlighted on-screen, so you can follow along while you are being taught.

Quiz / Learn

Reach your target grade sooner with our Quiz and Learn feature. Review your units with our Learn feature, a brilliant new guide through your GCSE history course. Test yourself with the Quiz feature.

The Homework feature allows teachers to set homework assignments in advance. It also enables teachers to fine-tune the topics covered in Homework, to ensure that students boost their chances of exam success by spending extra time on their weakest topics.

Our AI tutor is designed to help you revise your units at the right times, in the most effective ways, to give your brain the best chance of retaining information, ready for your exams.

Study Guides

Our team of history teachers has also devised a great set of study guides . We cover Edexcel GCSE and iGCSE, AQA, and CIE. With 44 books to choose from, you could soon be on your way to becoming the UK’s top history whizz!

Android/iOS App

Planning to study on the go? Download our app on Android or IOS. Clever Lili gives you access to more than 120,000 questions on different GCSE and IGCSE history units wherever you are.

Smart Assistants

Ask Alexa or Google Assistant any question on your chosen unit. Whether you are studying Edexcel, AQA, or CIE, we’ve got you covered! Clever Lili provides thousands of bite-sized facts to help you pass your exams. Great for students and teachers.

Need a quick answer? Ask Lili a question on Facebook Messenger. Try it out now.

Free GCSE History Revision & Exam Practice

You're wondering how to revise for GCSE History?

Our guide to GCSE History contains all of the specifications, all of the courses & everything else you need to use to get a 9 at GCSE. Check out the specs & most popular free revision courses below!

Revise History Now

Replace History Revision Guides With a Fun Way to Study

Democracy & nazism: germany, 1918-1945.

· The Weimar Republic

· The Golden Age Of The Weimar Republic

· The Collapse of Democracy 1928-1933

· The Nazi Dictatorship 1933-1939

· The Racial State 1933-1941

· The Impact of War 1939-1945

America West, 1840-1895: Expansion & Consolidation

· The Geography of North America

· Why the Early Settlers went West

· Dealing with a Different Culture

· Increasing Conflict on the Plains

· The Background to the American Civil War

· Coming to Terms with the Mormons

· Consolidation: Forging the Nation

· The Continued Settlement of the West

· The 'Resolution' of 'the Indian Problem'

Conflict & Tension Between East & West, 1945-1972

· The End of WW2

· The Evolution of East-West Rivalry

· Events in Asia

· Direct Rivalries

· The "Thaw"

· International Crises

· Easing of Tension

Elizabethan England

· Elizabeth's Charactor & the Court

· Exlizabeth's Opponents in Court & Parliament

· Religion in Englan from 1558-1569

· Rebellion & Other Plots

· A 'Golden Age'?

· Competition with Spain

· The Spanish Armada

Norman England

· The Normans: Conquest and Control

· Life Under the Normans

· The Norman Church & Monasticism

Germany, 1890-1945

· Germany under Kaiser Wilhelm

· The Impact of WW1

· Weimar Democracy

· The Impact of the Depression

· The Failure of Weimar Democracy

· Hitler's Dictatorship

· Economic Changes

· Social Policy & Practice

Russia, 1894-1945

· Russia's Economy & Society

· Nicholas II's Autocracy & the Court

· The First World War

· The Provisional Government

· The Impact of Lenin's Dictatorship

· Social & Economic Developments

· Stalin the Dictator

· Stalin's Modernisation of the USSR

· Impact of the Second World War

Exam Boards Specifications

• Edexcel Specifications PDF
• AQA Specifications PDF
• Eduqas Specifications PDF
• CiE iGCSE Website
• Edexcel iGCSE Specifications PDF

Free GCSE History Revision Courses

Edexcel history.

See the specification

7 Most Popular Free Edexcel History Courses

Free Revision

• Germany 1918-1945

This free online revision course offers revision of the Treaty of Versailles, Weimar Germany, the rise of the Nazis and Hitler, the Kapp Putsch, Rohm, Kristallnacht, the Edelweiss Pirates, Hitler’s policies in Germany & Europe, the Enabling Act and much more.

• Medicine in Britain 1250-Present

This free online revision course includes the Hippocrates’ Four Humours theory, Galen, John Snow & Cholera, the Black Death, Pasteur’s Germ Theory, Alexander Fleming, the modern fight against Lung Cancer and much more.

• Superpower Relations and the Cold War

This free online revision course includes the Grand Alliance, Marshall Plan, the Berlin Blockade and Airlift, the Berlin Wall, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Warsaw Pact, Detente and much more.

• Early Elizabethan England

This free online revision course includes Mary Queen of Scots, the Revolt of the Northern Earls, the Spanish Armada, Sir Walter Raleigh, colonisation and much more.

• Russia and the Soviet Union

This free online revision course includes the Russian Revolution of 1917, Tsar Nicholas II, the New Economic Policy, Stalin and his rivals, the cult of Stalin, the gulags/kulaks and much more.

