AQA GCSE & IGCSE History
8145
Specification 8145. "Paper" and "Mark scheme" open the exam board's official PDF directly — we don't host any files.
AQA GCSE History (8145)
AQA GCSE History (8145) is assessed by two written papers, each lasting 2 hours, worth 84 marks (including 4 for spelling, punctuation and grammar) and counting for 50% of the GCSE. Paper 1, Understanding the modern world, combines a period study (Section A, four options) with a wider world depth study on conflict and tension (Section B, five options). Paper 2, Shaping the nation, combines a thematic study of Britain over a long period (Section A, three options) with a British depth study including the historic environment (Section B, four options). Each section is a separate option booklet worth 40 marks, with SPaG assessed in one section per paper.
| Paper | What it covers | Time | Marks | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8145/1A/A Paper 1 Section A, option A: America, 1840–1895: Expansion and consolidation | Period study, one of four options in Section A of Paper 1 (Understanding the modern world): two key developments in a country's history over at least 50 years. Six compulsory questions, 40 marks, using an Interpretations Booklet. Sat alongside the chosen Section B wider world depth study; Paper 1 lasts 2 hours in total (about 1 hour advised per section), is worth 84 marks including 4 SPaG marks and counts for 50% of the GCSE. | c. 1h (of the 2h Paper 1) | 40 | Section of Paper 1 (50% of GCSE) |
| 8145/1A/B Paper 1 Section A, option B: Germany, 1890–1945: Democracy and dictatorship | Period study, one of four options in Section A of Paper 1 (Understanding the modern world): two key developments in a country's history over at least 50 years. Six compulsory questions, 40 marks, using an Interpretations Booklet. Sat alongside the chosen Section B wider world depth study; Paper 1 lasts 2 hours in total (about 1 hour advised per section), is worth 84 marks including 4 SPaG marks and counts for 50% of the GCSE. | c. 1h (of the 2h Paper 1) | 40 | Section of Paper 1 (50% of GCSE) |
| 8145/1A/C Paper 1 Section A, option C: Russia, 1894–1945: Tsardom and communism | Period study, one of four options in Section A of Paper 1 (Understanding the modern world): two key developments in a country's history over at least 50 years. Six compulsory questions, 40 marks, using an Interpretations Booklet. Sat alongside the chosen Section B wider world depth study; Paper 1 lasts 2 hours in total (about 1 hour advised per section), is worth 84 marks including 4 SPaG marks and counts for 50% of the GCSE. | c. 1h (of the 2h Paper 1) | 40 | Section of Paper 1 (50% of GCSE) |
| 8145/1A/D Paper 1 Section A, option D: America, 1920–1973: Opportunity and inequality | Period study, one of four options in Section A of Paper 1 (Understanding the modern world): two key developments in a country's history over at least 50 years. Six compulsory questions, 40 marks, using an Interpretations Booklet. Sat alongside the chosen Section B wider world depth study; Paper 1 lasts 2 hours in total (about 1 hour advised per section), is worth 84 marks including 4 SPaG marks and counts for 50% of the GCSE. | c. 1h (of the 2h Paper 1) | 40 | Section of Paper 1 (50% of GCSE) |
| 8145/1B/A Paper 1 Section B, option A: Conflict and tension: The First World War, 1894–1918 | Wider world depth study, one of five options in Section B of Paper 1 (Understanding the modern world), focused on international conflict and tension. Four compulsory questions using a Sources Booklet: 40 marks plus 4 marks for spelling, punctuation and grammar, assessed in the extended-writing Question 04. Sat alongside the chosen Section A period study; Paper 1 lasts 2 hours in total (about 1 hour advised per section) and counts for 50% of the GCSE. | c. 1h (of the 2h Paper 1) | 44 | Section of Paper 1 (50% of GCSE) |
