History A Level

Applications Open: - 28th November 2025

Applications Close: - 30th January 2026

How to Apply: - via Kent Choices

Entry Requirements: - Students must meet the following academic criteria:

(a) Applicants must achieve at least an average GCSE grade of 5.7 from eight subjects (this must include at least one modern foreign language, at least one science and at least one humanity).

(b) Applicants must also have GCSE Mathematics and at least one English GCSE at a minimum of grade 5.

In addition to the above requirements, applicants wishing to be accepted on to a particular subject must achieve the requirements set down for that particular course in the Sixth Form Curriculum booklet

https://mgs.kent.sch.uk/admission/sixth-form-entry/

All students study 4 A Levels in Year 12 (Choose 5 subjects on the application form, with the 5th being a reserve). It is important that students refer to the 6th Form Curriculum booklet to ensure that they choose their courses appropriately. (There is the option to drop one of these subjects at the end of Year 12 and undertake an EPQ).

We do not require applicants to write a Personal Statement.

Extended Project Qualification (EPQ): Alongside our extensive A level offering, students are offered the opportunity to gain an Extended Project Qualification (Level 3). This research based qualification is an ideal way to prepare ahead of further academic studies and / or the working world. Students are able to research, plan and realise a 5000 word study on a topic of their choosing. Topics are wide ranging. Many students choose to explore topics that either complement their interests and academic studies or create a bridge to future career aspirations, for example in law or medicine. An EPQ provides ideal content for CVs, university applications and is worth up to 28 UCAS points. Importantly, many universities will lower their offer to students studying an EPQ because they recognise the skills and expertise students gain from studying an EPQ.

To study A Level History, you need an interest in the world around you, an enquiring mind and the ability to weigh up different evidence or arguments. You do not need to have GCSE History in order to study A Level History. However, you may find it helpful, as A Level builds on the skills developed at GCSE such as the communication of historical knowledge, the ability to analyse historical sources and an awareness of different historical interpretations and perspectives.

In Year 12, students will have two teachers; one will prepare them for an examination on ‘Britain 1785-1870: Democracy, Protest and Reform’, including an historical investigation into the reasons for the abolition of the slave trade. The other side of the course will be a study of the ‘Unification of Italy 1830-1870’. Both exams are assessed by a combination of essay and source based questions.

In Year 13, students develop further their breadth and depth of understanding of history by taking an exam on ‘Germany 1871-1990: United, Divided and Reunited’. Also, the students will research and produce a 3,000-4,000 word coursework essay on the ‘Radicalisation of the Third Reich 1935-39’. This assignment will be excellent preparation for the university assignments that many of our students go on to experience.

Why do History A Level at MGS?

The History Department at MGS has a great deal of expertise; its teachers are enthusiastic, and thoroughly professional.

History A Level in general: History is a respected subject, regarded as a 'heavy-weight' subject which promotes and develops many wide-ranging skills that are very useful in many Higher Education Courses and areas of employment. A Level History will give you a number of skills relevant to many types of employment, such as the ability to seek information and to analyse it in order to identify facts and motives and to present information clearly for others to understand. The skills you will obtain through studying History will be useful in a number of careers, either directly related to History (eg working in Museums, Galleries, Heritage sites, Record Offices and Archives, and Teaching), or in areas such as Journalism, Law, National and Local Government and the Civil Service.

As above.

To study this course, you should have at least a Grade 6 at GCSE. Also, at least Grade 5 in GCSE Maths and English.

You could take this course to complement other Advanced Level courses, which could lead onto Higher Education in History or related subjects such as English, American Studies, Politics, Archaeology, or more general courses. With further training, you could go into a job related to History by seeking employment in areas of Heritage such as working for a Museum, or within Education such as a Teacher.