• American West

This free online revision course includes the Plains Indians, Ranching, Billy the Kid, the Battle of Little Big Horn, the Dawes Act of 1887 and much more.

OCR A History: Explaining the Modern World

3 most popular free ocr a history courses.

Start Revising

• The Cold War and International Relations

This free online revision course includes the Treaty of Versailles, the League of Nations, the Cold War, Marshall Plan, the Berlin Blockade and Airlift, the Berlin Wall, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Warsaw Pact, Detente, al-Qaeda and much more.

• Germany 1925-1955: The People and the State
• Migration to Britain c.1000 to c.2010

This free online revision course offers revision of the East India Company, the readmission of the Jews in 1656, the Industrial Revolution, Naturalisation Act of 1870, World War 2, the EU’s Open Borders policy and much more.

OCR B: Schools History Project

3 most popular free ocr b history courses.

Add Free Courses

• Living under Nazi Rule 1933-1945
• The People’s Health 1250 - Present
• The Elizabethans 1580-1603

Edexcel iGCSE

5 most popular free edexcel history courses.

• Germany: Development of Dictatorship 1918-1945
• Changes in Medicine: 1848-1948
• A World Divided: Superpower Relations 1943-1972
• The Origins and Course of the First World War 1905-1918

This free online revision course offers revision of the Triple Entente, the Schlieffen, Plan, Jutland, Gallipoli, Ludendorff, U-boats and much more.

• Dictatorship and conflict in the USSR 1924-1953

Cambridge iGCSE

See the 2018-19 specification - See the 2020-22 specification

3 Most Popular Free iGCSE History Courses

Start Today

• CIE iGCSE Germany 1918-1945
• CIE iGCSE The First World War 1914-1918
• CIE iGCSE Russia 1905-1941

Why You Should Use History Past Papers

The best way to take away your exam stress is to do a history mock exam and realise that you actually already know quite a lot. GCSE history past papers are also a great way to revise for your exams. This way you get the best indicator of your current level and will straight away see what history topics you would need to revise more. Now you're probably wondering where you can find these papers and solutions? You can find these papers on the exam board's website as listed at the top if this page.

Create A History Revision Timetable

Don't get surprised by your exam deadline and the amount of history work you'll have to get through. Plan your history revision sessions in a simple but clear revision timetable. This will help you break down the large amount of history content into manageable chunks so that you plan your normal life more easily around these revision sessions. You can create you timetable just on a piece of paper or use use online tools such as the Revision TimeTable Maker from The Student Room.

Alternative History GCSE Revision Resources

If you're approaching your GCSE History exams and want to study more than the Seneca courses it's a good idea to take a look at the following history resources: BBC Bitesize or Youtube .

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GCSE History

• Specification
• Planning resources

Teaching resources

• Assessment resources

Introduction

• Specification at a glance
• 3.1 Rationale
• 3.2 Understanding the modern world
• 3.3 Shaping the nation
• Scheme of assessment
• General administration

Why choose AQA for GCSE History

We believe in the importance of learning from history. That's why we've designed a specification that enables students to study different aspects of the past, so they can engage with key issues such as conflict, understand what drives change and how the past influences the present.

We’ve worked with teachers and subject experts to include some exciting new topics for today’s world that will resonate with students, helping them gain new insights into the world around them.

To give you the choice and flexibility to teach the history you want to teach, we’ve included the most popular and well-established topics. Building on the skills and topics at Key Stage 3, our GCSE will equip your students with essential skills and prepare them for further study.

You can find out about all our History qualifications at aqa.org.uk/history

Support and resources to help you teach

We’ve worked with experienced teachers to provide you with a range of resources that will help you confidently plan, teach and prepare for exams.

Visit aqa.org.uk/8145 to see all our teaching resources. They include:

• sample schemes of work for two year courses, plus lesson plans to help you plan your course with confidence
• guidance and materials for the historic environment study
• student textbooks, checked by AQA
• mapping to link Key Stage 3 with Key Stage 4 content
• step-by-step guide to our assessments
• training courses to help you deliver AQA History qualifications
• subject expertise courses for all teachers, from newly-qualified teachers who are just getting started to experienced teachers looking for fresh inspiration.

Preparing for exams

Visit aqa.org.uk/8145 for everything you need to prepare for our exams, including specimen papers and mark schemes for new courses.

Analyse your students' results with Enhanced Results Analysis (ERA)

Find out which questions were the most challenging, how the results compare to previous years and where your students need to improve. ERA, our free online results analysis tool, will help you see where to focus your teaching. Register at aqa.org.uk/era

For information about results, including maintaining standards over time, grade boundaries and our post-results services, visit aqa.org.uk/results

Keep your skills up-to-date with professional development

Wherever you are in your career, there’s always something new to learn. As well as subject-specific training, we offer a range of courses to help boost your skills.