| 8145/1B/B Paper 1 Section B, option B: Conflict and tension: The inter-war years, 1918–1939 | Wider world depth study, one of five options in Section B of Paper 1 (Understanding the modern world), focused on international conflict and tension. Four compulsory questions using a Sources Booklet: 40 marks plus 4 marks for spelling, punctuation and grammar, assessed in the extended-writing Question 04. Sat alongside the chosen Section A period study; Paper 1 lasts 2 hours in total (about 1 hour advised per section) and counts for 50% of the GCSE. | c. 1h (of the 2h Paper 1) | 44 | Section of Paper 1 (50% of GCSE) |
| 8145/1B/C Paper 1 Section B, option C: Conflict and tension between East and West, 1945–1972 | Wider world depth study, one of five options in Section B of Paper 1 (Understanding the modern world), focused on international conflict and tension. Four compulsory questions using a Sources Booklet: 40 marks plus 4 marks for spelling, punctuation and grammar, assessed in the extended-writing Question 04. Sat alongside the chosen Section A period study; Paper 1 lasts 2 hours in total (about 1 hour advised per section) and counts for 50% of the GCSE. | c. 1h (of the 2h Paper 1) | 44 | Section of Paper 1 (50% of GCSE) |
| 8145/1B/D Paper 1 Section B, option D: Conflict and tension in Asia, 1950–1975 | Wider world depth study, one of five options in Section B of Paper 1 (Understanding the modern world), focused on international conflict and tension. Four compulsory questions using a Sources Booklet: 40 marks plus 4 marks for spelling, punctuation and grammar, assessed in the extended-writing Question 04. Sat alongside the chosen Section A period study; Paper 1 lasts 2 hours in total (about 1 hour advised per section) and counts for 50% of the GCSE. | c. 1h (of the 2h Paper 1) | 44 | Section of Paper 1 (50% of GCSE) |
| 8145/1B/E Paper 1 Section B, option E: Conflict and tension in the Gulf and Afghanistan, 1990–2009 | Wider world depth study, one of five options in Section B of Paper 1 (Understanding the modern world), focused on international conflict and tension. Four compulsory questions using a Sources Booklet: 40 marks plus 4 marks for spelling, punctuation and grammar, assessed in the extended-writing Question 04. Sat alongside the chosen Section A period study; Paper 1 lasts 2 hours in total (about 1 hour advised per section) and counts for 50% of the GCSE. | c. 1h (of the 2h Paper 1) | 44 | Section of Paper 1 (50% of GCSE) |
| 8145/2A/A Paper 2 Section A, option A: Britain: Health and the people: c1000 to the present day | Thematic study, one of three options in Section A of Paper 2 (Shaping the nation): key developments in Britain over a long period. Four compulsory questions using a Sources Booklet: 40 marks plus 4 marks for spelling, punctuation and grammar, assessed in the extended-writing Question 04. Sat alongside the chosen Section B British depth study; Paper 2 lasts 2 hours in total (about 1 hour advised per section) and counts for 50% of the GCSE. | c. 1h (of the 2h Paper 2) | 44 | Section of Paper 2 (50% of GCSE) |
| 8145/2A/B Paper 2 Section A, option B: Britain: Power and the people: c1170 to the present day | Thematic study, one of three options in Section A of Paper 2 (Shaping the nation): key developments in Britain over a long period. Four compulsory questions using a Sources Booklet: 40 marks plus 4 marks for spelling, punctuation and grammar, assessed in the extended-writing Question 04. Sat alongside the chosen Section B British depth study; Paper 2 lasts 2 hours in total (about 1 hour advised per section) and counts for 50% of the GCSE. | c. 1h (of the 2h Paper 2) | 44 | Section of Paper 2 (50% of GCSE) |
