When it’s AQA, Edexcel, OCR, or WJEC Eduqas’ GCSE History, one size absolutely does not fit all. Every exam board has different topics, modules, and areas of study, so pupils, parents, and teachers must know the differences and opt for the best route.
Whatever you’re studying with AQA, Edexcel, OCR, or WJEC Eduqas, this guide details the complete list of history topics by exam board. Hence, you’re in the picture and comfortable with your studies.
Why Knowing the Exam Board is Important
Before we proceed to the list, it’s essential to understand why knowing your exam board is crucial. Every exam board has its specification (commonly referred to as a “spec”) that informs you what you need to revise and how you will be assessed. Knowing your exam board is beneficial because it allows you to:
- Focus on the relevant topics and sources.
- Obtain relevant past question papers and study guides.
- Steer clear of confusion with non-specific course material.
- Understand how tests are administered and graded.
Now, let’s have a look at each of the big UK exam boards and what history courses they offer.
1. AQA (Assessment and Qualifications Alliance)
AQA’s GCSE History specification allows schools to build a course that will be stimulating to their students. The course is structured into:
Thematic Study
- Health and the People: c1000 to the Present Day
- Power and the People: from c1170 to the Present Day
- Migration, Empires and the People: c790 to the Present Day
British Depth Study
- Norman England, c1066–c1100
- Medieval England: the reign of Edward I, 1272–1307
- Elizabethan England, c1568–1603
- Restoration England, 1660–1685
Period Study
- America, 1840–1895: Expansion and Consolidation
- Germany, 1890–1945: Democracy and Dictatorship
- Russia, 1894–1945: Tsardom and Communism
- America, 1920–1973: Opportunity and Inequality
Modern World Depth Study
- Tension and Conflict: The First World War, 1894–1918
- Conflict and Tension: The Inter-War Years, 1918–1939
- Conflict and Tension Between East and West, 1945–1972
- Asia: Conflict and Tension, 1950–1975
- The Gulf and Afghan Wars, 1990–2009: Conflict and Tension
AQA offers an exciting, responsive syllabus that combines British history and global conflict with profound social change.
2. Edexcel (Pearson)
Edexcel GCSE History is renowned for its extremely organized units. It is framed in four sections:
Thematic Study and Historic Environment
- Crime and Punishment in Britain, c1000–present + Whitechapel, c1870–1900
- Medicine in Britain, c1250–present + British sector of the Western Front, 1914–1918
- War and British Society, c1250–present + London and the Second World War, 1939–45
British Depth Study
- Anglo-Saxon and Norman England, c1060–88
- King John and King Richard I’s reign, 1189–1216
- Early Elizabethan England, 1558–88
Period Study
- Spain and the New World, c1490–c1555
- Superpower Relations and the Cold War, 1941–91
- Conflict in the Middle East, 1945–95
- The American West, c1835–c1895
- The USA, 1954-75: Conflict at Home and Abroad
Modern Depth Study
- Weimar and Nazi Germany, 1918–39
- The USA, 1920–73: Opportunity and Inequality
- Mao’s China, 1945–76
- Russia and the Soviet Union, 1917–41
Edexcel provides students with a good combination of British and overseas subjects, often using historical settings as a means of developing analysis skills.
3. OCR (Oxford, Cambridge, and RSA Examinations)
OCR offers two specifications for GCSE History: History A (Explaining the Modern World) and History B (Schools History Project).
History A Topics
World History Period Study
- International Relations: The Cold War, 1945–1975
- Germany, 1925–1955: The People and the State
- Russia, 1905–1941
- USA, 1919–1948: The People and the State
Non-British Depth Study
- Germany, 1925–1955
- The USA, 1919–1948
- The Cold War
- China, 1950–1981
Thematic Study
- Migration to Britain c1000 to c2010
- Power: Monarchy and Democracy in Britain c1000 to 2014
- War and British Society c790 to c2010
- Life Under Nazi Occupation, 1933–1945
British Depth Study
- The Norman Conquest, 1065–1087
- Elizabethan England, 1580–1603
- Britain in Peace and War, 1900–1918
History B Subjects (Schools History Project)
Thematic Study
- The People’s Health, c1250–present
- Crime and Punishment, c1250–present
- Britain’s migrant diaspora, c1250–present
British Depth Study
- The Norman Conquest, 1065–1087
- The Elizabethans, 1580–1603
- Britain during the Second World War, 1939–1945
World Depth Study
- The USA: A Nation of Contrasts, 1910–1929
- Germany: Democracy and Dictatorship, 1890–1945
- The Cold War, 1945–1975
History Around Us
- Students study a local historic site chosen by their school.
OCR’s structure allows for the inclusion of longer thematic studies and more in-depth investigations, with a strong emphasis on local history.
4. WJEC Eduqas
Eduqas offers a single GCSE History specification with a range of challenging options.
Component 1 – Studies in Depth
- The USA: A Nation of Contrasts, 1910–1929
- Germany in Transition, 1919–1939
- Russia under Transition, 1905–1924
- China: Conflict, Crisis, and Change, 1900–1989
Component 2 – Studies in Breadth
- The Elizabethan Age, 1558–1603
- The Evolution of the USA, 1929–2000
- Transformations in Health and Medicine in Britain, c500 to the present
- Crime and Punishment in Britain, c500 to the present day
Component 3 – Thematic Studies
- The history of warfare, c500 to the present
- The Development of Rights and Equality in the UK, c500 to the present
Component 4 – Working as a Historian
- These can be a survey of a history site, typically based on local Welsh history, or an archaeological site.
Eduqas allows schools to explore modern history in depth but also remain close to broader themes throughout.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right GCSE History pathway starts with knowledge of the exam board and what it can offer.
The boards all provide a rich blend of local, national, and international history, from medieval monarchs and queens through to civil rights marches and the Cold War, from medical advances to war.
If you have an interest in political turmoil, social transformation, conflict, or migration, there’s a course structure to meet your interest and ability.
If you are a student, take time to find out what you love most about the subjects. If you are a parent or a teacher, encourage students by working out their strengths with the exam format.
And don’t forget—above the books and past papers, history is about real people, big ideas, and lasting change. Dive in, ask questions, and enjoy the ride through time.