• Improve your teaching skills in areas including differentiation, teaching literacy and meeting Ofsted requirements.
• Prepare for a new role with our leadership and management courses.

You can attend a course at venues around the country, in your school or online – whatever suits your needs and availability. Find out more at coursesandevents.aqa.org.uk

Get help and support

Visit our website for information, guidance, support and resources at aqa.org.uk/8145

You can talk directly to the History subject team:

E: [email protected]

T: 0161 958 3861

Search Courses & Information

GCSE History

Course codes.

OSC1354 / OSC1355

Study something you're fascinated by and gain a recognised qualification in GCSE History from home.

• Achieve an internationally recognised qualification in GCSE History.
• Expand your knowledge of past events that have shaped the world we live in today.
• Develop a solid foundation of historical understanding and prepare yourself for future studies in history at A Level and beyond.
• Choose whether to add exams to your enrolment and we'll book these for you when you're ready!

Course overview Do you love learning about historical events that have shaped the world we live in today? With this GCSE History course, you’ll study topics such as tsardom and communism in Russia, the Cold War, restoration England, and those who have challenged Royal authority over the centuries. This AQA GCSE History course is the same GCSE currently studied in traditional schools throughout the UK, therefore allowing students to gain an internationally recognised GCSE while studying from home. If you choose to add your exams to your enrolment, we will book these for you, saving you the hassle of booking them yourself and giving you more time to dedicate to your studies.   Course Duration Up to 12 months. Course Outcome On successful completion of your exams, you will receive your GCSE History qualification. Entry Requirements There are no specific entry requirements for this course. Assessment Two paper-based exams. Course content

Specification code: 8145

Unit 1 Period studies: Russia 1894-1945 - tsardom and communism

• The end of tsardom
• Lenin’s new society
• Stalin’s USSR

Unit 2 Wider world depth studies: conflict and tension between east and west 1945-1972

• The origins of the Cold War
• The development of the Cold War
• Transformation of the Cold War

Unit 3 Thematic studies: power and the people C1170 to the present day

• Challenging authority and feudalism
• Challenging royal authority
• Reform and reformers
• Equality and rights

Unit 4 British depth studies including the historic environment: restoration England 1660-1685

• Crown, Parliament, plots and court life
• Life in restoration England
• Land, trade and war
• The historic environment of restoration England

To achieve your GCSE History qualification, your knowledge gained during your studies of all four units will be assessed across two exams.

If you add your exams to your enrolment we will book them when you’re ready. If you choose to book your exams through us, our GCSE exam centre locations for this course are as follows:

• St Neots, Cambridgeshire
• High Wycombe

There are two paper-based examinations. A more detailed breakdown of the assessment details is provided below. While you are formally assessed by completing your exams, you will also need to submit tutor-marked assignments to allow your tutor to monitor your progress.

Course Duration

You will have up to one year to complete your GCSE History studies from the date you receive your materials.

With this course, you will have the flexibility to study at your own pace, and your only deadlines are the GCSE exams, which typically take place during the summer exam period (May/June).

Study Method

This course enables you to study your GCSE History course from home. Your course materials will be sent by post or you can study online, so receiving your materials is easy and hassle-free. Full tutor support will be available via email, so help is only a click away!

Course Outcome

Upon successful completion of the exams, you will receive your GCSE History qualification.

The GCSE is awarded by AQA and it is recognised by universities, schools, and employers globally.

Exam details

Paper 1: Understanding the modern world

Type: Written examination

Duration: 2 Hours

Weighting: 50% of the GCSE

Total marks: 84 (including 4 marks for spelling, punctuation and grammar)

What’s assessed:

In section A there is a choice of four period studies, each with a focus on two key developments in a country’s history over at least a 50 year period. Six compulsory questions (40 marks)

In section B there is a choice of five wider world depth studies. These focus on international conflict and tension. Four compulsory questions (40 marks).

Plus 4 marks for spelling, punctuation and grammar

Paper 2: Shaping the nation

In section A there is a choice of three thematic studies, which look at key developments in Britain over a long period. Four compulsory questions (40 marks)

In section B there is a choice of four British depth studies incorporating the study of a specific historic environment. Four compulsory questions (40 marks)

Is this the same qualification as a GCSE from school or college?

Yes!   This course is the same as the GCSEs you would study at a traditional school. The only difference is that this course is designed to be studied from home and you receive full tutor support via email.

What skills are needed to enrol onto this course?

You do not need any previous knowledge to enrol onto this course.

What is included in the cost of the course?

• Dedicated personal tutor support.
• Dedicated learner services.
• Assignment marking and feedback.
• FREE XO Student Discounts membership.
• FREE CV critique service.
• FREE employability guide to help you impress future employers.
• Study pack including pen, highlighter, and notebook*

* Not included with the online study option

Is there a required reading list?