| 8145/2A/C Paper 2 Section A, option C: Britain: Migration, empires and the people: c790 to the present day | Thematic study, one of three options in Section A of Paper 2 (Shaping the nation): key developments in Britain over a long period. Four compulsory questions using a Sources Booklet: 40 marks plus 4 marks for spelling, punctuation and grammar, assessed in the extended-writing Question 04. Sat alongside the chosen Section B British depth study; Paper 2 lasts 2 hours in total (about 1 hour advised per section) and counts for 50% of the GCSE. | c. 1h (of the 2h Paper 2) | 44 | Section of Paper 2 (50% of GCSE) |
| 8145/2B/A Paper 2 Section B, option A: Norman England, c1066–c1100 | British depth study including the historic environment, one of four options in Section B of Paper 2 (Shaping the nation); each option incorporates the study of a specific historic environment. Four compulsory questions, 40 marks, using an Interpretations Booklet. Sat alongside the chosen Section A thematic study; Paper 2 lasts 2 hours in total (about 1 hour advised per section), is worth 84 marks including 4 SPaG marks and counts for 50% of the GCSE. | c. 1h (of the 2h Paper 2) | 40 | Section of Paper 2 (50% of GCSE) |
| 8145/2B/B Paper 2 Section B, option B: Medieval England: the reign of Edward I, 1272–1307 | British depth study including the historic environment, one of four options in Section B of Paper 2 (Shaping the nation); each option incorporates the study of a specific historic environment. Four compulsory questions, 40 marks, using an Interpretations Booklet. Sat alongside the chosen Section A thematic study; Paper 2 lasts 2 hours in total (about 1 hour advised per section), is worth 84 marks including 4 SPaG marks and counts for 50% of the GCSE. | c. 1h (of the 2h Paper 2) | 40 | Section of Paper 2 (50% of GCSE) |
| 8145/2B/C Paper 2 Section B, option C: Elizabethan England, c1568–1603 | British depth study including the historic environment, one of four options in Section B of Paper 2 (Shaping the nation); each option incorporates the study of a specific historic environment. Four compulsory questions, 40 marks, using an Interpretations Booklet. Sat alongside the chosen Section A thematic study; Paper 2 lasts 2 hours in total (about 1 hour advised per section), is worth 84 marks including 4 SPaG marks and counts for 50% of the GCSE. | c. 1h (of the 2h Paper 2) | 40 | Section of Paper 2 (50% of GCSE) |
| 8145/2B/D Paper 2 Section B, option D: Restoration England, 1660–1685 | British depth study including the historic environment, one of four options in Section B of Paper 2 (Shaping the nation); each option incorporates the study of a specific historic environment. Four compulsory questions, 40 marks, using an Interpretations Booklet. Sat alongside the chosen Section A thematic study; Paper 2 lasts 2 hours in total (about 1 hour advised per section), is worth 84 marks including 4 SPaG marks and counts for 50% of the GCSE. | c. 1h (of the 2h Paper 2) | 40 | Section of Paper 2 (50% of GCSE) |
June 202516 papers
8145/1A/APaper 1A/A (America, 1840–1895: Expansion and consolidation)
8145/1A/BPaper 1A/B (Germany, 1890–1945: Democracy and dictatorship)
8145/1A/CPaper 1A/C (Russia, 1894–1945: Tsardom and communism)
8145/1A/DPaper 1A/D (America, 1920–1973: Opportunity and inequality)
8145/1B/APaper 1B/A (Conflict and tension: The First World War, 1894–1918)
8145/1B/BPaper 1B/B (Conflict and tension: The inter-war years, 1918–1939)
8145/1B/CPaper 1B/C (Conflict and tension between East and West, 1945–1972)