No extra reading is required for the completion of this course.

Do I have to sit an exam?

You will need to take the official GCSE History exams to achieve your qualification. If you choose to add your exams to your enrolment, we will book and pay for them when you are ready. 

Please note, if you choose to add on your exams you will need to sit them at either the Birmingham, Coventry, Doncaster, Bolton, Wimbledon, Taunton, Bristol, or St Neots (Cambridgeshire) examination centre.

Are there any additional costs?

If you don’t add on the exams, you will need to book and pay for these separately.

What if I live outside the UK?

You are still able to study this GCSE History course, but must sit the exams in the UK, as this is the only guaranteed way to access exam centres.

What happens if I lose my course pack?

It's not a problem. We offer a course replacement service, so if you get into trouble and your course pack is lost or damaged, our Student Support Team can provide you with a new set of materials for a one-time additional fee.

What if I still have questions?

That's not a problem. We want to make sure you're 100% confident about enrolling on the course and starting your study. So, just give our team of education specialists a call on 03300 563 100 and they'll do their best to help.

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Tutor Support Included

Learning remotely doesn’t mean you’re on your own! You’ll be able to message your tutor through our industry-leading learning platform.

Flexible Payment Options

Enrol today from £9.99 deposit & spread the cost over 24 months

Learn At Your Own Pace

Study wherever and whenever you want. You’ll have access to your course for two years so you can fit your learning around your other commitments.

Study wherever and whenever you want. You’ll have access to your course for one year so you can fit your learning around your other commitments.

GCSE History including exams

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This course at a glance

• Study critical points in Europe’s history
• Learn to question sources and analyse evidence
• Understand the impact of events on the world
• Complete this GSCE in as little as 6 months
• Open up exciting new avenues of study
• This course bundle includes all course material and exams

Studying your GCSE

The study of History is not only an opportunity to examine our past but identify similar trends in the present. The study of History means analysing events and making judgements about how they shaped the world then and now.

Partnered with other humanities courses, History can provide you with strong analytical skills in addition to a solid grasp of key historical events.

Your studies will focus on America's expansion between 1840 and 1895, the build-up to the First World War, Britain from 1170 to today and English Restoration between 1660 and 1685.

This course bundle includes all the materials and the two exams you need to gain your GCSE History.

Both papers are written exams and will cover the concepts of understanding the modern world and shaping the nation.

By the time you have completed your course, you will have learned to assess the validity of sources, analyse evidence and draw reasoned conclusions on events of historical significance. This will allow you to build on your knowledge through the completion of A Level History or an Access to HE Diploma.

Getting Started

Studying your GCSE with learndirect isn’t like with traditional colleges. As a leading distance learning institute, all your work is online. So, you never need to worry about making it to class.

Your classroom is wherever you feel you do your learning best. And class starts when it suits you, not when someone tells you to arrive.

This gives you the freedom to study your GCSE around your existing commitments, as opposed to sacrificing family time to complete your work.

Because the course is online, you can start right away via our online portal. This gives you the choice to decide not only when to study, but how quickly you want to complete the course. The only specific deadline to work towards is your exam – exam sittings are held once per year in May or June. Please note, GCSE History past papers can also be purchased in our mock exam bolt-on, should you wish to practice completing your GCSE History exam. 

You will also be provided with a tutor to support you throughout your History GCSE. Your tutor will mark your assignments, providing guidance and feedback. They are also on hand to answer questions or clarify anything should you get stuck.

Pursuing your career

A GCSE in History allows you to go on to A Level study, complete an RQF or an Access to HE Diploma. All of which can allow you to go on to study History or Humanities at degree level. If you were wondering how to get more UCAS points for university, achieving great grades at GCSE level will certainly help.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

You will be unable to book your exam until all outstanding course fees are settled in full, this includes any associated charges deemed to be payable as per your initial contract.

All courses funded via our partner Premium Credit Limited, will need to be settled with them directly.

As you progress through your course, you will study the following modules:

• Introduction to History
• America, 1840-1895: Expansion and consolidation
• Conflict and tension: The First World War, 1894-1918
• Britain: Power and the people c1170 to the present day
• Restoration England, 1660-1685
• Requirements

Entry Requirements

You must complete at least 50% of the course and pass the associated assignments before you are eligible to be entered for the exams.

Average completion timeframe

The average time it takes to complete the course is 18 months.

Assessment requirements

The assessment consists of written exams

Exams required

One of our exam partners will provide the exam centre and oversee the examination process.

Is Membership Required?

No membership is required to enrol on this course.

Certification Timeframe

You can expect to receive your certificate 3 months after receiving the result.

Extension Rules

£40 for six months, maximum of twice. If expired more than six months ago, or have already had two extensions, then they need to restart the course and pay again.

Course Fees

All course fees, inclusive of all payment plans including our Premium Credit Limited option, must be settled before exams can be booked.