8145/1B/DPaper 1B/D (Conflict and tension in Asia, 1950–1975)
8145/1B/EPaper 1B/E (Conflict and tension in the Gulf and Afghanistan, 1990–2009)
8145/2A/APaper 2A/A (Britain: Health and the people: c1000 to the present day)
8145/2A/BPaper 2A/B (Britain: Power and the people: c1170 to the present day)
8145/2A/CPaper 2A/C (Britain: Migration, empires and the people: c790 to the present day)
8145/2B/APaper 2B/A (Norman England, c1066–c1100)
8145/2B/BPaper 2B/B (Medieval England: the reign of Edward I, 1272–1307)
8145/2B/CPaper 2B/C (Elizabethan England, c1568–1603)
8145/2B/DPaper 2B/D (Restoration England, 1660–1685)
June 202416 papers
8145/1A/APaper 1A/A (America, 1840–1895: Expansion and consolidation)
8145/1A/BPaper 1A/B (Germany, 1890–1945: Democracy and dictatorship)
8145/1A/CPaper 1A/C (Russia, 1894–1945: Tsardom and communism)
8145/1A/DPaper 1A/D (America, 1920–1973: Opportunity and inequality)
8145/1B/APaper 1B/A (Conflict and tension: The First World War, 1894–1918)
8145/1B/BPaper 1B/B (Conflict and tension: The inter-war years, 1918–1939)
8145/1B/CPaper 1B/C (Conflict and tension between East and West, 1945–1972)
8145/1B/DPaper 1B/D (Conflict and tension in Asia, 1950–1975)
8145/1B/EPaper 1B/E (Conflict and tension in the Gulf and Afghanistan, 1990–2009)
8145/2A/APaper 2A/A (Britain: Health and the people: c1000 to the present day)
8145/2A/BPaper 2A/B (Britain: Power and the people: c1170 to the present day)
8145/2A/CPaper 2A/C (Britain: Migration, empires and the people: c790 to the present day)
8145/2B/APaper 2B/A (Norman England, c1066–c1100)
8145/2B/BPaper 2B/B (Medieval England: the reign of Edward I, 1272–1307)
8145/2B/CPaper 2B/C (Elizabethan England, c1568–1603)
8145/2B/DPaper 2B/D (Restoration England, 1660–1685)
June 202316 papers
8145/1A/APaper 1A/A (America, 1840–1895: Expansion and consolidation)
8145/1A/BPaper 1A/B (Germany, 1890–1945: Democracy and dictatorship)
8145/1A/CPaper 1A/C (Russia, 1894–1945: Tsardom and communism)
8145/1A/DPaper 1A/D (America, 1920–1973: Opportunity and inequality)
8145/1B/APaper 1B/A (Conflict and tension: The First World War, 1894–1918)
8145/1B/BPaper 1B/B (Conflict and tension: The inter-war years, 1918–1939)
8145/1B/CPaper 1B/C (Conflict and tension between East and West, 1945–1972)
8145/1B/DPaper 1B/D (Conflict and tension in Asia, 1950–1975)
8145/1B/EPaper 1B/E (Conflict and tension in the Gulf and Afghanistan, 1990–2009)
8145/2A/APaper 2A/A (Britain: Health and the people: c1000 to the present day)
8145/2A/BPaper 2A/B (Britain: Power and the people: c1170 to the present day)
8145/2A/CPaper 2A/C (Britain: Migration, empires and the people: c790 to the present day)
8145/2B/APaper 2B/A (Norman England, c1066–c1100)
8145/2B/BPaper 2B/B (Medieval England: the reign of Edward I, 1272–1307)
8145/2B/CPaper 2B/C (Elizabethan England, c1568–1603)
8145/2B/DPaper 2B/D (Restoration England, 1660–1685)
June 202216 papers
8145/1A/APaper 1A/A (America, 1840–1895: Expansion and consolidation)
8145/1A/BPaper 1A/B (Germany, 1890–1945: Democracy and dictatorship)
8145/1A/CPaper 1A/C (Russia, 1894–1945: Tsardom and communism)
8145/1A/DPaper 1A/D (America, 1920–1973: Opportunity and inequality)
8145/1B/APaper 1B/A (Conflict and tension: The First World War, 1894–1918)
8145/1B/BPaper 1B/B (Conflict and tension: The inter-war years, 1918–1939)
8145/1B/CPaper 1B/C (Conflict and tension between East and West, 1945–1972)
8145/1B/DPaper 1B/D (Conflict and tension in Asia, 1950–1975)
8145/1B/EPaper 1B/E (Conflict and tension in the Gulf and Afghanistan, 1990–2009)
8145/2A/APaper 2A/A (Britain: Health and the people: c1000 to the present day)
8145/2A/BPaper 2A/B (Britain: Power and the people: c1170 to the present day)