*You will have access to the course for 24 months.

At the end of each unit you will find a Tutor Marked Assignment (TMA). This is completed online and submitted to your tutor. Once assessed your tutor will return your work complete with its final grade and feedback. Once you’ve successfully passed each assignment you’ll be ready to take your exam!

If you wish to practice completing your GCSE History exam ahead of your official GCSE exam, we offer learners the chance to purchase GCSE History past papers to complete a mock exam. This helps gives you an idea of how you will perform when the time comes around to completing the real thing.

Tutors and Exams

Tutors and Exams provides examination and assessment facilities primarily aimed at private and home educated candidates.

Tutors and Exams have examination centres located around the country: Bolton, Coventry, Doncaster, St Neots Cambridgeshire,  High Wycombe, Taunton, Wimbledon and Belfast. All are approved for examination delivery by the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ).

Qualifications

If you decide to take the GCSE exam at the end of this course and pass, you will have gained a GCSE in History. This will enable you to progress to further and higher education programmes, like A Level study and university degree programmes. 

For a full breakdown of the new GCSE grading system and the number GCSE grade equivalents, view our GCSE grades explained page . 

Frequently Asked Questions

Is history gcse hard, can you do a history gcse as an adult, what skills does history gcse give you, how to revise for history gcse, is the gcse history exam included.

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GCSE History

GCSE History Course (IGCSE) | Edexcel

Our brand new Online GCSE History course aims to develop your understanding of human activity in the past based on historical evidence. You will learn about the nature of cause and consequence, continuity and change, and similarity and difference. Through studying this course, you will develop an understanding of the present and how it is influenced by past events.

or £8.30 per month (all finance options at checkout)

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Unlimited 1:1 support from your Biology tutor

Study at anytime on your phone, tablet or laptop, fast-track your learning - study at a pace that suits you, the same gcse qualification you'd get in school or college,  entry requirements,  course topics.

This course will teach you the Edexcel GCSE History syllabus (1HI0). You'll study 3 units:

• Thematic Study and Historic Environment
• Period Study and British Depth Study
• Modern Depth Study

For a full breakdown of course content, download the GCSE History Brochure .

 How You Will Study

All of your lessons and assessments are available on CloudPort - our Moodle-based learning environment (Moodle VLEs are used by most colleges and universities in the UK).

Start with lesson 1 and work through the course in a linear pathway or choose to jump to the section that you need. Your learning is completely flexible and allows you to set your programme of learning around the skills you need.

Submit assessments as you work through the course. Get instant results and feedback on activities to track your progress. Use these assessments as learning launchpads, allowing you to focus your time on the topics you need to brush up on.

You will have access to all course materials, assessments and tutor support for 24 months from the day of enrolment. Extensions are available for students who wish to study over a longer period.

 Your Own Dedicated Tutor

You are not alone! You will be assigned a personal 1:1 tutor on your day of enrolment. Your tutor will remain by your side, throughout your learning journey until you get qualified.

All tutors are qualified teachers and subject matter specialists who will ensure you have the correct guidance and support when you need it. As a CloudLearn student you will have unlimited access to tutor support.

 Assessment & Examination

CloudLearn GCSEs and A-Levels are structured around formative assessments allowing you to test your knowledge as you work towards qualification. Before taking your exam you will submit a mock exam to give you the practise you need before the big day.

When ready we arrange your exam. We have agreements with exam centres all over the UK. Our students also take advantage of preferential pricing due to the volume of students we channel to exam centres.

As part of your enrolment service package we will make all the arrangements for your final exam. This includes locating a centre and booking the relevant exam/s. Exam fees are additional.

Exams fees can be added to your course when you build your Study Plan . Have a look on our Exams Page for a detailed explanation of this service.

The Edexcel GCSE History exam is available in May/June each year. It is assessed over 3 exam papers:

• Paper 1 1HI0 10-12 - 1 hour 15 min exam
• Paper 2 1HI0 20-29 - 1 hour 45 min exam
• Paper 3 1HI0 30-33 - 1 hour 20 min exam

We generally ask that you book written exams at least 6 months in advance.

Booking your exam after the booking deadline will incur late fees (available for one month after deadline) and high late fees (available up until exam entry closure).

Late fee for GCSE Summer Exams (May/June) = 1st of February.

High Late fee for GCSE Summer Exams (May/June) = 1st March.

Late fee for GCSE Autumn Exams (Oct/Nov) = 25th of August.

High Late fee for GCSE Autumn Exams (Oct/Nov) = 25th of September.

 Fast-track Your Learning

 a guaranteed pass,  why enrol with cloudlearn.

• The UK's only GCSE and A-Level specialist
• Study at your pace, where and when you want
• Study interactively on any device
• We guarantee your exam pass
• We arrange your exams
• Our flexible study, unlimited support, and interest-free payment plans allow you to fit learning around your busy schedule
• That's why we support thousands of students every year, to get the GCSEs they need to prosper.