8145/2A/CPaper 2A/C (Britain: Migration, empires and the people: c790 to the present day)
8145/2B/APaper 2B/A (Norman England, c1066–c1100)
8145/2B/BPaper 2B/B (Medieval England: the reign of Edward I, 1272–1307)
8145/2B/CPaper 2B/C (Elizabethan England, c1568–1603)
8145/2B/DPaper 2B/D (Restoration England, 1660–1685)
November 202115 papers
8145/1A/APaper 1A/A (America, 1840–1895: Expansion and consolidation)
8145/1A/BPaper 1A/B (Germany, 1890–1945: Democracy and dictatorship)
8145/1A/CPaper 1A/C (Russia, 1894–1945: Tsardom and communism)
8145/1A/DPaper 1A/D (America, 1920–1973: Opportunity and inequality)
8145/1B/APaper 1B/A (Conflict and tension: The First World War, 1894–1918)
8145/1B/BPaper 1B/B (Conflict and tension: The inter-war years, 1918–1939)
8145/1B/CPaper 1B/C (Conflict and tension between East and West, 1945–1972)
8145/1B/DPaper 1B/D (Conflict and tension in Asia, 1950–1975)
8145/2A/APaper 2A/A (Britain: Health and the people: c1000 to the present day)
8145/2A/BPaper 2A/B (Britain: Power and the people: c1170 to the present day)
8145/2A/CPaper 2A/C (Britain: Migration, empires and the people: c790 to the present day)
8145/2B/APaper 2B/A (Norman England, c1066–c1100)
8145/2B/BPaper 2B/B (Medieval England: the reign of Edward I, 1272–1307)
8145/2B/CPaper 2B/C (Elizabethan England, c1568–1603)
8145/2B/DPaper 2B/D (Restoration England, 1660–1685)
November 202016 papers
8145/1A/APaper 1A/A (America, 1840–1895: Expansion and consolidation)
8145/1A/BPaper 1A/B (Germany, 1890–1945: Democracy and dictatorship)
8145/1A/CPaper 1A/C (Russia, 1894–1945: Tsardom and communism)
8145/1A/DPaper 1A/D (America, 1920–1973: Opportunity and inequality)
8145/1B/APaper 1B/A (Conflict and tension: The First World War, 1894–1918)
8145/1B/BPaper 1B/B (Conflict and tension: The inter-war years, 1918–1939)
8145/1B/CPaper 1B/C (Conflict and tension between East and West, 1945–1972)
8145/1B/DPaper 1B/D (Conflict and tension in Asia, 1950–1975)
8145/1B/EPaper 1B/E (Conflict and tension in the Gulf and Afghanistan, 1990–2009)
8145/2A/APaper 2A/A (Britain: Health and the people: c1000 to the present day)
8145/2A/BPaper 2A/B (Britain: Power and the people: c1170 to the present day)
8145/2A/CPaper 2A/C (Britain: Migration, empires and the people: c790 to the present day)
8145/2B/APaper 2B/A (Norman England, c1066–c1100)
8145/2B/BPaper 2B/B (Medieval England: the reign of Edward I, 1272–1307)
8145/2B/CPaper 2B/C (Elizabethan England, c1568–1603)
8145/2B/DPaper 2B/D (Restoration England, 1660–1685)
Specimen papers16 papers
8145/1A/APaper 1A/A (America, 1840–1895: Expansion and consolidation)
8145/1A/BPaper 1A/B (Germany, 1890–1945: Democracy and dictatorship)
8145/1A/CPaper 1A/C (Russia, 1894–1945: Tsardom and communism)
8145/1A/DPaper 1A/D (America, 1920–1973: Opportunity and inequality)
8145/1B/APaper 1B/A (Conflict and tension: The First World War, 1894–1918)
8145/1B/BPaper 1B/B (Conflict and tension: The inter-war years, 1918–1939)
8145/1B/CPaper 1B/C (Conflict and tension between East and West, 1945–1972)
8145/1B/DPaper 1B/D (Conflict and tension in Asia, 1950–1975)
8145/1B/EPaper 1B/E (Conflict and tension in the Gulf and Afghanistan, 1990–2009)
8145/2A/APaper 2A/A (Britain: Health and the people: c1000 to the present day)
8145/2A/BPaper 2A/B (Britain: Power and the people: c1170 to the present day)
8145/2A/CPaper 2A/C (Britain: Migration, empires and the people: c790 to the present day)
8145/2B/APaper 2B/A (Norman England, c1066–c1100)
8145/2B/BPaper 2B/B (Medieval England: the reign of Edward I, 1272–1307)
8145/2B/CPaper 2B/C (Elizabethan England, c1568–1603)
8145/2B/DPaper 2B/D (Restoration England, 1660–1685)
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