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By participating in Our Online GCSE History Course you will acquire skills that will be useful throughout your future studies or employment. You will develop your critical thinking, investigative and reasoning skills by developing and extending your understanding of specified key events, periods and societies in local, British, and wider world history; and of the wide diversity of human experience. You will also learn how to be a conscientious, critical, reflective and self-directed learner through engagement in historical enquiry. Furthermore, you will be challenged to use this new knowledge in creative and experimental forms.

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GCSE History - exams not included .

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GCSE History - exams not included

• Study the build up to the First World War and America's Expansion.
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History is the study of key features and characteristics of our past. It is the social science of analysing events and making judgements based on the evidence.

The skills you will develop will enable you to apply your observations to the events from the past and how they link to the world today.

Your studies will focus on America's expansion between 1840 and 1895, the build up to the First World War between 1894-1918, Britain from 1170 to the present day and the English Restoration between 1660 and 1685.

Each unit will challenge you to understand the events, how they affected one another and their long term impact on society and the world.

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The New Deal Coursework

The New Deal

Hoover and Roosevelt were two completely different presidents.  Hoover was known as a do nothing president and believed that the only way out of the depression was for people to simply work harder as he had done, he encouraged individuality.  Roosevelt however was a man of action and was the brains behind the “New Deal” which he set up in order to help America out of the depression.  The main four things that Roosevelt hoped to achieve from the “New Deal” were to get people back to work, to protect peoples savings and property and finally to get the American Agricultural industry back on its feet.  But were Roosevelt’s efforts a success or not?

Roosevelt was an extremely talented and inspiring speaker. “The only thing to fear is fear itself” was just one of the motivating phrases that he spoke of during his “fireside chats”. Using the new invention of the radio, which many Americans had, Roosevelt would make speeches telling the Americans what he was doing to help get them out of the depression and reassuring them in order to restore the American people’s confidence in the government.  Nowadays we are used to seeing this kind of thing but back then this was a very new thing.

During the First Hundred Days in his presidency, Roosevelt worked very hard alongside his advisers who were known as the “Brain Trust” to make some enormous changes.  He went straight into action and the day after his inauguration and closed all of America banks so that they could be inspected.  Four days later he opened five thousand safe and trustworthy banks. These two measures were known as the Emergency Banking act and the Securities Exchange.  This was only a taster of what the New Deal had in store for America and there was a lot more to come.

During the “Hundred Days”, Roosevelt also came up with what was known as the “Alphabet Agencies”.  An example of one of these agencies was the Agricultural Adjustment Administration (AAA) which took a long-term view on how to solve farming problems.  The way it set out to do this was to reduce production so that prices would gradually go up.  They also helped farmers with their mortgages and modernised the farming industry.  The AAA did help farmers however the modernisations did leave some labourers without jobs.  Another example was the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) which was aimed at unemployed young men.  It would involve signing onto a six month contract giving them work which could be renewed if they still did not have a job after their six months was up.  The money they earned was put back into their families and helped around 2.5 million young men.

Many believed that Roosevelt successfully “Primed the Pump”.  This basically meant that he had done his part in priming the economy so that when people get back to work their money isn’t simply wasted so that unreliable banks can pay off their debt.

In 1936 Roosevelt was re-elected by a huge majority. He won 26 million votes which to this day has never been achieved by an American president.

This is a preview of the whole essay

The New Deal was however not a complete success.  The New Deal had many high-profile oppositions who felt that the New Deal was not doing enough to help the poor and that many Americans were still living in poverty especially the Black Americans in poor farming areas.  Huey Long, the Governor of Louisiana, opposed the new deal he claimed that it was “too complicated” and wasn’t doing enough even though he had supported the deal at first.  He did set up his own little organisations to help the poor but Roosevelt still regarded him as one of the most dangerous men in America and he was assassinated in 1935.  Others also criticised Roosevelt for not doing enough.  Dr Francis Townsend campaigned to receive two hundred dollar a month pensions for people over sixty.  A catholic priest set up a radio programme to directly attack Roosevelt, he set up a whole union which had many members.  However by the 1940’s the priest’s movement had faded away.

Some Americans had quite the opposite view and felt that Roosevelt was doing too much.  People said that Roosevelt was behaving like a dictator; some felt that the deal was way too complicated and had too many codes and regulations.  Big businesses especially did not like the way that the government was supporting trade unions or calls for higher wages and felt that it was unfair that the rich had to pay higher tax because they had worked harder for their money.  These criticisms upset Roosevelt but it was the way in which they did it that upset him the most.  They said that he was disabled because of a STD rather than because he had had Polio.  Employers also put messages into their workers pay packets saying that the new deal would never happen.  Roosevelt strongly disliked these people and so did the American people.  Despite Roosevelt’s unpopularity with the rich in the 1936 election he won a 27 million vote victory the highest margin of victory ever achieved which was mainly due to his popularity with the lower class citizens.

However even after he 1936 election Roosevelt’s problems were still not over. The most powerful opposition of the New Deal was the Supreme Court which was dominated by republicans who opposed the New Deal.  Roosevelt felt that the court was biased and threatened to appoint six new judges who were more sympathetic to the New Deal.  He misjudged the opinions of the American people who were alarmed by Roosevelt’s attempts to “attack the American system of government”.  Roosevelt was forced to back down. His actions were not completely pointless though because the court was shaken by Roosevelt’s actions and were more lenient in the future.

The events of 1937 took there toll on Roosevelt and he was more cautious in the future.  In 1937 Roosevelt did what all conservatives wanted: he cut the New Deal budget.  Many people who had been employed by the New Deal lost their jobs and unemployment began to creep back up again. The recession damaged Roosevelt badly and he lost a lot of his voters.  However he did continue to win elections by huge margins.  The problem was that the American Nation was now more divided over the New Deal.

To summarise my essay and help me come to a conclusion I am going to look at these six things and see how they were affected by the New Deal: Peoples attitudes, Industrial workers, Unemployment and the Economy, Black Americans, Women, Native Americans.

The New Deal restored Faith in the American Government.  The programme was something so huge and it had never been done before and set the standards for future policies for the government to help people.  It raised awareness of how blacks were mistreated in the workplace and many employers made sure that they employed black people and treated them fairly.  The New Deal did divide the USA and Roosevelt was accused of being a Communist.

The New Deal did a lot for industrial workers and worked alongside unions to negotiate better working conditions. Some unions were able to combine a fight against huge businesses.  However despite all of the union’s efforts big businesses still dominated and hired thugs to dispose of their opposition.  Many strikes lead to brutal violence.

As far as the economy was concerned the deal was a huge success.  The new deal created millions of jobs and unemployment took a huge drop.  The deal completely revamped the American bank system and allowed people to safely store their money without fear that they may loose it all.  The levels of production made a clear increase and businesses were not failing like they were.  However confidence did remain low especially after Roosevelt cut the budget and unemployment began to increases again and it was only really the war which truly ended America’s problems.

Black Americans did gain from the New Deal.  Around 200,000 Blacks received jobs from the CCC and other New Deal agencies.  But I feel that this was the biggest failure of the New Deal.  Although many agencies helped the Blacks many discriminated against them and gave them no work, better conditions or wages.  Roosevelt passed no laws against the mistreatment of the blacks because he was scared that democrat senators on the southern states would not support him.  I strongly believe that even today in America blacks are badly treated especially by the Government.

The new deal saw some women achieve prominent positions; Roosevelt’s wife became an important campaigner on social issues and Frances Perkins was a key figure in the making of the Second New Deal.  However most of the New Deals programmes were aimed at men and only 800 women were involved in the CCC and people like Frances Perkins were viciously attacked by the press.  Frances was accused of being a soviet spy and tended to get ignored at social gatherings.

And Finally the Native Americans whom although still remained an excluded section of society were given money so that they could preserve their culture and traditions.

So did the deal achieve what it set out to do? The answer for me is “yes”.  The four main objectives of the Deal were:

• To get people back to work which it did although it had its ups and downs unemployment never again got as bad as it was in 1933.
• To protect America’s savings and property; Roosevelt made America’s banks a safe place to invest your money again.
• To provide relief for the sick and poor; Agencies were set up to help the sick and poor but some people still did not benefit although on the whole the New Deal was a big help.
• Getting Americas industry back on its feet; the New Deal made huge increases in production.  Production never stooped as low again as it did in 1932.

  With a country as big as America it is impossible to keep everyone happy however I think that on the whole the New Deal did what it was designed for in that it completed its four main objectives and without it I am certain America would not of become what it is today.

Document Details

• Word Count 1739
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• Subject History

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American Coursework: The New Deal

History Coursework: The New Deal

History coursework: Was the New Deal successful?

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Which GCSEs Have Coursework?

In GCSE by Think Student Editor September 23, 2022 Leave a Comment

If you’re currently trying to decide which GCSEs you should take, it’s important to know whether the option you’re considering will involve coursework. Coursework is a useful way of showing your ability outside of taking written exams. Coursework can allow you to: take more responsibility for what you study, study a topic in more depth, and have more control over the pace at which you study.

To understand which subjects involve coursework and learn the percentage of coursework and exams in these subjects, keep reading this article.

Table of Contents

Do GCSEs still have coursework?

After new education plans were introduced in 2015, most GCSEs no longer include any coursework that count towards students’ final grades. Before this, there would be coursework tasks even in subjects such as maths and English.

In some subjects coursework was done through long written tasks, whereas in maths this was done through a handling data project and an applying mathematics task. In English Language, 40% of the end grade used to be from coursework. This was through assessment of speaking, listening and written assignments.

Despite the recent changes to the GCSE system, all creative and practical subjects do still have some level of coursework. This is because in certain subjects, like Art for example, coursework is necessary for students to demonstrate their talent at particular skills. The subjects that have coursework are Food Preparation & Nutrition, Drama, Art, Music, DT (Design Technology), and PE (Physical education).

What percentage of creative or practical GCSEs is coursework?

No GCSE is currently 100% coursework. There will always be some weighting placed on final exams. All of these final exams are written, apart from Art which is instead a creative project done under time pressure.

Also, it’s important to note that for the same subject, different exam boards may require different amounts of coursework. Make sure to find out which exam board your school uses for the particular subject you’re considering. If your school offers IGCSEs, have a read of this Think Student article to understand the difference between them and normal GCSEs.

Have a look at the table below which has information outlining what percentage of the GCSEs are coursework and exams. This data is from AQA’s website .

In each of these subjects, the type of task to be completed for coursework is completely different. Most exam boards refer to coursework as a non-exam assessment (NEA).  

What does GCSE coursework involve?

In the Food Preparation and Nutrition GCSE, the non-exam assessment mainly consists of a cooking practical. Students will have to prepare, cook and present a final menu of three dishes. The students will then have to write a report about their work and include photographic evidence. To find out more about the Food Preparation and Nutrition course, visit the AQA page .

For the coursework in Drama, there are two different components. One involves performing a group devised mini play and keeping a log of the creation process. The other involves performing two extracts from a play. To find out more about GCSE Drama, visit the AQA page .

In GCSE Art, the coursework component consists of selecting and presenting a portfolio representative of their course of study. The portfolio must include one main project as well as a selection of other work from activities such as experiments, skills-based workshops, or responses to gallery visits. To find out more about GCSE Art, visit the AQA page .

In GCSE Music, students must do both an ensemble performance and a solo performance using the instrument of their choice (which can be voice). They must also create two different music compositions. To find out more about GCSE Music, visit the AQA page .

For coursework in GCSE DT, students must design and produce a product. This will involve investigating design possibilities, planning, creating their idea, and evaluating the end result. At school, students will have to use special equipment such as machines and saws. To find out more about GCSE DT, visit the AQA page .

For coursework in GCSE PE, students will be assessed through their performance in three different sports or physical activities of their choice. One has to be a team activity, one an individual activity, and the third either a team or individual activity. Students will also be assessed on their analysis and evaluation of their improvements in performance.  To find out more about GCSE PE, visit the AQA page .

Does GCSE Science have coursework?

GCSE Science doesn’t involve any graded coursework. However, there is a list of required practicals that students are supposed to complete. These science practicals will involve following instructions set out by the teacher to investigate materials or scientific principles.  Students will often have to write up the method and conclusion. It’s important that students try their best to understand these practicals as there will be questions about them that are worth several marks in the exams.

Does GCSE English have coursework?

GCSE English technically doesn’t have any coursework that has a weighting on the final grade. However, in English Language there’s a compulsory spoken language assessment that isn’t done at the same time as normal GCSE exams. It’s reported as a separate grade (either Pass, Merit, Distinction or Not Classified) and doesn’t contribute to the result of the GCSE English Language qualification. To learn more about the spoken language assessment, have a look at this AQA page .

For English Literature, despite there not being any coursework tasks, there are of course novels and poems that students need to become familiar with in order to pass the GCSE. This will have to be done throughout Year 10 and Year 11. Students might be set the homework of reading a couple of chapters for example.

What are some tips for completing GCSE coursework?

If you’re deciding to do one or multiple GCSE subjects that involve coursework, it’s crucial that you can be organised enough to complete them to the best possible standard. As seen from the table shown previously, coursework makes up a significant proportion of the final grade. To have the best chance at getting a high grade, you’ll need to put an adequate amount of time into the task and not treat it as trivial.

In GCSE Art in particular, there is a lot of work that will need to be completed throughout the two-year course. A lot of homework will end up being graded for coursework as they will go in your portfolio. GCSE Art is often said to be one of the most stressful GCSEs because of this constant pressure of getting work done on time out of school.

If you love art and want to continue studying it, it’s important to manage your time well and not post-pone completing tasks until the last minute. As soon as you start getting behind with work that needs completing, that’s when you’ll really start to struggle and make things harder for yourself. If you want to learn how to get a good grade in GCSE Art in general, check out this Think Student article .

Make sure that you always note down what you’ve got to get done and by what date. This could be in a physical planner, on an app on your phone, or on a digital calendar. Perhaps set a specific time each weekend to complete any remaining work that you didn’t manage to get done during the week. If you remain on schedule, you’ll significantly reduce any stress plus you’ll have a higher chance of producing your best quality work.